Page 99 of One Wild Chance

“Eat your dinner.” I hand her the plate to distract her before she finds the ones from middle school.

She takes a bite, still grinning at the album. “I’m keeping this page marked.”

“After you finish, you should rest.”

“I don’t have time to rest,” she protests.

“While you’re on my watch, you do.” I sit on the edge of the coffee table across from her, close enough to reach her if she faints again. “You scared me out there.”

She pauses mid-bite. “You were scared?”

“I almost panicked.” I watch her take another bite. “One second you were talking, and the next you were collapsing. I didn’t even have time to think.”

“But you caught me.”

“Hockey’s good for one thing, I guess.” I reach over and adjust a throw blanket draped over the back of the couch, pulling it across her lap. “How was your mom today?”

“Better. She remembers you.” Her lips curve. “She calls you the handsome hockey player.”

“I’ll be sure to mention it to Rhett,” I say with a laugh. “His ego needs to be taken down a few notches.”

She turns her fork over in her hand. “She smiled today when I brought her a bouquet.”

I lean forward, resting my arms on my knees. “I’d like to go with you sometime. If you’d let me.”

“Jaxon.” She rests her fork on the edge of her plate. “She’s not the same woman anymore. Sometimes she gets upset. It’s hard to watch.”

“I’m okay with hard,” I murmur.

She stares down at her plate without replying.

“It’s okay if you’d rather I didn’t,” I say. “I thought maybe you could use the company⁠—”

She shakes her head. “No, it’s that…” She swallows. “Nobody’s ever asked to come with me before.”

I reach over and take the plate from her, setting it on the coffee table, then shift closer so our knees brush.

“She’s your mom, Summer,” I say, taking her hand. “Of course I want to come.”

She blinks fast, looking away for a second like she’s pushing down an emotion.

“And anyone who calls me handsome,” I add, trying to lighten the mood, “deserves a personal visit.”

A muffled laugh escapes her before she meets my gaze again. “This was really nice of you tonight. Helping me rescue the colt and sacrificing Ada Mae’s meatloaf.”

“You owe me for that one,” I say with a grin. “That woman makes a mean meatloaf.”

“I know. It was a real act of heroism.” She rises, then sways for a second, and my hand immediately goes to her elbow.

“You’re not going anywhere until you’re steadier on your feet.” I help her back onto the couch.

“I can’t stay here, Jaxon.”

“And you can’t go home and be alone either,” I insist.

“But everyone will talk.”

“Then let them,” I say. “The town can gossip about why your truck was here all night. I’ll take the heat for it.”