Page 63 of Grumpy

Keys picked up on the first ring. “Want me to revoke the radio station’s broadband license too?”

It took Grumpy a second to recall that Colton owned or managed a radio station, where Maddie also worked. “Yes. And the stepfather. Ruin him.”

“We talking annoyance or full annihilation?”

Grumpy heard the telltale sounds of a keyboard in the background. He had no idea how Keys did what he did. Give him a broken engine any day. “Annihilation, but make it painful.”

“Will do. Got any more daughters out there we don’t know about? I haven’t had this much fun in a while.”

Grumpy didn’t dignify that with a response and hung up his phone. The look Maddie gave him held both suspicion and gratitude.

“Your stepfather won’t be an issue anymore,” he vowed to her, though he was sure she could deduce that from his side of the conversation with Keys.

“Are you, like, a spy or something? Did you leave the Army and join the CIA?” Her blue eyes trailed up and down Grumpy. “Are you like Liam Neeson in Taken?”

Mid-sip, Kelly snorted, causing a burst of air down her straw and into her soda. She quickly pulled her lips away from her glass to wipe her mouth with a napkin.

Less amused, Grumpy answered his daughter, “No. After the divorce and my retirement, I headed north. I was…” He hedged for the right words. “I was not in a good mindset back then. Grabbed my bike and figured I’d head back to my hometown in Maine. Ended up stopping in a small town in Pennsylvania, and never left.”

Maddie’s eyes lit up. “I used to love riding on your bike with you.” Then her expression fell. “I understand not fighting for Mom. But why didn’t you fight for me? I know I’m not your daughter legally⁠—”

“That never mattered to me,” Grumpy stressed as Bert returned to check on their progress.

Unfortunately, no one had even glanced at the menu since the man had brought them their drinks. Kelly, though, took charge. She ordered a milkshake and bowl of mashed potatoes with extra gravy for Grumpy and a large basket of fries for Maddie and her to share. If they wanted anything else, they could order it later. Grumpy was glad Mads had agreed to eat something; he had a feeling they were going to be here for a while.

From the other table, they heard Jackson order a double bacon burger with onion rings and a shake. Once again, Bert left them to their conversation.

Grumpy reached across the table to take Maddie’s hand again. “You’re my daughter,” he repeated. “You have been since you were four years old. Legality be damned.” Grumpy let out a frustrated noise. His jaw was starting to ache, but he didn’t give a damn. It could fall off for all he cared, so long as he said his piece. “But unfortunately, society didn’t care about how we felt about each other. During the divorce proceedings, against my lawyer’s advice, I mentioned wanting visitation rights with you. This sparked a new wave of spite from your mom, and out of fear that I might kidnap you in retaliation, the judge granted her a restraining order against me. If I went near you, if I so much as sent you a text message, I would have been arrested.”

Maddie’s expression turned horrified as she listened. “Her letters never said anything about that.”

Grumpy sat back slightly. “What letters?”

“I—” Maddie paused, her face scrunching up. “Crap. I have to pee. Give me a minute.” Without needing to be prompted, Jackson was right there to help her stand and to escort her to the bathroom.

Grumpy shifted to face Kelly more. “How’re you doing?”

“How am I doing?” she repeated, like she was shocked by his question. “Baby, how are you? My head is spinning and my heart is hurting, and I’m not even really involved in all this.”

Grumpy frowned at that statement. “You are very involved in this.”

The look she gave him was a patient one. “In your present and future, yes. But not in your past.”

Grumpy fought the urge to rub his back against the seat cushion to relieve the itch growing there. Seeming to notice this, Kelly quickly checked his compression wrap to ensure it was laying properly.

She leaned over and kissed his shoulder gently. “Drink and rest your jaw,” she encouraged. “I’m not going anywhere, and not just because you currently have me boxed into a corner.”

Grumpy snorted, appreciating the offer. They sat in silence, their hands still laced together. Bert brought over Grumpy’s milkshake and mashed potatoes, promising the fries would soon be out, too.

About ten minutes passed before Maddie returned, Jackson at her back.

“So is he, like, your bodyguard?” Maddie asked, leaning forward like she didn’t want Jackson to overhear the question.

Grumpy grunted. “He’s a prospect, but that’s another story. Tell me about the letters you mentioned from your mom.”

Maddie reached for her orange juice. When she’d ordered earlier, she’d said it was one of the few flavored drinks she could stand the taste of. “When Mom died, she didn’t have a Will. Everything went to Rupert. At the funeral, I asked if I could come to the house to pick up some things, and he agreed. He didn’t expect me to show up with half the football team,” Maddie added mischievously. “Part of my scholarship requirements is that I tutor struggling students. I helped out the captain last year, and he said he owed me a favor. Figured Rupert wouldn’t try anything with twenty guys there as witnesses. I think he actually thought we were there to take everything, but honestly, I just wanted my baby photos, birth certificate, and anything else I could find in the short amount of time I spent there.”

She reached into her purse. It wasn’t as large as Kelly’s, but still massive. Grumpy did not understand why women insisted on carrying around so much with them. Generally, if it didn’t fit in his pockets, he didn’t deem it worthy enough to bring with him.