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"I think he likes a certain type more than a particular age," I explain.
"Yeah, the rumor was the girl he tried to hook up with turns forty next month," Andrea chimes. Mental note to myself, her birthday is next month.
"Gross. That's the same age as you, Mom."
Andrea unsuccessfully tries to stifle a snort. " You rest now, sweetie." Andrea kisses her daughter's forehead, fighting back her smirk. "We'll talk later."
"Wait. What are you laughing about?" Madison yells from the back of the R.V..
The moment the door clicks shut, both Andrea and I burst into full belly laughs. I brush the tear running down her cheek away with the pad of my thumb. I pause just briefly, wanting so much for the time at this moment to just stand still; happy, laughing, fun. Fun is something that hasn't been a part of my life for way too long.
"Tried to hook up with?" I question, still curious as to what Lucky did to leave her in tears last weekend.
"Hard to hook up with a guy who couldn't get it up." She shrugs. "Oh well, his loss."
"Wait, what? Did you just say he couldn't get it up?"
"Nope. He did some cocaine with a guy he saw in the drink line. It was like hooking up with a wet noodle. And when I refused his offer to share his drugs, he called me a boomer and said I was a waste of his time."
I spin her around, so we are face to face. "You are no one's waste of time."
"Thank you," she says softly with a smile that makes my stomach flip.
We join Jacob and Lindsay for lunch catered by none other than famous celebrity chef, Guy Fieri. He and the bassist of The Nashville Hustlers played in a celebrity golf tournament together over a decade ago.
"I just got a text from the promoters about last night's incident," Jacob says as we settle into our seats. "Madison wasn't the only wasted teenager. Three other girls' families filed complaints about the daughters being obliterated after visiting Lucky and his bartender friend, Joey. One of the girls is in the hospital getting checked for other drugs in her system. Both Lucky and Joey are fired from the promotion company, and there may be charges pending."
"At least he won't be able to hurt any more girls,” Andrea says, her voice solemn “I'm going to check on Madison. Now I'm more worried than I am pissed. We'll talk later." Andrea brushes my arm as she gets up from the table sending shockwaves throughout my body.
Once she’s out of earshot, Jacob asks, "What's going on there? I mean, she did drive all the way from Montana to pick you up from jail…" He nudges my side like we're kids in middle school again.
"She drove down here to check on her daughter."
"Keep telling yourself that, man. So, now what? You can't lift heavy equipment with a sprained wrist."
"So, what now you're firing me?" I tease. "Aren't there labor laws about things like that?"
"Wait, I'm supposed to be paying you? No, but seriously, what are your plans now?"
"I have to head back to So. Cal next week to meet with the investigators in Bailey's case. New evidence has come up, and they need to discuss the findings with me."
"Have you told Andrea anything about Bailey yet?" Jacob asks.
"No. There never seems to be a right time. How do you tell the girl you're possibly falling for that you might have a girlfriend?"
" Girlfriend?" Andrea says from behind me.
Fuck.
"I think you just did," Jacobs unnecessarily adds.
I grimace and swivel around to face her, but she’s already speed-walked a few yards away from me.
“Shit.”
“She's fast for a tiny little thing, isn't she?"
I shoot Jacob a glare, then start hurrying after her. "Andrea! Please stop." It only takes a quick sprint to catch her. "Where are you going?"
