Memphis turned his gaze on Maverick as he sensed the comment was directed at him. He was looking at him expectantly.
“Oh, yeah,” Memphis said as his phone gave out a buzz from the windowsill. “That was a good start.” He’d have to ask them what had come of that after he checked his text. A quick glance at the screen had him furrowing his brow.
Ty:Is there any way you could pick Lucas up from school today and keep him until 6:00 when Holly closes her shop? Something came up. I’ll tell you about it tonight. Is 7:00 okay for dinner?
“What’s wrong, man?” Emmitt asked.
Memphis glanced up as he readied his thumbs to text a reply. “Ty needs me to pick up Lucas.”
Memphis:Sure, that works.
His phone buzzed again.
Ty:Thank you! I’ll call and make sure he and his teacher know.
“Playing Dad to a kid who’s not even yours…” Maverick said. “That would be a hard freaking job.”
Memphis narrowed a glare at him. “In what way? I’m crazy about Lucas.”
“Yeah, but kids arehard.I just think it’s one thing when they’re your own flesh and blood. You’d probably just be more…connected. You know, on a deeper level. So things wouldn’t bother you the same way.”
“Seriously,” Emmitt said. “I’ve seen kids tantrum in public and wonder how theirparentscan even like them.”
“It comes natural for me with Lucas,” Memphis assured.
“Probably because he’s on his best behavior with you,” Maverick pointed out.
But Memphis only shook his head. “Trust me, I’ve been with Ty for, like, two months. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly where parenthood is concerned. Hasn’t scared me away yet.”
Emmitt pushed up his bottom lip and nodded. “That’s impressive.”
“There’sstillnothing compared to a real parent connection,” Maverick persisted.
Memphis let out an exhausted sigh. “Okay, Dr. Mav.You’rethe expert.”
“I’m just saying…”
“Well, don’t. It doesn’t help anything. It’s not like I’m trying to compete with Lucas’s real father. The guy’s never even been in the picture.”
“That doesn’t mean he won’t show up one day, wanting to suddenly be the kid’s hero.”
Memphis squirmed as he considered that idea. “Someone who abandons their kid is no hero.”
“True,” Maverick said. “If he ever came back, I’d knock him out cold with one punch.”
Memphis shot him a look. “Oh,youwould? Why?”
“Yeah, man,” Emmitt chimed in. “It wouldn’t beyourbattle to fight.”
“I care about her too,” Memphis said. “AndLucas. Besides, we’re family. You mess with one of us…”
“You mess with all of us,” Memphis and Emmitt repeated in unison.
Emmitt tossed the screwdriver in the air and caught it. “We sound like Grandpa.”
Memphis chuckled, visions of Grandpa running through his head. “You know, I don’t resent him like I thought I would,” he admitted.
“Me neither,” Emmitt added while giving the screwdriver another flip in the air.
