“You shouldn’t be here at all, honey.” I pointed out. “Don’t you want to remember your ceremony? Besides, I heard you’ve been stealing sips of beer.”
“Judd.” She glared at his back as if her irritation could make him turn. “Damn tattleteller. So, then we should get out of here. Talk. Maybe take a walk to the creek,” she suggested hopefully.
“Not tonight, honey. You can either walk out to my truck with me or I’ll toss you over my shoulder and carry you out.” If I gave her an inch, she’d take a mile. That wasn’t happening.
“Not happening,” she said, rolling her eyes as if she’d heard my thoughts.
“I’ll bring you home so you can get a good night’s sleep. You don’t want to worry your Gran.”
“Is that the only reason you’re here? To lecture me?” Mikayla crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not doing anything wrong, Sam.”
“Come on, Mickie. You’re underage. Let’s go.” I motioned for her to take my hand so we could leave.
She stomped her foot once.
“Mikayla,” I growled. “I gave you two choices. Last chance to walk out of your own accord.”
She glared at me and made no attempt to move.
“Okay, we’ll do this the hard way.” Lifting her over my shoulder, I grabbed her purse, which Bonnie was conveniently holding out, and shifted Mikayla into a more comfortable position.
“Sam Brighton! You put me down!”
Well, at least she was reacting again. “I’ll do no such thing.”
“People will see me, they’ll talk,” she screeched.
“Let them talk, honey.”
Heads turned. Conversations paused. Someone whistled. I strode smoothly across the room, paying them no mind. Opening the exit door, I walked out into the parking lot whileMickie pounded her fists into my back. She wasn’t doing any damage, not that I believed she was trying to. I cracked my palm off her upper thighs several times hard enough that my hand stung. Since her shorts offered little protection, I was sure she felt it. She yelped and dropped her fists.
“I’m not a little kid sneaking out. Hey! My car is here!”
“Someone will drive your car home,” I said, wrestling to open the door as she struggled against my shoulder. I landed a few more smacks this time targeting her bottom. “Quit it.”
She stilled and I took the pause to deposit her inside the bucket seat and buckle her seatbelt. Mikayla stuck her tongue out.
“Unless you’d like me to make a pit stop and wash that naughty mouth out with soap, put your tongue back where it belongs.”
“You’re impossible! Don’t you care what this looks like? Someone will say they saw you carrying me off like a caveman.”
“I’m not concerned, Mickie.”
Shutting the door, I went around the front of my truck and sidled into the driver’s seat. She was glaring across the cab at me. It felt bigger than her just being annoyed that I stopped her fun. Starting the truck, I pulled out of the parking lot. There was a private spot near the creek in Bearcreek Park with a long bench where I had room to get her over my lap. I’d adjust her attitude and then bring her home.
She said nothing, just sitting there huffing and puffing while she crossed her arms over her chest.
“No, of course you’re not concerned, Sam. What is this then? And where are we going?”
Her question confused me. “This is me not allowing you to be nursing a hangover tomorrow. We’re going to the park. Just because you’re graduating doesn’t mean our arrangement is over.”
“It wasuntilgraduation, so it’s officially over.”
I didn’t love the finality in her tone. “Then I’ll be sure to make a lasting impression on your ass. I’ll paint it red with my hand before I drop you off.”
Mikayla
“You don’t have to punish me, Sam.”
