Page 34 of Just One More Thing

God help everyone’s ankles tonight.

Mo’s head snaps toward her. “Granny! You are officially on my shit list.”

The kid produces a football.

Mo makes a strangled sound. “Hell no. Absolutely not. That’s cheating!”

Ryan keeps his eyes on her but speaks to me. “You’re about to get murdered.”

“Worth it.”

I glance up at her. She’s pretending she isn’t nervous, but her fingers are white around the edge of the seat.

“You wouldn’t deny the Lighthouse Restoration Fund, would you?” I tease.

The ball settles into my hand like I never left it. I step to the line.

“If you dunk me?—“

TING.

SPLASH.

She disappears with a shriek.

When she comes back up, I press a hand over my heart. “The lighthouse thanks you for your sacrifice, Miss Donovan.”

Hank runs forward, grabs the ball, and brings it back.

“You too, Hank?” she sputters.

He drops it at my feet.

I pull another ticket.

“There should be rules,” she says.

“There are,” the kid says. “Don’t cross the line.”

The crowd that’s started to gather laughs.

Mo gives me the look. Thedon’t you darelook women perfected generations ago.

“He’s a quarterback!” she shouts. “There should be a rule about that!”

“Retired,” I correct, lining up again.

I bounce the ball once. “Mo.”

“What.”

“Wayne Kerr, meet Emory. Emory, meet Wayne.”

Wayne bows as if meeting royalty. “Ma’am. I’ve heard so much.”

Her expression softens. Just for a second. Then her eyes narrow. “Is this a distraction?”

“Maybe.”