Page 76 of Wild Mistake
“Hell, yeah!” Parker smiles wide. “Let me see!”
“Finish your turn first,” Sarah says.
“Right.” His eyes light up and he walks over to yank the axe from the wall. “Gabe! Send me that!”
“’Kay.” Gabe taps on his screen a few times then angles his cell to record again. “Whatever you do, don’t go over.”
Parker glances over his shoulder to glare at his brother. “I know.”
I bite back the urge to chuckle. My brothers and I were a lot like this. Though, we were raised with strict parents. My dad would have kicked my ass if I copped the attitude I’ve witnessed Sarah’s boys give her.
Parker makes a show of stretching, then pretending to throw to delay his throw.
“Oh, my God.” Gabe groans. “Throw it already!”
A few seconds later the blade rotates through the air. It nicks the outer circle of the bullseye. It’s the point they need to clench the win from us.
“Are you kidding?” Gabe tries to mask it, but he’s impressed.
“We won!” Parker runs over to his mom and slings an arm around her shoulder.
“That was all you.” She pats his back.
I wipe down the scoreboard. “You guys want to do another game or should we grab some food?”
“I’m starving,” Parker says.
Sarah shakes her head. “You’re always starving.”
“I feel you, man.” I tip my chin toward the door. “I think I saw a burger joint a few shops over.”
“I could go for burgers.” Gabe nods.
“Sounds good.” The smile Sarah flashes my way makes me feel like the luckiest man in the world.
I return our axe and settle up at the front desk, while Sarah and the boys check out the merch. They have all kinds of T-shirts and apparel. I chuckle at one that saysCheck Out My Axe, and I point it out to Sarah on our way out.
“Should I get that one for you?” I tease, holding the door open for her.
“Only if you get one for yourself.”
“Touché.” I chuckle, following her out the door and getting a good look at her backside before we catch up to where the boys walk ahead. I want to reach for her hand. I almost do but we haven’t discussed public displays of affection, and the last thing I want to do is inadvertently make Parker and Gabe uncomfortable.
“Oh, shit. Gabe.” Parker stops short and points to the sky.
The town of Ember Ridge is set back from a canyon. Wide valleys of red rock line the horizon and the sky is painted in vibrant shades of oranges, golds and pink. It’s breathtaking.
“Wow.” Sarah rests her head on my shoulder.
“I’ve been to sixteen different countries and none compare to our sunsets.”
“That’s right,” Parker says. “Zach said you used to be in the Army.”
“Yeah, I served twenty years as an Army Ranger.”
“That’s really cool.”
Gabe doesn’t look impressed.
