Page 75 of Wild Mistake
Forever and always,
Aiden
27
AIDEN
PRESENT DAY
I’ve survived countless missions.Jumped from planes. Dodged bullets. Once, I hid in enemy territory for over a week without anything other than the contents of my backpack and the company of my fellow Rangers.
None of that prepares me for today.
There’s a lot of pressure when it comes to hanging out with your girlfriend’s children. I haven’t spent much time with teenagers since being one myself, but I’m aware enough to know most young adults aren’t easily impressed. Sure, I have my niece and nephew, but they already think I’m cool because I’m their uncle. When it comes to Sarah’s boys, I am determined to earn their respect.
I don’t want to fuck this up.
I pick up Sarah and her boys after lunch and drive up to the town of Ember Ridge. My cousin told me about an axe throwing place there and we both agreed it was my best bet. Most teens have some level of pent-up aggression. I can’t tell you the number of times my brothers and I wrestled to the point our mom yelled for us to take it outside. Young people also enjoy doing things they’re not supposed to, such as wielding weapons and flinging them at the wall. Plus a little healthy sibling rivalry goes a long way.
It takes a little while for the boys to warm up, but by game two they’re trading smack talk and don’t appear to be completely miserable. I take it as a win.
Also, it doesn’t hurt that I’m damn good at this. I’m at an unfair advantage given all the weapons training I’ve been through. The boys aren’t the only ones impressed.
Sarah attempts to hide it, but she totally checks me out when it’s my turn to throw. Like now. I raise my hand over my head and flex my muscles. My fingers grip the wooden handle and I’m ready to throw, but I glance back over my shoulder instead.
Her mouth is parted and her eyes are glued to my backside. I can only imagine what’s going through her head right now and it brings a smile to my lips.
“Gabe? How many points do we need to win this round?”
Sarah’s gaze snaps up to meet mine.Busted.A blush darkens her cheeks. She’s so damn cute.
“Six.” Gabe studies the scoreboard with a frown. “Unless we go over.”
“Got it.” I nod to him, then wink at Sarah before turning back to face down the painted bullseye. I hit the center and middle circles with my first two throws. Anything except for the two upper corners will do. Lifting the axe, I focus and throw. The blade spins through the air in a flash and splits right through the red center.
“Damn!” Parker swears. They’re now trailing by nine.
“Alright, Parker. You’re up.” I hand the small axe over to Sarah’s youngest, then switch places with him, moving behind the safety wall to wait with Gabe and Sarah.
His first throw, the blade bounces off the wall.
Gabe stifles a laugh and covertly pulls out his cell phone.
Sarah shoots him a warning glare.
“What?” he says with a little too much innocence, then aims the camera at his brother.
Parker has retrieved the axe and is lining himself up for his second shot.
“Come on, Parker!” Sarah claps her hands. “You’ve got this!”
He throws.
Sarah gasps.
The blade whirls at an awkward angle but by some miracle it hits one of the elusive eight-point painted black dots in the upper right corner and sticks into the wood. “Yeah!” He pumps his fist into the air. “Oh, my God! Did you see that?” He turns to us. “Please tell me someone recorded it!”
“I did,” Gabe says.
