He paused to look at the kid. “What? I thought you wanted your dad back?”
“In the beginning I did. Mom was so hung up on him, and she was working all the time to make ends meet. Before Dad left, I didn’t tell James this, but they would argue all the time.”
Drake frowned. This was news to him. Whenever he saw Dane before he left, the fucker would talk constantly about being a Dad, and a husband. “They argued?”
“Yeah. She used to shout at him smelling of another woman’s perfume, and of him spending his days screwing and drinking. I want Mom to move on. I want her to be happy and not think about my dad. She’s not been on a date since she left.”
“You’re now trying to pimp your mom out?” Drake asked.
“No. Dad, he’s an asshole, and I accept that now. Mom, she’s beautiful, and young still. She had me when she was young. I don’t want her to wait around for a guy that didn’t even care to divorce her.”
Drake sighed. “Do you have someone in mind?”
“There’s Lewis Corn. He’s a rancher just on the outskirts of town. They’re friends, and he lost his wife to cancer three years ago.”
“Around the time your dad left?” Drake asked.
“Is it wrong to want to arrange a date between them?” Ryan asked.
“It’s not wrong, but it’s not exactly right, either.”
“I want her to be happy.”
“Then keep getting good grades. That will work.”
Several guys shouted Ryan’s name, and Drake urged him to go and have fun. When he turned around, he saw that Leo and Paul were helping Lucy, taking them around the fairground.
Entering the main hall, he saw James was still with Cora talking to Sharon and Thomas. He spotted Teri removing the wrappings from the food, and there was no sign of Grace. Moving toward the woman, he grabbed a spicy potato wedge, biting into it.
“Did you see where Grace went?”
“Suzy’s here, and they went off to get some cotton candy.”
“I thought she was supposed to be working today?”
“What? Grace? No. It’s her day off. The diner is closed. Besides, she helped me make all of this. She’s one hell of a cook. Look for Pixie. He still won’t take no for an answer even though she doesn’t give him the time of day. Personally, I think he scares her, and I don’t think Suzy’s ever had sex, let alone sweaty, dirty sex.” Teri shrugged.
Since settling down in Greater Falls, Teri had really grown to love the place, and she made her mark on the little town. The whole town adored her, and through her, they accepted the club. Without the club, Teri wouldn’t be here, so it all worked out.
“Pixie?”
“He seems to know where Suzy is. Haven’t you ever noticed he’s always there when Suzy is? Besides, I’m getting tired of him buying me new underwear. With how much he’s gotten me, I could open my own underwear stall, it’s that bad.”
Drake laughed. “He has to find a reason to buy shit?”
“If he wants to go to the shop where Suzy works.”
Taking another potato wedge, he gripped Teri’s shoulder. “You did good, more than good. This is all amazing.”
“Thanks. I really do love it here.”
“It does work for us, doesn’t it?” Drake asked.
“You could settle down here, you know? Start a family. Sharon’s a great principal, and I even heard the preschool and primary school rock as well.”
“Are you trying to convince me? Dirty Fuckers are not going anywhere.”
“It’s what I like to hear,” Teri said.