“You’ve checked your watch five times in the last fifteen minutes. Would you stop already?” Greg grabbed a handful of chips from the bowl on the coffee table, leaned back on the plush sofa, and pointed to the big screen TV centered on the back wall. “You’ll never enjoy the game if you keep this up.”
Tom crossed his arms, plopped down on the easy chair on Greg’s left and glared at his best friend. “You have no idea what I’m going through.”
Greg chomped on a chip, swallowed, and wiped his hand on his jeans. “I have a daughter, too.”
“She’s four!”
“Yeah, but she’ll grow up and probably date some guy with tattoos and a shaved head, and I’ll be cool enough to shake his hand, point to my gun rack, and remind him of the curfew. I’ll leave it at that.”
“Ha! If I know anything about you, buddy, you’ll barricade the door until he leaves the names and addresses of his closest kin. And even then, Sally-Ann will be wired for sound.”
As if called by magic, a little girl scampered into the room and flew into her daddy’s arms. “Give me a ring-a-round, Daddy!”
With a groan, Greg pulled his daughter into his arms, centered himself in the living room, and began to spin her in a wide arc.
Tom grinned as Sally-Ann squealed in delight.
Speeding up, Greg edged to the couch and deposited his daughter on the cushions. “Enough. If you throw up, your mama’s going to blame me.”
A woman’s voice called from another room. “Sally-Ann, get your backside into your room and pick up these toys like I told you.”
Tom and Greg froze.
With a fresh squeal, Sally-Ann raced out of the room.
Tom peered at Greg. “So, you think Joan will interview the prospective dates when Sally-Ann gets of age?”
Greg nodded and stroked his chin. “Might work.” He frowned. “Sorry, man. I know you’re on your own. If you want…Joan could come over and…”
Tom checked his watch, his foot tapping. “It’s barely eight. I gave them until eleven. It’s only a school dance, but if the guy doesn’t act like a perfect gentleman—”
“Like you were?”
Tom squeezed his eyes shut a moment and then ran his fingers through his hair. He stood up. “I think I’d better go.”
“But the game!”
“I can’t relax. Besides, I have things to check out.”
“Such as?”
“You don’t think Kami would mind if I stopped by—”
“You’d have more to fear than death itself. Don’t go there. Literally or figuratively.”
“Maybe Joan could go undercover?”
“Joan happens to trust your daughter enough to babysit our kids. I doubt she’d spy on Kami…even for a good cause. Like keeping you sane.” Greg spread himself on the easy chair and nudged the chips in Tom’s direction. “Have a healthy snack and sit down. Put your mind on the game and just live through the next few hours. Okay?”
Tom plunked onto the couch and closed his eyes. “Only because I know I couldn’t stop myself from stopping at the school if I left now.”
Greg snorted. “A little self-control, man. Just a little.”
Tom opened one eye and peered at Greg. “I’ll have my revenge one day. You realize that, right?”
Greg laughed as he reached for another chip. “How do you figure?”
“Sally-Ann’s so enamored with her daddy…she’ll pick a man just like you.”
Leaping from the chair, Greg knocked the bowl over, and chips scattered like dreams upon waking.
Novels by A. K. Frailey
Science Fiction
Last of Her Kind http://amzn.to/2y1HJvg
Newearth: Justine Awakens http://amzn.to/2pq0vWN
Historical Fiction
Melchior—Vengeance Is Mine http://amzn.to/2taeW2r
Historical Fiction & Science Fiction Blend
OldEarth ARAM Encounter https://amzn.to/2KLhlsN
OldEarth Ishtar Encounter https://amzn.to/2OAkDQF
OldEarth Neb Encounter (In production)
OldEarth Georgios Encounter (In production)
Children’s Book
The Adventures of Tally-Ho http://amzn.to/2sLfcI5
Inspirational Non-Fiction
The Road Goes Ever On—A Christian Journey Through The Lord of the Rings http://amzn.to/2lWBd00
