throwing it over her legs. “Nothing. I was just thinking about the surprise we’re giving you-know-who tomorrow.”
You-know-who was Greg. Teddy chewed on that for a second. “I’m not sure that was it.”
Amanda sighed. “I swear. That was it.”
“Swear on your children’s life.”
“I’ll swear on Hannah’s but not Oliver’s.”
“Mom!” Hannah screeched next to Teddy. “I’m telling Dad!”
“See? This is why. You’re a snitch,” she told her daughter, struggling to keep a straight face.
“Snitches get stitches,” Ron announced from the other side of Leah.
“Grandpa!”
Ron shrugged. “Well, it’s true.”
Leah, who was sitting between them, had her head dropped forward and she was shaking.
“It’s not funny, Aunt Leah,” Hannah huffed.
“I disagree,” Leah said on an escaped laugh.
Hannah crossed her arms over her chest and pouted.
“Santa sees you pouting,” Ron reminded her.
Hannah quickly smoothed out the pout and then glared straight ahead, instead.
“I have no idea where she gets that from,” Amanda said under her breath.
Teddy snorted.
The marching band passed them, and they weren’t able to talk for a few minutes as the band was loud and they’d pause on every block for the girls to swing batons and flags and whatever else girls did in a marching band while wearing skimpy outfits.
He’d look good in one of those outfits.
Hmm.
Once the band moved on, the mayor’s float went by.
Next up was the 1965 Chevy Impala SS Convertible—Teddy hated that he knew those details, but it was the same vehicle the chief always rode in—with Dutch’s son driving. Dutch always volunteered Cage and his classic car for the parade every year. The only difference this year—and last—was that Cage had joined the MC that Dutch used to belong to.
He was now one of those leather-clad gorillas. As was the rest of Dutch’s manly, good-with-their-hands mechanics.
However, Cage was not wearing his club “colors” today out of respect for Max. Dutch did his best to stay on good terms with the PD since he worked on their vehicles, both police and personal.
But Cage was sexy as all get out, as was the rest of Dutch’s crew. Sometimes Teddy had the urge to flatten one of his own tires just to get one of them out to “rescue” him. Or at least bend over as they changed his tire.
However, Adam was proficient with changing flats, so if he found out Teddy called someone other than him, he might be a bit miffed.
“There’s Uncle Max!” Austin yelled.
“Max!” Greg echoed him, bouncing in his seat and waving at every participant in the parade.
“Hi, Daddy!” Oliver screamed, rushing to the edge of the sidewalk and waving to his father. Ron jumped out of his seat to hold on to the five-year-old so he wouldn’t dart into the street.
“Sometimes I still want to scratch your eyes out for taking my first true love from me,” Teddy muttered.
“You don’t want him,” Amanda said. “He’s stubborn.”
Teddy arched what he knew was a perfectly manicured eyebrow. “Oh, and you aren’t?”
“Not like him.”
Teddy snorted again.
“You have Adam. He’s cut from the same damn Bryson cloth.”
Teddy hmm’d. “That he is, girlfriend. But...”
Amanda’s head spun towards him. “But?” she yelled, catching her husband’s attention as he drove by.
Teddy waved a reassuring hand towards Max, letting the man know he didn’t need to save his wife from anything nefarious. Except Teddy’s woes.
Which he was about to unload on his BFF. “I had a little meltdown this morning.”
Amanda’s brow lifted and not in surprise. “Little?”
He grimaced. She knew him only too well.
He squeezed his index finger and thumb together just leaving a little space between them. “An itty bitty one.”
“There’s nothing itty bitty when it comes to you,” Amanda reminded him.
“I know, right? Rawr!” He made a clawing motion with his hand.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“But it’s true.”
“Something I don’t need to know.”
“But still fact.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“Just ask Adam.”
“I’m not asking Adam how big you are.”
“Why? He’d vouch for me.”
“Aaaaaanywaaaaay...”
Teddy dropped his voice to a whisper and leaned close to Amanda. Especially since Hannah was sitting on his other side. Most likely eavesdropping. “Anyway, I really think he’s having second thoughts.”
Amanda gasped. “He is not!”
“Or possibly having an affair,” he said under his breath, just loud enough so she could hear him.
Amanda shook her head. “Adam would never cheat on you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Are you crazy?”
Teddy shh’d her to get her to keep her voice down. Which was ironic since he was the one who usually needed to be shushed.
“Have you noticed how loyal Brysons are?”
“He could be different. I’m starting to believe he only accepted my proposal