Layton laughed. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’ll get you an ice cream. I got a little carried away ’cause I love football, and I love Llano high school football even more. ”
Layton reached up and took Kate off his shoulders. As he set her down, she looked between the two of us.
“Do you love Whitley?” Kate asked as she giggled.
Layton snapped his head up, looked at me, and gave me the most panty-melting smile ever.
“Yeah, baby girl, I love Whitley more than anything. She’s my honeybee. ”
Kate jumped up and down and clapped her hands. “Oh, like Mommy’s song she plays all the time. ”
I laughed. I leaned over and kissed Layton.
Kate pushed us apart. “Now, me! I want kisses, Uncle Layton! You love me, too, right?”
Layton leaned down and scooped up Kate. He started giving her small little kisses all over her face as she laughed.
“You’re my number-one girl, Kate. Don’t you ever forget that. Now, come on, let’s go find Reed and Anna,” Layton said as we headed to the bleachers.
“I still can’t believe Reed and Anna are here together! I just saw her today at the jewelry shop. ”
“Whatcha doing at the jewelry store, Whitley?” Kate asked as Layton put her back down.
“Well, you see, I know a little girl whose birthday is tomorrow. I had to pick up her present. ”
Kate started jumping up and down, and then she saw Reed. She took off running, calling out his name. He jumped up from his seat and bent down to catch her in his arms as she slammed into him.
Layton shook his head. “Poor Anna. Kate has a massive crush on Reed, and I’m sure she’s not going to like the idea of Anna being on a date with him. ”
I laughed as I got a glimpse of Courtney and Mitch walking toward us. I waved as she smiled and made her way over to me.
“I’m going to say hi to Court. I’ll be right there. ”
Layton stopped and talked to Mitch for a few seconds before he invited Mitch and Courtney to sit over by us. I thought for sure Mitch was going to say no, so I was shocked to see him turn and follow Layton.
Mitch and Reed shook hands, and then Mitch hugged Anna. They all sat down with Mitch sitting on the other side of Layton.
Courtney had watched the whole thing play out. She slowly turned to me and gave me a weak smile. “Looks like we’re sitting with y’all. Um, who’s the girl with Reed?”
“That’s Anna. They all went to high school together. I guess she just moved back to Llano from Dallas. Layton said Reed had a massive crush on her and was devastated when she left for college. ”
“Did they date in high school?” Courtney asked as she turned back to look at Reed and Anna.
“I’m not really sure. It doesn’t sound like it though. I got the impression that they both maybe liked each other in school. ”
“Huh. ” Courtney started looking around. “I’ve had the strangest feeling that someone’s been watching me all day. ”
“Oh my God! Me, too, Court. I can’t shake it. Then, to top that off, Layton’s been acting all weird since he picked me up, like he’s freaked out about something. ”
“Pesh, that’s normal for Layton. ”
I hit Courtney in the arm and laughed. “So, how are things with Mitch? Have you…”
Courtney’s face instantly turned bright red.
“Oh. My. God. You’ve slept with him? When, you bitch? I can’t believe you haven’t told me!”
Courtney laughed. “My God, Whitley. Announce it to the whole damn town. I would have told you, but you’re never home anymore. It just happened last night. ”