“Did you two finally kiss?” A high-pitched voice called out.
Teague shook his head. “A question like that makes me think you want to do double the warmups, Roy.” He gave the twelve-year-old a slow once over. “And since I was an instructor at NAB for a year, you know that I can count to five hundred while you do flutter kicks.”
“Burn,” A sandy-haired girl added with a laugh and waved to the pack of kids. “Mr. Moriarty, we are not associated, affiliated, or in any way connected to Roy and his bad manners.”
“I know, Gilda.”
“Just want to make sure,” she said as she tightened her ponytail. “Maybe you should kick the boys out of the group and just teach the girls.”
“Or you could let them stay and show them that women can excel at anything they choose,” Tancy interjected. “No need to make things easy and give them the false impression that victory will not be a hard-won battle every time.”
Gilda fist-bumped Tancy. “That’s why we're choosing to learn how to kick ass and take names.”
“Good for you,” Tancy replied. “You have the perfect instructor.” She turned toward her house. “I will leave you warriors to your training.”
“I want everyone to start with the stretches I taught you last week.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” Gilda said loudly.
Teague rolled his eyes and then took Tancy’s hand. “Can I walk you to your front door?”
“Of course.” She squeezed his arm. “I might even give you a small kiss when we get there.”
“I like the sound of that.”
Tancy stuck her head out the window as Teague drove away from his parent’s hobby farm and enjoyed the late afternoon sun on her face. She waved to the goats munching weeds along the fence line as the spring breeze brushed over her skin. “That was fun.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed the visit.” He made a show of checking the truck’s bed in the rearview mirror. “You didn’t try and kidnap any animals, did you?”
“No!” She pursed her lips. “But I thought about it, believe me. The mini highland cow did not disappoint and was just as cute and cuddly as I imagined.”
“I know my brother would’ve supported the cow nabbing since Dolly follows him around whenever he’s in residence and makes pitiful sounds.”
“No way. Is she in love with Kane?”
“Seems so.” Teague shook his head. “Pisses him off, too, since it messes with his super operator vibe.”
“Did you grow up with many animals?”
“We had dogs and a cat for a few years.” He glanced over. “Which makes this hobby farm thing kind of a surprising choice. I’m not sure why my parents decided to fill their retirement with animals, but here we are.”
“And where are they?”
“On a road trip. They decided it was time to visit all the National Parks and are halfway to their goal.”
“That sounds like fun.”
“Really? I would’ve guessed that a European vacation was more your thing.”
“I saw enough of the continent growing up and don’t have a lot of great memories, so I’m more of a Hawaii or cruise person.”
“Ah shit.” He grimaced. “I’m sorry that was insensitive, and I should’ve made the connection.”
“It’s okay. And please don’t feel like you have to tiptoe around my past.” She squeezed his hand. “What is one of your favorite memories from your childhood. Kane said something about you being shy, and I can’t picture it.”
“I was more introverted than I am now and unpopular because I made no effort with the other kids. It took a long time for me to see the upside of social interaction because I never got much out of it.”
“I think that’s the true definition of an introvert. It sucks your energy instead of filling you up like an extrovert.”