A Father's Love

Chapter 49

Thankfully, the bus ride ended up being just fine with no problems and Shelby was able to pick out some new games for the ones she didn't want. One game she picked out was a racing game with real car models instead of cartoon characters driving carts that threw turtle shells and banana peels, though the decision may have had some secondhand influence. Another game she picked out ended up being liked by Jess. It was a wrestling game, and the two played it for most of the evening. Jess was glad since it was something he could win at, beating Shelby almost every single time. If he had to get suckered in playing a video game with his cousin, he'd rather it be something not cartoon-ish. Luke ended up coming upstairs to find the two wrestling on the floor after Jess won for the tenth time in a row.

"What are you two doing?" he asked, standing over them with his hands on his sides.

It was Jess who said, "What does it look like we're doing? I'm teaching Scout some wrestling moves."

With Jess distracted, Shelby took the opportunity to pull herself free and body slammed her cousin, trying to pin him. Looking up at her dad as if trying to sound innocent, she said, "Jess keeps bea'ting me."

"You mean on your game?"

She nodded, pitifully.

"Well, kiddo, you can't win at everything. There's always gonna be someone better than you at something," Luke told her. "You beat him at your other games. Let Jess have this one."

"Okay," Shelby gave in and let Jess up. With the high school starting a week before the elementary school, Shelby had to either play alone or find something else to do.

Around lunchtime, though, she played outside, still practicing to dribble the ball under her leg without messing up or losing the ball. Every time Luke looked outside to check on her, he'd smile, seeing the determination the kid had, shaking his head.

Lorelai stopped by around one in the afternoon, which was a surprise considering she hardly stopped by around this time.

"I'm meeting someone for lunch," she explained.

"Oh," he replied with a head motion. Luke faced her once more to ask, "Kirk?"

Lorelai stared at him. "What?"

"You meeting Kirk?"

"W-why would you say that?" she asked of him.

"Well, I know he asked you out," he said. "So, I just assumed."

"How do you know he asked me out?"

"He told me."

"He told you?"

"Yesterday."

Lorelai groaned, "Oh my God."

"Relax," he told her, enjoying teasing her about it. "I think it's great."

"Why? Why would he tell you?"

"Well, actually, he came to me for a little advice," Luke admitted.

"About what?" she asked before heading over to an empty table by the door.

Luke followed to wipe off the table while they continued with their conversation. "About whether or not I thought he had a shot with ya. After all, I know ya. I've been to your house. I know whether or not you have stain-resistant rugs." He placed the menus into their holder in the center of the table.

Lorelai lowered her head as she stated, "I'm lying down now," which he continued.

"When he found out you had wood floors, he seemed very pleased." Now, with the table cleared, Luke finished wiping down the table with a rag.