Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Rowen, Part 1

Three rings and my mother's face pops up on the monitor in front of me.

"Hey, Mam."

"Hey, Rowen. How are you feeling?" She settles back onto her chair and takes a sip of her tea.

"Sore. So, so sore."

"Ye should be after that stunt you pulled the other day."

"Hi to you, too, Da." He pulls up a chair next to my mam and sits down, looking like he's about to give me a lecture.

"Care to explain yer behavior?" he asks as he crosses his arms over his chest.

It doesn't matter that I'm an adult. It doesn't matter than I'm a professional. To him, I'm still his kid and no paycheck, endorsement or age is going to keep him from ripping me a new one.

I sigh in resignation. "I let them get in my head."

"It's about that lass, it's it. About that groupie?"

"Ryan," my mother chides gently, putting a hand on his arm.

"No," he says. "He was doing just fine until she came along. And now he's throwin' punches and makin' a fool o' himself. What am I supposed to think?"