Page 7 of Christy
We split off from Jackson and Erik, who were meeting Wyatt and some others at the clubhouse, to avoid walking in on girls’ night.
I’m not sure why they’re so scared, but I do know that Anna and Ma are both forces of nature. I’d like to learn to be that way. Of course, knowing my klutzy-ass self, I’d turn into a one-woman tornado or something. Ma pulls out and heads over to Anna’s. “Those guys think we have some sort of ritual or will sacrifice any male who dares to intrude on girls' night, but in reality, we eat good food, divine desserts, and consume plenty of alcohol while laughing and having a good time. It ain’t a big secret. I think all of us together worry some of the guys. My Jonah and guys of his age don’t scare off anymore, but you better believe myand Anna’s boys won’t step foot inside tonight.” Well, nothing she’s describing sounds bad. I guess I’m about to discover what a sleepover is like. Better late than never, right?
Max
I park and grab the six-pack of beer from the seat next to me, along with the letter, to show the guys. I walk up to the front door, and for the first time, I look around and pay attention. Mayson’s front yard and the porch are strewn with toys. There’s a trike and a scooter on the lawn, and on the porch, there are blocks and what looks like toy farm animals. He really is a dad and living that life.
How many kids does Christy want?What the fuck? I mean, I know I want to get to know her, but that…I’m nowhere near ready for that. That’s what I keep trying to tell myself, at least.
The door opens, and Mayson’s standing there with at least three dolls in his hands. “Come on in. I’m just trying to find the couch so we can watch the game.” I walk inside and take the beer to the fridge. “Where is Princess Daisy?” Mayson takes the toys in his hand and puts them in a bin in the corner. “She’s having a sleepover at Kierstie’s. Kierstie said they were staying in andoffered to give me a night off. Said it would give her practice with two, since they’re gonna have two kids in a few months. I wasn’t going to say no to that.” I hear a bike pull up and look out the window to see Jeremiah. I grab three beers out of the fridge and pass one to Mayson. “Think we’ll have a few before Ry and Asher get here?”
Mayson nods. “Yeah. Game doesn’t start for an hour, so they probably won’t be here till right before, I’m guessing. Logan said that Ry and Asher decided to go for a ride just a bit ago, so you know they’re gonna take the long way around.” Good. Gods know I love my brother, but when it comes to what we’re gonna discuss, he can be quick to judge and slow to change.
Jeremiah knocks once and opens the door. I hold out a beer, and he takes it, looking at the two of us. “So what the fuck is going on? Mayson about to have another kid dropped off on his doorstep?” Mayson glares at him, and I know this can quickly end up with a night-long argument between these two. They might be two of my closest friends, but I swear they love to argue, and both are stubborn. Giving in during an argument is something they’re both physically incapable of.
I take the letter out of my back pocket, where I'd put it, and hold it up. “I got a letter from Tyson the other day. I wanted you two to read it and help me figure out if I should tell Shane and Grant, and what the hell to say to him back.”
Jeremiah’s eyes go big. “What the hell does he want?” I hand him the letter. “Read this and then give it to Mayce here to read.” I catch myself using the nickname we used as kids, and honestly, still do it half the time for Mayson. Jeremiah spends the next couple of minutes reading, without giving anything away by showing no reaction whatsoever. He finishes it and hands it off to Mayson to read. He takes a long sip from his beer.
Mayson finishes and looks over at us. “Well, what the fuck are we gonna believe? Our friend, whom we knew for years and didn’t lie to us, or the drug addict who lied and stole from everyone?” He takes a sip and looks at me. “The place he’s at, it’s hard to get shit, right?” I nod. “Yeah, from everything I’ve learned, that place istheprison to be in if you’re trying to stay clean. Since he detoxed at the hospital after the whole thing with Kierstie and Pa’s brother went down, and then at county before his trial, I’m guessing he is actually clean now. What I’m wondering is if we think he’s gonna get out and stay clean or go right back to drugs. Also, do I fucking tell Shane or Grant?”
Jeremiah sits down on the far end of the couch and sighs. “On one hand, he’s the guy who we grew up with, who we knew was a great guy, but on the other hand…” I toss in what I’ve been thinking about. “On the other hand, he was willing to be a part of kidnappingmy sister, his brother’s wife. I know they say that people do crazy shit on drugs, and Kierstie swears that once herealized it was her, he fought with Abel to get him to stop and let her out.”
Mayson sits down with a thud in his recliner. “I say tell them, but also tell them that we’re not holding our breath. That he’s got to prove he’s going to stay sober. I’m gonna bet that Shane won’t introduce him to his kids till he’s close to a year out and still clean and sober. I won’t let Daisy meet him much earlier than that. I can’t have her meeting someone she could get attached to, only for them to leave her. She’s had enough of that shit in her short little life. I refuse to contribute anymore to it at this point when she might actually remember it in the future.”
It still surprises me how much Mayson has changed in the last year since Daisy came to live with him. Must surprise Jeremiah, too, by what he says next. “Dude. I don’t think you’ve ever sounded more like our dads before. Glad to see you’ve accepted this whole fatherhood thing, even if she ain’t yours by DNA.” Mayson glares at him. “You know that DNA means fuck all when it comes to our family. Daisy ismy daughter. Period. Biology ain’t a factor. When you’ve been projectile vomited and shit on at the same fucking time, you’ve earned the title of dad.”
Asher stands in the doorway with a look of horror on his face. “I walked in at the wrong fucking moment. Don’t talk about my Daisy-girl like that. She’s a fucking princess.” Ry and Leif walk in behind Asher and go straight to the fridge and grab beers. Rycomes and sits next to me, and I know he’s studying me more than he ever studied for a test in school. “What?” Ry shakes his head. “Nothin’. This is the first time in months, maybe years, that you don’t look overly stressed or full of twatstipation.” I can feel my eye starting to twitch. “What the fuck did you just say?” Ry rolls his eyes, like I should know what he’s saying. “Twatstipation. It’s when you get a mental block or stress because you’ve been dealing with too many twats in one day. Did you not work today?”
I glare at my brother. Where in the hell does he come up with these words? “I worked a half day yesterday and took today off. I’m working on the whole work-balance thing.” Ry looks surprised. “Well, fuck me. Little brother might not keel over at forty now. Ma will be happy to hear that. Mads-er, Madison too, since we know she doesn’t like being the youngest.” His concern is just so fucking touching. Jackwad.
Leif sits in the chair next to me. “Haley said you were reducing your overtime and looking to hire more help. She mentioned you’re overloaded with clients.” Ry, being the gossip he is, chimes in, “Since when do you talk to Haley? I know Logan’s her friend and Kierstie, Ma, and Anna all babysit sometimes for her.” Jeremiah gets a grin on his face. “He’s got a crush on her but won’t make a move.” Asher walks by and puts a hand on Leif’s shoulder, knowing that he is getting ready to jump upand turn it into a brawl. “What Bullfrog fails to realize is that evenifLeif is feeling so inclined toward Haley…” Asher quickly squeezes his hand that’s still resting on Leif’s shoulder as he keeps talking. “She’s not someone he can just casually take on a date here and there. She’s got little Benji, and as awesome as the little guy is, he requires extra care. That’s something Leif’s gotta feel he can handle, because if he doesn’t and ends up hurting Haley, that’s gonna upset Logan and then I’m gonna have to fucking wade in.”
Mayson effectively changes the subject. “Game’s about to start. Max, you gonna order pizza?” I nod and pull out my phone. Time to eat bad-for-me food and enjoy a game for once. We aren’t gonna mention that I’m also wondering what Christy is doing tonight, how much she’s already on my mind, and I barely even know her. Nope, not at all.
