Page 112 of Crash Course
"Good. You deserve fun."
"Hey."
At the sound of Ash’s voice, Cruz and Phin turned to where their brother walked through the back door.
"Well, shit," Cruz said. "Look what the cat dragged in."
"You’re late," Mom said.
Ash, being Ash, rolled right over that and kissed Mom on the cheek.
"Suck-up," Cruz joked.
"Oh, hush!" Mom shot.
Backing away, she peered up at Ash, her eyes a little misty and glowing. All her boys under one roof. That’s what his mother wanted. Always. Ash had destroyed her by leaving and now Cruz was contemplating the same move.
Dang. He’d fight any man, all day long, but hurting his mother? Did he have that much fight in him?
"Sorry," Ash said. "But I’m here now and it smells great."
Mom waved everyone over to the giant outdoor table. "All right, y’all. Let’s eat!"
Stuffed with ribs,cornbread. and cheesy twice-baked potatoes that would give the healthiest of men a coronary, Cruz sat back and patted his stomach.
"Good stuff, Mom."
"There’s leftovers."
Mom peered at Cilla. "He’ll come down looking for food in about two hours. I swear, he’s just like his father. No idea where they put all this food."
At the end of the table, Zeke cleared his throat. "I, uh, didn’t intend to do this tonight, but since we’re all here, I’ve got something for you."
What the hell was this now?
Zeke pushed his chair back and stood. "We need to head to the garage."
"Why?" Ash wanted to know.
Pausing for a second, Zeke eased out a breath. "I just said, I have something for you." He gave Ash a forced smile. "A surprise."
"Well then," Mom said, waving everyone from their seats. "Let’s see what your brother is up to."
All of them schlepped down the road to the garage—not Cruz’s renovated barn, but the one that housed their personal and BARS vehicles.
Once there, Zeke opened one of the bay doors, made them all step into the pitch-black space.
"Okay," he said. "Before I turn the lights on, close your eyes. Everybody."
"What are you up to?" Phin wanted to know.
"Close 'em! Keep 'em closed. Another second. Okay. Open!"
Cruz did as he was told, blinking against the flash of light when Zeke flipped them on. Never one to be overly joyful at any one moment, Zeke wore an all-teeth smile that could have lit the room without the lights.
Cruz’s gaze landed on one, two . . . six ATVs. All, it appeared, custom painted and sending Cruz’s happy meter off the charts.
Toys, toys, toys. How he loved them. "What the hell’s this?"
