Steer eyes the benches attached to the table. “Don’t think that’s gonna hold my big ass.” He lifts his chin at Pants. “Definitely ain’t holdin’ him.”
Pants flips him off and holds up a metal folding chair. “Lynn’s already got me covered.”
“We have more of those,” Shelby says. She holds her arms out to an imaginary audience in the back yard. “Hayley and I used to practice giving concerts out here to all our dollies.”
I rumble with laughter and hug her to my side. “I can picture that. Bet you were cute as hell.”
“Momma probably has video of it somewhere.” She waves toward the house.
This has to be the first time in my life I’ve actually wanted to watch someone’s old home movies.
“That how you got so good at being on stage, Shelby?” Dex asks with a teasing smile. “Years of practice?”
“Heck yeah. Talent competitions, singing the national anthem to any sports team that would have me. You name it.” She clutches her stomach. “I still get nervous, though.”
“Doesn’t show.” Dex pats her shoulder on his way to the back door of the house.
“Come to think of it,” Shelby stares up at me, “I’ve been a whole lot less nervous when you’re with me.”
Nothing could make me happier. “Well, that was the whole point of being out on the road with you. Spending time together, and I wanted to make your life easier.”
She hugs me tight. “You really did. I hope you know how much I appreciate it.”
Something in her attitude seems to have shifted toward unhappy.
I wrap her up in my arms. “We’re a good team.”
“We are,” she mumbles against my shirt.
“What’s wrong?” I attempt to move so I can see her face but she’s glued to me like Velcro.
“Nothing.”
“Shelby?” I glance at her and at the back door. Someone’s bound to interrupt us at any moment. “What’s going on?”
“Where do we go from here?”
“I thought you wanted to stay at your mom’s for a few days until—”
It hits me what she’s actually asking.
“We go wherever the road takes us, chickadee.”
“You and me?”
“You and me,” I confirm. “Well, I’m not gonna lie, Jiggy’s definitely going to be there for a lot of adventures.”
She sniffles and laughs. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Shelby
As promised, Momma fixes chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans.
Rooster and I set the table and bring drinks out for everyone.
Jigsaw rushes to claim a spot to the right of my momma. I climb onto the bench next to him and Logan sits next to me.
“I got no problem poking you with this fork if you hit on my momma,” I warn Jiggy, twirling the white, plastic utensil between my fingers.
He scoffs at me. “Please. I’m so muscular, you’ll snap that thing in half before I even feel it.”
Dang. He’s probably right.
I playfully jab at his arm to test out the theory and he swats me away. “Rooster, corral your woman!”
“Corral.” I giggle into my hand and drop the fork. “Good one.”
Jiggy grins at me. “When in Texas…”
“Please, stop encouraging him to be even more childish.” Rooster leans over and flicks Jigsaw’s shoulder.
“We got this, bro,” Pants calls out, carrying a large tray. “No need to help.”
“You said you had it.” Jigsaw shrugs.
Pants ends up dragging a chair right next to my mother and sticks his tongue out at Jiggy.
Good grief.
“All right,” my mother announces, standing at the head of the table. “Thank you for looking out for my baby girl on the road.” She settles her gaze on Rooster. “And bringing her home safe.”
“Cheers!” Steer punches his fist in the air.
“Dig in.” She sits down and passes the plates of food around.
“Oh my God, Mrs. Morgan,” Pants moans through a mouthful of potatoes. “This is the best meal we’ve had in months.”
“We might not leave,” Steer adds.
Momma glows with pride over all the compliments the guys shower her with.
While everyone’s busy stuffing their faces, Logan leans into me and whispers in my ear, “This is my favorite because it’s the first meal we ever had together.”
My heart melts into a puddle of goo. “You remember?”
“Pretty hard to forget since I had to eat wearing nothing but a towel.”
I shake with laughter, falling against his side. “I should ask you to have dinner with me like that more often.”
“Anytime you want. Just say the word, chickadee.”
“They’re like this all the time,” Pants says to my mother, watching us with a playful smirk. “It’s revolting but kinda cute.”
A tight smile pinches my mother’s face. She sets her fork down and clasps her hands together. “I have news, Shelby.”
Her tone puts me on alert and I sit up straight. “What kinda news?”
“I have an offer on the house.”
I stare at her while trying to remember if there had been a ‘for sale’ sign in the front yard. “What kind of offer?”
“Well, it was the strangest thing. Had a guy stop by. A lawyer. He has a client who wants to own the house Shelby Morgan grew up in.”
“What?” I blink and stare. “That’s pure crazy.”
“No, apparently it happens all the time. They made me an offer that was more than fair, so I’m sellin’. Was hopin’ y’all could help me pack while you’re here.” She nods to Rooster and me.
“No problem,” Rooster says.
“You can’t sell our house to some…stalker. That’s, that’s…” I sputter, unsure of what I want to say.
Pants and Steer jump up. “We’ll clear the table for you.”
No one was quite finished eating yet but it’s obvious they want out of the awkward conversation. Our side of the table sways as Dex stands to join them. Jigsaw extracts himself and takes a seat on the other side.
Rooster cocks his head and stares at Jiggy who ignores the obvious get lost message.
“Shelby, this is the best possible scenario.” Momma gestures to the cracking patio and crumbling foundation. “I’m gonna have a hell of a time sellin’ this place without sinking a ton of money into it. They’re willing to pay cash.”
Rooster settles his hand on my back. “Did the buyers ask to meet Shelby or want anything of hers?” he asks.
“No, nothing like that,” Momma says. “I wouldn’t have accepted if I thought it was a weirdo like—”
“Don’t say his name,” I warn, holding my hands up as if they can protect me from the ghost of Martin Suggs.
“I thought you’d be happy for me,” Momma says.
“I am.” A drop of guilt trickles down my spine. “I guess I wanted to be the one to buy you a new house.”