“Seemed fitting. He’s such a proud creature,” she replies, beaming at her little monster.
“I haven’t properly slept because of yourcreaturefor months.”
“You haven’t slept because you needed to get laid,” she throws back, pouring more food on the ground.
“Grandma!” I cry out in horror.
“What?” Her big, watery eyes look so innocent, like she didn’t just say what she did. “I just worry about them eggs of yours.”
Now pressing the heels of my palms into my eyes. “Why is everyone so worried about my eggs?”
“We just love you, that’s all.”
I lift my face to the sky with a loud groan. “So you’re the reason he keeps showing up, aren’t you?”
“Are you talking to me or the Almighty?”
Whipping my head toward her, I find her watching me with a highly amused look on her face.
“What?” she chuckles. “What was I supposed to do? Kick him out?”
“Yes!” I cry out, throwing my hands in the air and completely forgetting about my problems since Grandma hasjust introduced me to another one. The rooster is never leaving, I just know that.
“Can’t do. He was a creature in need.” My peace-loving grandmother looks like she’s ready to beat her fist to her chest. “He showed up one morning at Cheryl’s place,” she starts, looking at the rooster lovingly. “He looked so skinny that my heart couldn’t take it. So I invited him over.”
“You invited him over?”
She shrugs. “He reminded me of Jake.”
I snort, imagining Jake hearing about that.
“You know,” she continues. “Such a proud cock.”
I choke on the air. “Grandma!”
“So, yes, I invited the cock over,” she laughs. “Sue me.”
“I won’t, but let’s not tell anyone else this story.”
I drop onto the bench beside the porch, wishing I had thicker pants because my butt freezes instantly while the rooster hops up and perches next to me, puffed up like he knows we are talking about how much of a proud cock he is.
“I guess we have a town mascot now,” I announce, side-eyeing the bird.
“Every great place does,” Grandma says, tossing the last of the corn on a spot that’s been cleared of snow.
The rooster lets out a pleased little crow and jumps on the ground.
And somehow, in the middle of all this weirdness, I feel… okay. Settled even. Like maybe I don’t have to keep looking over my shoulder for things to go wrong.
Because I have my family and my diner. And a rooster with an odd name. And a man who kisses like he means it—even if he walks away before I can breathe again.
37
Jericho
I don’t sleep. Not really.
I just sit on the couch like I’ve been planted there, hands loose in my lap, staring at the far wall like it’s supposed to give me answers.
