“What,what?”
“What’s that little smirk about?”
It grows deeper. “Oh, nothing.”
“Dammit, Gavin.”
He laughs. “You and Chase are two peas in a pod.”
Tabitha returns with my grilled cheese and fries. She places the plate and a fresh Sprite in front of me before jetting off to help a large table of hunters who came in.
My bracelets jingle against the tabletop as I reach for my drink.
“My job as Chase’s brother and your new best friend,” he says, “is to ensure you’re both … you know …” He searches for the right word. “I’m here tofacilitatethings.”
“Do I look like I need a facilitator?”
He slowly blinks. “Yes.”
I put my straw in the new glass and take a quick sip.Ignoring his implications.
“What have you been up to?” I ask, refocusing the conversation on Gavin.
The sly smile he gives me makes it clear he knows what I’m doing but is willing to play along.
“I’ve been working,” he says.
“Looks like it.”
He laughs. “I work here at night part-time—mostly because I like it, and if I have too much time on my hands, trouble seems to find me.”
“I believe that.”
My sandwich is buttery and cheesy—grilled cheese perfection. The first bite leaves a trail of oil down my chin.
“During the day,” Gavin says as I dab a napkin to my face, “I work at Cotton’s.”
I put the napkin on the table. “I have heard about Cotton’s many times this week, and I have no idea who the guy is.”
“He’s a farmer,” he says. “He owns half of this county. His farm isn’t far from where you broke down last weekend.”
“What do you do for him?”
“A little of everything. Tend to the animals. Work on equipment. Bale hay. Seed, fertilize, harvest. You know—farm work shit.”
“Sounds like you’re a real Renaissance Man.”
He leans back in his chair and nods. “That’s me. Jack-of-all-trades.”
I take another bite.Oh my heavens. This is delicious.
Gavin studies me for a long time. If he’s waiting on my cue, he’ll have to wait until the cows come home because I’m not leading this conversation. Not when I think he wants it to go in a particular direction I’m trying to avoid.
“Do you know what’s funny?” he asks finally.
“What’s that?”
“Here we are, best friends and all, and I don’t know anything about you.”
