Hefrowns. “Nobody. I just know you were in the same clothes thismorning that you were wearing last night is all.” He lifts a hand.“It’s cool, man. I won’t say anything.”
Gunner’sa good kid. I can trust him. “Yeah. Yeah, I was with her lastnight.”
“Things getting serious, man?”
“It’s a little complicated, but I think she’s adoll.”
“You ain’t ever said that about a girl before.”
“I have.” I argue kindly.
“I’ve never seen that smile on your face before. Usually it’sjust a smirk. And usually after bragging about gettinglaid.”
“You’re full of shit.” I cackle. I hear footsteps comingcloser and then I see Blake appear.
“Am I?” Gunner barks.
“Are you what?” Blake asks.
“Nevermind.” I say too quickly.
Gunnerinterjects. “He’s got this smile on his face when he’s talkingabout Ellie. And he’s trying to deny that it’s a new smile, asopposed to his usual smirk and brag about all the sex hehad.”
Blakeglances at me while coiling rope around his upper arm. “That’sbecause he’s in love with her.”
“I am not.” I scoff.
“I think you are. Otherwise, you’d be bragging about all thelewd things she’s done to you. And you wouldn’t be so quiet abouther, either. You usually don’t shut up about a gal and then whenyou get sick of her you send her packing and then brag about howyou gave her the old heave ho.”
We hearmama coming out from the house, calling to us. “In here, mama!” Isay.
“Oh,” mama says tentatively, when she finds us. “What are youboys up to?”
“Just trying to convince Maverick that he’s in love withEllie.” Gunner teases.
I raisemy hand to refute, when something falls out of my pocket, onto thedirt floor. Mama picks it up, and I rake a hand through my hair assoon as I realize what it is. If one of my brothers picked it up,I’d a snatched it back out of their hand before they could see it,but I can’t do that with mama, not without getting swatted forit.
Mamareads the receipt. “Baby bunny onesie…pink?”
“Um…it’s for Myra, mama.” I lie.
Shelifts a brow. “Size…newborn?”
Gunnerand Blake’s eyes pop out of their heads.
“Shit.” I mutter under my breath. Mama hands me back thereceipt and stands there, expectantly. I look at her and her eyesare dancing. “It’s not what you think, mama. It’s not some whore Ihad a one-night stand with or nothing.”
I hearmore footsteps coming, and my eyes shut tight. My other brothers,Zack and Austin, appear, and I think if I found a hole in theground, I’d climb into it…or I’ll dig one. Mama sees my face.“Blake, why don’t you take Gunner back into the house for a while,huh? He should rest.” She suggests, and bless her forit.
“I’m fine, mama.” Gunner argues.
“You won’t be if y’all stay out here.” She says,matter-of-factly.
“Uh oh…mama find out that you’re flunking out of school?” Zackblurts.
“No, you idiot. She just found out that Maverick knocked upEllie.”
So muchfor trusting Gunner. Remind me never to do that again.
