I liftmy hands in defence.
Mama isnonplussed. “Your cousins are coming this weekend. Y’all make surethe spare rooms upstairs are cleaned out of all your oldcrap.”
Rubyinterjects. “Blake and I can stay in the house if you want them tohave the guest house.”
“No, that’s fine, love. They’ll want to stay in the house.These boys just need to clear out all their crap from the rooms isall. Me and Gladys will get in there and get them right cleaned up.It’s no harm.”
“Are you sure?” Ruby checks.
Mamawaves. “It’s fine. Rod and Stella will only be here for a couple ofdays.”
“How come they’re coming out, mama?” I ask.
“Looking for a house. Rod’s got a job out inDallas.”
Gunnerlifts a brow. “Those two are strange. She’s hot, he’s a total geek,and they live together…brother and sister.”
“They’re close.” Blake says. “We’re siblings, and we all livetogether.”
“Yeah, but we’re all dudes.” Gunner argues.
“So?”
Gunnershudders. “It’s like incest or something.”
Mamacuffs him upside the head. “Get your mind out of the gutter, boy.Maybe then, y’all wouldn’t have flunked out of school.”
Thatworks. Gunner shuts up.
“I think it’s real nice. Siblings being so close. Besides,Stella needs her brother around, with their daddy beingnon-existent.”
Stellaand Rod’s daddy, mama’s ex-brother-in-law, split when they werekids, and my aunt raised them on her own.
“I’ll make sure my old room is tidied up right.” Blakesays.
“And I’ll get my old stuff out of the other room after lunch.”Zack says.
“Thanks, boys. Gladys and I will get in there after and makethose rooms sparkle.”
“You sure they’re not going to share a room?” Gunnerteases.
Anothercuff upside the head. “Y’all make sure you apply to them colleges,boy. Clearly you need a little focus.”
“I will, mama.”
***
I’msitting in the waiting room at the orthopedic surgeon’s office,waiting with Gunner, and I finally get a response from Ellie. Shesays that she has plans for dinner, so not to come by. “Shit.” Imutter under my breath.
“What’s going on?” Gunner asks, thumbing through hisphone.
“Ah, nothing.” I say, unconvincingly.
He leanshis head over so he can see my screen. “She’s ditching you,man.”
“Thanks.” I say facetiously.
“I mean it. Dude, are you blind?”
