“Momma!” Bax popped up like a jack in the box, reaching out to Jason. “That don’t mean he’s dead. AJ’s got a good spread. Lots of space for us.”
“There’s space here. Jason knows it here. I’m here.”
“I cain’t just stay here, Momma.” Jason bit the words out.
Sighing, Bax looked to Coke, who stood up and went to Brenda, putting an arm around her shoulders. “Come on and chat a minute, Brenda. Just hear me out.”
Jack and Momma went with Coke into the kitchen, Jason standing there, jaw clenched, AJ sitting with eyes big as saucers.
“Man, Jason. You look like you need a beer.”
“No shit, AJ. I’d’ve never known if you hadn’t said.”
AJ grinned. “Well, I figured, you being fucking blind andall…”
“No beer. Not until we get to your place, AJ.” Fuck, he just wanted to eat his breakfast.
Jason and AJ stayed still for a second, then the two assholes started to laugh.
His hands clenched into fists, his jaw setting hard. “You go on and laugh, you braying jackasses. I’ll kick both your butts.”
AJ snorted. “You need to fucking lighten up, man. Blind assholes know how to laugh, right, Jase?”
One of Jason’s eyebrows went up. “I’ll have to look in the Blind Asshole Manual, man.”
“Yeah, but how will you read it?”
He was developing a tic. Right there, next to his eye. “I… I got to go outside. I’ll be back.”
AJ’s backpack was right inside the door, and Bax rooted through it until he found a pack of smokes and a lighter, so he could head out to have one. Maybe three.
He got halfway through one before the screen door opened, Jason stepping out, heading right for the stairs. All he had to do was be quiet, let Mini walk right by.
Jason sniffed, head tilting. “You got one for me, Bax?”
Or maybe not.
“Yeah. Here.” He handed one over and waited for Jason to figure out which end went in his mouth before lighting it.
“Thanks.” Jason didn’t say a word, just smoked, drawing deep, eyes closed.
Shit. Bax felt like a solid gold asshole. Jason was the one who needed some time, some kind of adjustment period.
“I’m sorry, man. I just got a little sideways.”
“No sweat, Bax. I. You know you don’t have to do this, yeah?” Jason took another pull on the cigarette. “I won’t drag your ass down, no matter what. I want you to know that, yeah?”
“I know that, Jase.” His ass had been dragging for at least ayear. Maybe more. He was getting old to play the game. “I want to do this, Jase. I just don’t want to fuck anything up.”
“Yeah, well, this is us, asshole. Fucking shit up is a special skill.”
“Oh, fuck you.” He laughed, though, coughing on the smoke he pulled in instead of pushing it out.
“Not here. We need a bigger bed and stuff.”
“You know it.” Wait. Wait, did that mean…? “Was that an offer?”
“Well…” Jason tilted his head a little like a puppy hearing a whistle. “No, Bax. You offered—I sorta accepted.”
