“Just a little,” Uncle Tex said.
“What else?”
“Otis needs to finalize the set list,” Uncle Luke said.
“The first concert is in two weeks,” Joey said, swinging her gaze to her father, who’d wasted no time loading his plate with garlic bread and spaghetti. “You don’t have the set list finalized?”
“We do,” Daddy said.
“Not in writing,” Luke said.
“We play the songs in the same order every time we practice,” Uncle Trace said. “I know the set list.”
“It needs to be in writing,” Luke insisted.
“He’s right,” Adam chimed in as he joined the line. He picked up two plates, and Joey smiled at his thoughtfulness. “I need to publish it online.”
“Well, you’ve been at practice,” Daddy said.
“Give the man a set list,” Trace growled as he took an Italian sausage with his penne pasta. “I saved one of these for you, Roo.” He turned and put it on one of the plates that Adam held. “She loves these.”
“She does?” Adam asked. “Huh. You learn something new every day.”
“Yeah, especially when you’ve only been dating for a couple of months,” Daddy said dryly.
“Yeah, we haven’t eaten at every restaurant in town yet,” Joey threw at him. “So of course, Adam wouldn’t know every single favorite of mine.”
“Oh, boy,” Trace said, glancing at Joey. “I didn’t mean to start anything. I just thought Joey liked the sausages.”
“I do, Uncle Trace,” she said. “Thank you.”
“Go sit,” Adam said, smiling at her. He sure seemed to know how to deal with her uncles—and her daddy. “I know what else you like.”
She wasn’t quite sure what to do with herself in a situation like this, but she did like being pampered and taken care of, so she went and sat down next to Uncle Luke. “The puffy vest really is still cool,” she said. “You guys could get new ones in matching colors—or an array of colors. Either way, it would be awesome.”
“You really think so?” Uncle Luke asked.
“Yeah,” Joey said. “It’s probably too late to get your logo on the chest, but you could call Mike and ask him.”
“I already called Mike,” Adam called from the kitchen. “We literally have to tell himtodayif we want the vests done or not.”
“I think we should do it,” Uncle Tex said. “Then I can still wear that long sleeve shirt I want and I won’t look like a sixty-year-old.”
“Brother, you’re sixty,” Trace said. “You look sixty.”
“Yeah, but ahotsixty,” Joey said. “With the vest.” She grinned at her uncle, who grinned right back.
“When are you moving into your new place, Roo?” Uncle Tex asked.
Joey sighed. “Not for another week and a half.”
“It was going to be this weekend,” Daddy said. “But then they had a leak upstairs, and the water went into the basement, and they’re fixing some stuff.”
“That’s right,” Joey said. “But I really appreciate all you guys helping me get furniture and stuff.” She smiled around at everyone, glad that they seemed to be enjoying the food too.
“Oh, yeah, sure,” Uncle Tex said. “My whole basement is full of furniture we don’t use.”
“That’s not true, Uncle Tex.” Joey rolled her eyes and smiled at him. “Did anybody hear from Boston today?” She looked around, though Uncle Mav wasn’t there.
