Coke started doing dishes, warbling some old country song that Dillon couldn’t recognize on a dare. Andy powered through breakfast, staring at Coke as if he’d lost his mind. Dillon thought the singing was cute as hell.
Coke finally stopped, blinked at Bax. “Whut?”
“Huh? Nothin’.” Stuffing his last piece of toast into his mouth, Andy shut up, which was probably a good thing.
Maybe it was time for Dillon to sing. He broke into an impromptu rendition of a popular Tim McGraw and Faith Hill duet, guaranteed to make the kiddies gag. Coke stared at him, then the man hooted, applauding wildly and cackling.
He held the last note about making looooooooove as long as he could, before breaking off and taking a bow. Bax seemed about to choke, but Jason was laughing, clapping along with Coke.
“Man, you should add that into your act. The buckle bunnies would love it.” Jason wiped his eyes, all flushed and grinning.
“You freak me out a little, Dillon.” Andy was even grinning, now, the perpetual joke making everyone hoot again.
“Oh, I won’t let the big, bad entertainer of the year hurtyou, Andy.” Coke grinned, that smile pure devil. “After all, he’d just hire someone to do it for him…”
“You know it,” Dillon agreed. “My hands are worth more than your whole hide.” They were back on familiar ground, back to smiling and laughing. It was good.
“Actually, clown-boy, I think it’s your legs that are worth the money.” Jase snorted. “You could run amok without hands.”
“I could, but I’m so much more expressive with them.” Dillon reached out to flip Jason’s cowlick, just to see what the man would do, with something coming at his face.
To his utter shock, Jason caught his hand.
Coke and Bax went quiet, staring, and Dillon snorted. “Good catch, man. You want more coffee? I made another pot. You know where it is.”
He held his breath, wanting Jase to show the guys even more.
“Yeah. I’ll take another cup. You want one, Dillon?” Jason stood up and Coke moved to get a chair out of Jason’s way. He shook his head, held one hand up.
“Sure do. There’s a chair in front of you, man, don’t trip over it.”
He got a nod, and he handed Jason his cup. Jason managed, just fine, even finding the handle without burning himself. Coke stared, moved over, slowly waved his hand in front of Jason’s face. The kid never flinched. Never evennoticed.
Dillon took Coke’s hand and led him away, trying not to let the excitement that faded into sadness get him down. “Repetition is good, huh, Jase?”
“Yeah. I’m getting better about stuff, right Bax?”
Coke stared at him, and he could see the confusion, the worry.
“You sure are, Mini. I swear, soon no one will be able totell.” Bax was smiling, at least, not worried a bit, and Dillon nudged Coke and nodded toward Andy.
Coke looked at Andy, lips wrinkling. “Okay, explain it to me, y’all. How come you catch Dillon’s hand, and you cain’t see me?”
Jason’s head did that tilt-thing again. “Whut?”
Bax grunted. “He can get some stuff if it’s fast, Coke. Like his body’s natural defense, you know? Or if it’s off to one side. Peripheral, or some shit.”
Jason nodded. “If it’s fast it’s like… What’s that thing where Doc hits your knee with the rubber hammer?”
“A reflex test.” The temptation to whack Jason on the knee was tough to resist, but Dillon did it. Manfully.
“Right. Reflexes. That’s all it is. It’s not real.”
Coke frowned thunderously. “Why isn’t that real, son? What’s not real about it?”
“Well, I mean, it’s notseeing?”
“So?” Oh, man, he knew that temper. “It’s still real. It’s still something you can use, Jase. Hell, that’s something we can all use to help you.”
