“Okay, I’m riled enough, now let’s play,” Newman said. “And if I wasn’t I just need to think about that bitch Bonnie.”
“Heard she thinks your dick’s not the legend you originally thought,” Jake said. “Must be hard, or not, as the case may be,” he added with a smile, “realizing your looks and your weapon are failing you.”
“I’m a fucking bazooka, Doc, and I’m gonna rip you a new one, so be warned.” Newman gritted his teeth and Jake yawned.
They played, and it was hot and dirty. Cheap shots to the ribs, plenty of insults, and Cubby loved it to hell and back. These were his buds; the men he would sell his soul to keep in his life. He loved them as they did him. They never talked about that kind of shit, but it was a given.
“I believe that is game,” Cubby rasped, bent double an hour later as he tried to recover from a shot to the ribs by the big Texan. “Fuck, Number Five, you put on a few pounds?” His father was Ethan Gelderman Number Four, so they ribbed him about his title.
“Trim as ever, Sheriff; maybe you’re just getting soft.”
They stripped to their shorts, threw themselves in the lake, splashed and dunked each other, then sat in the early evening light and drank beer and ate subs filled with chicken, and potato salad.
“Said it before, but it bears repeating, you’re a fucking legend, Buster.” Noah saluted his friend.
Everyone grunted their agreement.
“Sorry, I haven’t been able to get out and see Katie. How’s she doing?” As Cubby was seated beside Jake, he said the words so only his friend could hear.
“Nothing’s changed. She comes to visit us and Mom and Dad most days. Plays with Rose, all smiles, and on the surface looks happy enough, but it’s those eyes of hers; they look flat and emotionless. I tried to talk to her, went out to the houseboat four nights in a row. Her car was there but when I knocked no one answered. She told me she was walking, said it was helping, and that some nights she was out there for hours.”
“You don’t believe she was?”
“I don’t know. I asked if she was drinking, she promised me she wasn’t. As Katie has never lied to me before, I have no reason to doubt her.”
“But you do,” Cubby said, seeing the worry in his friend’s face.
“I don’t know what to think because she’s my sister. She’s changed, bud, we’ve both seen it, but how much? Would she lie to me? Is she hiding shit? Probably yes to both, but hell if I know how to get through to her without pissing her off and sending her back to LA, which, by the way, is not going to happen.”
“The cells are comfortable. We’ll chuck her in one of those if she tries to run.”
Jake grunted his agreement, while Cubby thought about what he’d said. Was she drinking? He’d seen her about town; they’d waved, and shared a coffee with five other people in the Hoot, but not really talked.
“I think she’s avoiding me.”
“Ten points for observation, Sheriff.” Jake saluted him with his sub. “She’s pretty much avoiding everyone, but you in particular. Branna brought it up last night. The tension she felt between you two in the Hoot was obvious.
“She’s pissed because I’m the one who dragged her back here, Jake; I thought we’d covered this off already.”
“I think there’s more to it than that. In fact, it’s my belief, after speaking with my wife, who assures me she’s always right, that my sister has still got the hots for you.”
“Hots for me? Jesus, McBride, that’s how we talked in school.” Jake’s words had Cubby’s heart thumping hard in his chest. He didn’t want or need that complication.
“Whatever, the point here is, do you have the hots for her?”
“I’m not discussing this with you!”
“Why not? You guys were at me all the time with Branna, and Katie’s my sister, so I have an interest here.”
“Interest in what?” Buster said.
“Katie and Cubby.”
“Aw hell, Jake, did you have to go there?” Cubby ran a hand over his face as the others suddenly focused on him.
“That’s old news,” Newman said reclining on his elbows, long legs stretched before him. “He had the hots for her before she left, just hid it well, and she has a serious case for him. Sorry, Jake, but it’s true. You see, I’m a watcher and noticed.”
“Don’t apologize, my sister can have the hots for whoever she wants… well, maybe not whoever, and I have to vet them first, but you get my drift.”
