Dragging shit around her store was one thing.
Carrying it up some stairs was another.
To communicate that, he repeated, “Don’t move.That table.On your own.I’ll get a brother and we’ll move it up here for you.”
And that was when she grinned at him.
They did breakfast, he helped with cleanup and they made outat the door before he moved out and headed for home.
He needed to change clothes and get to the garage.
He did the first part of that, but on his way out to hisbike, he stopped and texted his ma and Hound.
You guys free to have dinner at Archie’s?I want you tomeet her and she said she’d like to cook for you.
He knew how much he was on his mother’s mind when her replytook about two minutes to chime in.
Absolutely!When?
You pick.Neither of us have anything on.He textedback.
Thursday?Friday?His mom replied before he’d evenmade it out to his bike.
Like I said, you pick.Neither of us have anything on.He returned.
But is Friday night a date night for you two?Would thatbe cramping your style?His mom shot back right before he fired up hisbike.
And before he even got his thumbs again to his screen,another came in from her.
If so, we can do Thursday.
He was about to tell her he didn’t give a fuck—neitherof them had anything on—when thankfully, Hound butted in.
Friday.And we’re getting a sitter.
The man speaks.His mother texted.Then sent,Whichmeans the discussion is over.
No, I’m just sick of my phone fucking beeping with yourattling on when Jag says they don’t give a fuck which day we show.Hounddeclared.
I don’t rattle.His mother retorted.
Woman, you are in another room from me in the same houseright now.Why are you texting?Hound asked.
To which his mother said,Love you, Jagger.See youFriday and can’t wait to meet Archie!
And that was the end of that.
Jagger started up his bike and headed to work.
But he did this smiling.
The next day, in the afternoon, Jag sat at the sodafountain next to Mal.
Mal was showing him the difference between a chocolate shakemade with chocolate ice cream and one made with vanilla and chocolate syrup.
Actually, he wasn’t.Archie had made the shakes.
But it was Mal’s idea.
