In fact, it felt weird as hell.
“My options are open, I reckon.”
Hank gave him a look, ever so slightly confused. “You okay, man? You seem a little off.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just ready to get home.”
That got him an arched eyebrow.
“What?”
“I just never seen you ready to get home before, I guess. So, what’s the plan, then?”
“I’ll rope here, and if I don’t make the short go, I’m heading home.” He had a reason to go, after all.
“Cool. You want to go get a beer after?”
“Sure.” He could handle a beer.
“Good deal.” Hank gave him a careful once-over. “I have a hotel room and a cooler…”
Okay, well that was odd as all get-out.
“I got my own room, but thanks. We can just meet in the hotel bar.”
He didn’t think Hank had asked him to do what he was pretty sure Hank was asking him to do ever.
Not only that, but he thought he’d been relatively clear about the fact he had a reason to get home.
It was the strangest situation, unnerving, in fact.
He found himself staring at Hank.
“What?”
Cam shook his head. “I don’t understand what the hell’s going on. I just let you know I had a reason to get home. Afriend.”
Hank nodded. “Okay.”
“Oh, man, you ain’t come on to me the whole time we’ve been riding together, and we’ve had plenty of opportunity. Why now?”
Hank grinned at him, the expression like one of them leprechauns Momma put out in March. “Well, you didn’t say it was permanent. You said ‘friend’, so I thought?—”
“I meant good friend. I meant like permanent-type friend. He’s got kids.”
Hank held his hands up. “Nope. No no no. I don’t do that.” He shook his head. “I don’t mess with guys with kids. That’s wrong.”
He knew he was staring at Hank like a goat looking at a new fence. “I don’t follow.”
“It’s just not right.”
He gave up because what else was he supposed to do? He didn’t know what the hell was going on, whatever it was.
“Whatever you say, Hank.”
He did worry on it, though. In fact, he worried on it enough that not only did he break the barrier, but he didn’t even get close to making tomorrow’s short go.
He decided, then and there, to drive home tonight. He was going to check out and head out.
