Our eyes lock from the distance, and I have half a mind to give him my back and keep working. But the reality is there is no more work to do. I can’t do this alone.
And I’m hungry.
And because Daisy is stuck on being nice, I’m sure there is plenty of food left for me.
And maybe,maybethere is a small part of me that wonders how she is involved in this and how she helped Gus stay human.
It could all be a trick. Her needing something from us to turn us back… but is there anything I wouldn’t give for my freedom? We’re prisoners here. So maybe I should put my pride aside and see what she’s offering for my freedom. Because I’d take it. So maybe I should pull my head out of my ass and jump on board with the rest of them… because I’m the odd man out here, and I don’t want to ruin my chances of leaving. If kissing a little ass is all I need to do to get off this damn land, I’ll do it. It’s a small price to pay.
With my head held high, I walk over to them and drop my ass into the open spot. There always seems to be an open spot left for me, no matter the situation.
“Watch,” Rhett says, pointing at Gus. “Ready?” he says. Gus nods. “Chicken!” Rhett shouts.
Daisy rolls her lips between her teeth to stop from laughing.
Gus’s cheeks puff out like there’s a bunch of air in there but… there is noba-cawkcoming out of his mouth.
“What the…”
“Chicken, chicken, chicken!” Daisy shouts, rocking back and laughing.
“Ba-cawk!” comes out of Gus, causing them to laugheven harder.
“I don’t understand,” I say, looking between the three of them.
“Gus isn’t as sensitive to the trigger word,” Rhett explains. “If we say it in passing, he’s good. He said he can hold it in.”
“But if we do it over and over, like I did, it just comes out.”
“But yours is still the same?” I ask Rhett.
He sighs. “Yeah, unfortunately. But Daisy said it’s cool for me to sleep in the house tonight, just to… you know, make sure it’s not the house.”
“It’s not the house,” Gus says with a huff.
I almost say the same thing.
“You don’t know that,” Rhett says.
Gus rolls his eyes.
“Are you hungry?” Daisy asks, looking right at me. “I have turkey, ham, and plain cheese.”
“Ham,” I say. “Please.”
She digs through the basket and offers me a sandwich on a napkin and a bottle of water.
“You’re more than welcome to stay in the house too, Wade,” Daisy says with a smile.
The sun beats down on us, making the highlights in her hair shine bright. Her eyes shine too, and I can’t help but notice how pretty she is.
“Thanks,” is all I say before tearing into my sandwich.
They keep on talking and messing with Gus to see how loud or how many times or how close they have to say chicken for him toba-cawk. I watch them carefully as I eat my sandwich, and when I’m done, without having to ask, Daisy offers me another, which I take and eat. I could eat ten more. Something as simple as a sandwich is so good right now.
“Better than bugs, huh?” Rhett says, nudging me with his elbow.
I huff a laugh, shaking my head. When I look up, I see Daisy watching me with a small, sweet smile.
