“Yes, sir. But it’s been a while.”
“Whereabouts are you Maddoxes from?”
“New York.”
He nods. “What do you think about Mystic Meadows?”
“I like it. It’s ... magical.”
“And how long have you been dating my daughter?”
Dating your daughter?
Coco and I aren’t dating. Right? We’re not dating. We’re friends. She’s my friend. She was there when the hard hat hit me on the head, which was very early in the morning.
Very early, as in before working hours.
What was she doing in my trailer that early?
Oh my God. What if we’d had a night of carnal pleasure? What kind of man makes love to a woman and then loses his memory?
I glance up at the house and my chest constricts. What if we’re dating and it’s killing her not to tell me? Maybe she wants me to remember on my own. Maybe she doesn’t want to tell me because that would manipulate my memories.
“Dad, lay off,” Brittany says, walking up to the weapons table and grabbing a rifle. “It’s the first time Coco’s brought a guy here since high school. Give him a chance. Let him shoot before you decide how you feel about him.”
I’m about to give Brittany a look that saysThank you for saving meuntil she adds, “Besides, this will take about two seconds because we all know city boys can’t shoot.”
A couple of the uncles laugh, but Harold says, “What do you say, Maddox? You ready to prove you can do it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Let me give you a quick rundown of this here rifle.” He points to a switch. “There’s your safety. Call outFire in the holewhen you’re ready to shoot.”
Just then, Brittany yells beside me, “Fire in the hole!”
I cover my ear as she pulls the trigger. The sound is so thunderous I feel the echo of it.
After she shoots, she uses the binoculars to take a look at the target and then passes them to me. “Don’t feel bad if you don’t come close to me. I’ve been shooting for years.”
Her bullet landed slightly to the right of the bull’s-eye. It’s close. Very impressive.
There are three targets set up in total, with uncles and cousins all taking turns shooting at them.
“You’re up.” Brittany smirks. “Don’t disappoint us. The last guy Coco brought got scared off.”
Harold sits behind the table and pats the seat beside him. “Take a seat, Maddox. It’s easier to shoot.”
I sit beside him and lightly venture, “Why’d he get scared off?”
Brittany shrugs. “Couldn’t hang with the guys, I guess.”
“The guys?”
“You know, them and me. ’Course, none of the dates I ever brought around were like that. They don’t freeze. Right, honey?”
Out from the woods to the far right steps a man dressed in black. He looks ex-military. Like he could snap my neck with one hand while making a ham sandwich with the other.
“What’s that?” he says.
