Jay could hear Brody’s sigh from the back seat.
“So if your results come back very Scandinavian, it doesn’t mean you should start sharpening an axe or shopping for a helmet with horns, which they didn’t even wear. But it doesmean someone in your family tree probably lived where Vikings hung out… and possibly had a strong opinion about boats.”
“I really fucking hate it when you get all intelligent and stuff,” Sawyer drawled. “Can’t you just let us have this Viking thing?”
“Look at Sawyer, Jay. He’s got all the hallmarks of a Viking. He’s an asshole, has a beard that a herd of mice?—”
“Mischief of mice,” Jay corrected them, because it was expected of him.
“Whatever. My point is, we’re descended from Vikings, and if you say otherwise, I’m punching you,” Sawyer added.
“I’ve stated my proof. If you want to live in deluded land, go right ahead,” Jay said, feeling a lot better than he had been before the Dukes had appeared at his front door.
“You done yours yet? Dan said he got you one because he was sure you’d come from some weird race of people with really big heads to fit their brains,” Sawyer added.
“I am not an alien.” In fact, he had done it, though he wasn’t sure why because the email with the results remained unopened.
He’d avoided anything to do with his past. It wasn’t something he liked to relive and didn’t want to find out anything more.
“Be kinda cool though, bud,” Brody said.
The Dukes never asked him about his childhood. Dan did once, and he’d said that he didn’t want to discuss it and he’d appreciate it if he didn’t ask again. He hadn’t, but Jay knew the curiosity was still there.
Jay’s past was dark and ugly. Mostly, it held memories he’d blocked, and he was happy to keep it that way, which made him wonder why he’d done the DNA test.
“Very,” he said, relieved that they were parking outside the Rollaway.
Monthly boys’ and girls’ nights consisted of the local men and women, who were usually fine upstanding citizens,behaving badly. Maybe not badly—just loosely, he corrected himself.
The main street was doing its usual trade of locals who didn’t want to cook eating at their favorite locations, which offered things like pizza, waffles, and diner food, and there was now a new Indian restaurant, which people were still a bit wary of.
“You been to Spice Sashay yet?” he asked the brothers.
“Yeah. It was good, and Sadie loved the poppadoms,” Sawyer said.
“Are the locals warming to it?”
Brody gave Jay a wry smile. “Getting there, but you know how it is. Lyntacky doesn’t really embrace change.”
“Amen,” Sawyer added.
“Hi, Jay.”
Turning at those words, he found Sydney Jane, the local siren.
“Still not interested, SJ, so cut the crap,” Jay said.
She pouted and then gave him a sweet smile. “Just thought I’d try.”
SJ then wandered away.
“What the hell was that?” Brody demanded. “She smiled at you, and there was nothing suggestive about it.”
“You idiots never knew how to handle her. I became her friend and told her right off that I like her, but not in that way. Since then, she tries it on occasion, but then gives up, and we go back to talking about other shit.”
“What other shit?”
“SJ’s actually smart, and I helped her with a few things. Now that she’s working with Libby, she has some spare cash. I’m helping her invest it.”
