Page 29 of Unruly

Makai sets down the beer bottle. “Cash, you already asked her and she rejected you? And now you’re asking us how to ask her again so she says yes?”

“I’m asking a hypothetical.”

“You said she already told you no. That’s not hypothetical, that’s a specific woman who told you no. And now you don’t know what to do, so you came out here to ask your little brother and your cousin for advice like a⁠—”

“Makai …”

“—man who’s never been told ‘no’ by a woman in his entire life and is absolutely losing his mind about it⁠—”

“Makai.”

“This is the best day of my summer—possibly my year. Dawson, are you hearing this?”

“I’m hearing it,” Dawson says, laughing.

I look at the sky. I look at the fence. I look anywhere that isn’t at the two of them.

“I should have gone to Rhett,” I say.

“Rhett would have told you to work harder and go to bed,” Makai says. “At least we’re enjoying this.”

“I’m not enjoying this,” I say.

“We’re enjoying it enough for all three of us.” He grins, pointing at Dawson and himself. “Who is she?”

“Nobody.”

“Cash …” Dawson warns.

“I said nobody. Are you going to help me or spend the next hour making me regret asking?”

“Both,” Makai says immediately.

“You’ve never asked for help with a woman in your life. Not once, in twenty-two years,” Dawson says.

“I’m aware of my own history, thank you. Should we share your track record with women?”

Dawson straightens up. “Shut the fuck up.”

“I saw you flirting with Kelsey at the bonfire. She’s real cute,” I say.

Dawson changes the subject. “So, whoever this is⁠—”

“Nobody.”

“—has gotten under your skin bad enough that you can’t take a simple ‘no’ as a complete sentence. You actually want to … date her?” Dawson studies me. “That’s new.”

“Deeply new,” Makai agrees. “Unprecedented. Historic, even. Someone should document this.”

“Someone should mind their own business. How’s Magnolia, by the way? Have you told her to get with a real Thornwood yet? I bet I could show her a good time? Think she could take all nine inches of pure Cash?” I grab my belt buckle and shake it toward him.

I have no intention of ever fucking a girl named after a fucking flower, but it’s fun to watch Makai’s grin flicker as I mention fucking his girl.

“We’re not talking about Maggie.”

“We could be.”

“We’re talking about your mystery woman.”