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“Really? How did I not know that?”
“I don’t know.”
“How did you get it?”
“Deacon. He had some at his place one night, and he got your dad to give me a container. I actually need to hit him up for another. That man is a genius.”
“He won’t tell us what’s in it. He claims it keeps us kids coming back to see him.”
Brooks nods. “It’s worth it. Not that you wouldn’t go visit your parents, but this seasoning he makes is definitely an added incentive.”
I start dishing out the broccoli and rice, then move on to opening the two cans of black beans while he cubes up the chicken breasts. “All set,” I tell him.
“Perfect. I’m going to add the chicken, and then we just scoop a little of the black beans and a spoonful of salsa over the rice, and we’re good to go.”
“This looks really good. No wonder you’re okay with eating it all the time.”
“I sometimes do steak and cooked carrots. I do mix it up, but it’s always the same for however long it takes me to eat through this. I’m usually too damn tired after a twelve-hour shift that turned into an even longer one to cook. I can shower, pop this in the microwave, and call it good. Same thing for packing lunch. I can sleep a little longer being able to just pull one of these from the fridge.”
“You’ve got the bachelor life down to a science,” I tease.
“Blame Orrin. He started it. The rest of us just went along with it because it’s a genius plan. The only one that differs a little is Declan because he has Blakely. She does like most foods, but she’s also a kid and loves chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs, and macaroni and cheese.”
“I mean, it’s a dinosaur nugget. Kid’s got good taste.”
“Right? I keep a bag in the freezer for her.”
“You really do spoil her, you know.”
“Yeah.” He nods. “We all do. She’s our only niece, and she’s a hellcat, that one. Some of the things she comes up with.” He shakes his head as if he can’t believe the adorable little girl is capable of the personality that she rocks.
“Nothing wrong with a little spoiling. As the baby of the family, I speak from experience.”
“I can imagine. We do the same with Ramsey, and she’s our cousin and has only been in our lives for more than a quick visit for a couple of years now.”
“I’m happy for them. I know I give her and my brother hell for me getting them together, but that’s just to rile them up. I knew instantly they would be perfect together. It just took me a while to get my workaholic brother to slow down and convince Rams to do me a favor.”
Brooks points at me. “That was sneaky but a good move. He’s good for her.”
“She’s good for him.”
“So, what about you? No leading man in your life?”
“Does my camera count?”
“Nope. Must be human,” he teases.
“Nah. I’m always working it seems, and well, when you grow up with everyone in a small town, it’s hard to find someone you don’t remember picking their nose and eating it in elementary school.”
Brooks grimaces. “Nice visual. I understand what you’re saying, though.”
“What about you? Just living your best life as a bachelor?”
“For now.”
“For now?”
“Yeah. One day I’ll find her.”
