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He waggles his eyebrows as he says it, and Jasper and I share a quick look before Jasper answers, “Oh there are plenty. I doubt many play for our team though.”
“Oh, please. Just point me in their direction and I’ll rock their little Kansan world.”
“There is Jimbob,” I say, but Jasper huffs at that.
“Damon would destroy him. You will not introduce them.”
A laugh escapes me as I envision it. Fuck, I’m so damn happy to have them here. I didn’t realize how much I missed this, sitting around talking about stuff like this. This is why I moved away from Kansas. I needed to find my people, to become a different Bennet, not one that was stifled and folded in on himself. One who could be loud and proud of who I am. Because I’m fucking awesome, damn it.
“You just came here to get laid, huh?” I ask, and Damon waves me off.
“Who do you think I am? I came to get laid and to check on you.” He blows me a kiss, and I chuckle at his antics but stiffen when I hear Kristy clear her throat.
“Where’s Mom?” she asks, her voice clipped and strained.
Fuck. I don’t know why but I revert straight back to a little kid around her. Especially when she uses that no-nonsense tone with me. “She went to lay down.”
I notice that she hasn’t brought any food out, so I was right. She was in the kitchen bitching to Bridgette. The happy-go-lucky Kristy who made an appearance the last few days is gone, and Jasper can sense it too. Whatever progress he made with her might be slipping away.
Kristy eyes my friends, her gaze wary and not really friendly at all. It’s a little embarrassing, to be honest. Why can’t she just chill out? This is why I never brought friends home when I was in high school. I didn’t want them dealing with this.
“Well, I think I’ll go check on my kids then. If you don’t need anything,” she says, and Jasper meets her stare.
“We’ll be fine here,” Jasper assures her but she doesn’t look pleased, shooting Bridgette a worried look as she gathers her purse. Bridgette offers a smile, probably trying to comfort her, but our oldest sister’s face remains sour as she leaves. Well, she’ll have to get over it. Not everything can go her way.
God, she stresses me out. I thought we were turning a corner, but my mom coming home seems to have put us firmly back to where we started.
“It’s fine,” Jasper says, and Bridgette nods.
“She’s just stressed. We are so happy to have you all here,” Bridgette reassures everyone.
Reed nods his head and says softly, “We really are here to help. Put us to work.”
And I love them all the more for offering.
I’ll worry about Kristy another time. Right now, I’m gonna do what I can to make my mom’s transition home a little easier and then I need to figure out what the fuck I’m gonna do.
Do I stay? Or do I go?
I don’t fucking know.
* * *
“Oh god, this is awful,” Damon says as we make our way through the barn. Jasper showed him how to feed the pigs, and he held his nose and squealed like the hogs the entire time. They shouted back at him, chatting with him in their own language.
“It’s inhumane. They need to be bathed,” Damon says, fanning his face. I can’t help but laugh at these city boys. Hell, I missed this too. Not the stench, but I don’t know…the simple farm life. Maybe I’ll get a cow when I get back to California. Or a pig. I don’t know.
“We don’t bathe pigs,” I say with a laugh as Jasper shakes his head.
“I agree, Damon. They’refilthy. Can you believe we eat them?”
“I’m becoming a vegetarian,” Damon proclaims and Jasper wholeheartedly agrees. I doubt it will last long with either of them, but I’m sure Jasper is happy to have someone here who thinks just like him.
I’m sure they will talk about their time in Kansas for weeks to come.
“You said you were ready to help out on the farm. You said, ‘Put me to work!’”
“Yes, well, I did and I am. I am here to help. I plan on going to the local church after this with Bridgette and passing out my hats and scarves. I showed her what I brought and she said it would be a fantastic idea. It’s very cold here, very frigid. I also brought some penis pouches to give away, but now that I’m here, I’m not sure that will go over well.”
