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“Most of the time, yeah, they’re the most sought-after shifts, but the boss tries to rotate us so even the newbies get a good shift once in a while. You should stop in some night. Just don’t ask for alcohol, because I know you’re underage.”
Wyatt snorted around a mouthful of his sandwich. “I’d never get you into trouble by serving me. Is the Roost the best place in Weston to chill?”
“Pretty much, but I’m also biased. The boys usually come by a few nights a week but I haven’t seen any of y’all from Woods Ranch gracing my bar this week.”
“Really? I didn’t know that.”
“Which part?”
“Both, I guess. Is the Roost like a cowboy bar?”
“More like a dive bar that attracts cowboys from all around the area. Brand and Hugo still come around pretty regular, but I haven’t seen Rem there as much. Then again, he and his wife having been trying for another baby for a long time, so I suspect they value any nights they have together minus little Susie.”
Wyatt went through his mental file on Rem. Susie was his little girl. While both his sisters had multiple kids, Rem and Shelby only had one. “I can’t imagine having a wife and kids, or really even wanting those things.”
“Well, you’re really a kid yourself, Wyatt. Not many people nowadays are craving those things at twenty. You’ve got too many other things to worry about.”
“You’re older.” Off her cross look, Wyatt hurried on with his train of thought. “I just mean you don’t have a husband and kids. Unless you’re divorced or something, which isn’t really my business.”
She snagged one of his cold fries and popped it into her mouth. Chewed. “I’m not the marrying or motherly type. Relationships are complicated beyond reason for me, and I’ve never wanted kids. Not even when I was a kid myself, playing with dolls, and giggling with my girlfriends over the boys we thought we liked. I’d have been a terrible mother.”
“People say not everyone is meant to be parent. Maybe you’re just one of those and that’s cool. I mean...” He took a calculated risk with his next statement. “My boss Brand is like almost forty or something, and he doesn’t have kids.”
“He’s not forty, and you’re right. Not everyone is meant to be a parent.” Something odd flickered in her eyes, though, and Wyatt didn’t know if it was about her own lack of kids, or if she knew something about Brand and his “lack” of kids. Or at least, lack of ones he hadn’t sired, given away, and never bothered to claim. Like Wyatt.
Maybe.
“I guess being kid-adjacent isn’t too bad,” Wyatt hedged. “Like being an aunt or godmother or something. That way you can give the kid back to the parents after a little while of entertaining them.”
Ramie laughed. “Yeah, if I had siblings of my own, I guess I could handle being the crazy spinster aunt who works at a bar and has ten cats. Although instead of cats I’ve got a cowboy-wannabe roommate. Then again, I might be able to get away with being the crazy aunt if Brand and Hugo stay serious and end up adopting.”
Wyatt’s brain stuttered for a few seconds. First, over the idea of Brand and Hugo being so serious they’d adopt a kid or more. Not that gay couples adopting was all that unusual nowadays, even if some states made it stupidly difficult, but it was still kind of a surreal thought about two guys he’d only known for a handful of days.
Second, over Brand and Ramie being so close he’d consider Ramie an aunt to any hypothetical kids Brand might or might not adopt.
Instead of going for the obvious, he said, “I didn’t realize you and Hugo were such good friends.”
“Oh, we’re not. I mean, I like him a lot, and he’s great with Brand. No, I’ve known Brand for a lot of years, and we were pretty close for a spell. Still are, which is why I trusted him enough to let you live here with no references and not even a phone interview. But for me personally? Being the crazy aunt is way better than being the actual parent.”
“I hear you. And Brand is a really nice boss, so far. I haven’t seen a lot of him since the day he hired me, but I guess he’s busy running the ranch.” The kid angle wasn’t getting him anywhere, and fatigue was battling with Wyatt’s need for information. “I didn’t realize him and Hugo were serious enough to adopt. I mean, they live together and stuff, but...you know.”
Ramie waved a hand in the air. “That was just me being hypothetical. Pretty sure Brand doesn’t want kids at all, and I couldn’t guess about Hugo. They haven’t even been together a year, so this is just me babbling about stuff that will probably never happen. Call it PMS brain if you want.”
“Okay.” He wanted to keep pressing but he also didn’t want to risk alienating Ramie if he pushed too far and got on her bad side. “So, uh, this burger is good. Guess I’ll have to stop by the Roost some night for dinner and try stuff when it’s fresh cooked.”
“Definitely recommend hot off the grill or out of the fryer basket. Just don’t ever expect fresh meat from the market, because the freezer is way bigger than the fridge. Just sayin’.”
Wyatt chuckled. “Duly noted. Do I get a roommate discount?”
“Maybe on your first burger. Just don’t test me by trying to order a beer.”
“Promise. I’ll save my fake ID for that bar way out on the highway in the middle of nowhere.”
One black eyebrow went up. “Blue Tavern? What are you doing out there? You know what the place is, right?”
“I know. Knew before I went there the first time.” He held her gaze steadily, curious what she’d think about this bit of information. He hadn’t explicitly said anything but she was smart. Really smart.
“Just be careful when you’re there,” Ramie finally said. “You’re young, and I’d hate for something to happen to you.” She winked. “I need your rent money to fix my damned roof.”
