Page 66 of Tiger Queen

Jake shook his head. “That’s a lot to ask of an old friend. I’m not trying to put you on the spot.”

Bobby John leaned across the table and put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “You remember how fucked up I was when my pops died? You came by every day and made sure I got out of bed and came to football practice. Even though it was half an hour out of your way. Shit meant a lot to me, man, and now you’re struggling ‘cause your own dad’s gone and left you with a bunch of problems. I’m gonna fill whatever order you need, and I won’t hear any other argument about it.”

Jake stood, and the two men embraced. They clapped each other on the back and there were tears in their eyes. Seeing Jake that vulnerable made my throat tighten. I felt like I was intruding on a very private moment.

“I’m, uh, gonna take a piss,” Jake said and wandered off. Bobby John sat back down at the table.

“He’s stubborn as a mule, but he’s good people,” he told me. “You take care of him now, ya hear?”

I smiled. “I’m really not his girlfriend. We just work together at the zoo.”

He gave me a suspicious look. “Maybe so. But Jakey definitely likes you.”

I laughed. “Jake hates me!”

Bobby John shook his head. “Now, it’s been a long time since I seen him. But he’s got a tell. The same tell he had when he was a youngin’. And sure as my name’s Robert Jonathan, he’s got the hots for you. He’s got it bad.” He leaned across the table and pointed at me. “And I seen the way you look at him, too.”

I opened my mouth to deny it, but no words came out.

Jake returned from the bathroom. He was teetering on his feet now, and had to put his hand on the wall to steady himself. “We, uh, should get going.”

“Y’all are welcome to stay here,” Bobby John offered. “Don’t often have guests, but I got the pull-out couch and some fresh linens in the closet.”

“I have to wake up early for work, and I’d rather drive Jake home tonight than in the morning. But that’s sweet of you to offer.”

We said our goodbyes. The two men hugged again, and then Jake nearly fell. I put my arm around him to help him to the car.

“You watch after him, alright?” Bobby John told me.

“I’ll do my best.”

I wasn’t sure if I meant it or not.

29

Rachel

I helped Jake into the car and then set the route home on Waze. Jake put the seat back until it was as flat as it would go, then put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. The tattoos on his arm were momentarily illuminated by the light at the entrance of Bobby John’s driveway, dark ink spreading across his massive muscles.

“We’re awfully lucky that your friend owns so much cattle. Not a lot of cow farms down here.”

“Lucky. Right.”

I glanced over at him while I drove. There was a smirk spread across his handsome face, and his eyes were closed.

“You planned that, didn’t you?”

He sighed drunkenly. “I told you. My brothers have their ways of solving problems, and I have mine.”

I laughed. “This was not how I expected the night to go.”

“Shoulda trusted me.”

“Trust isn’t really something you’ve earned since I came here,” I pointed out.

“I may do things my own way,” he admitted. “But I get shit done.”

I couldn’t argue with him there. Between this, and the work he did around the zoo, he was shockingly productive. If only he communicated better.

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