Page 27 of Genesis

“What do girls and noodles have in common?” I hear Carson say to Johnny as I walk back into the living room.

Johnny looks over at him. “The fuck if I know.”

“They both wiggle when you eat them,” Carson says with a wink.

I grin, taking a seat on the couch. “Where the hell did you get this guy?” Paul asks me.

“Same foster home as Johnny,” I reply as Ma walks into the house. I failed to mention that he seems to be a borderline lunatic with psychopathic tendencies, but whatever.

“Turkey’s done,” Bexley says from the dining room.

“Thank fuck. Let’s eat,” Paul says, standing up, rubbing his hands together. Samuel stands, too, and Bexley smiles at him as he walks toward her.

“No dirty jokes at the table,” I tell Carson.

Like time hasn’t passed, we all take our usual seats at the table. Carson pulls up the extra chair that Ma has under the desk by the window.

“I just want to say, I’m thrilled to have all my kids here,” Ma says with a smile on her face and a tear in her eye. “Bexley, we missed you.”

I look at the girl beside me as she returns Ma’s smile.

“I missed you all,” she says.

“Yeah, yeah, can we eat already?” Paul says, bringing in the turkey. “Bexley isn’t the main show here.”

Laughter ignites from the table and Bexley rolls her eyes at my older brother.

“I mean, no offense, Bex, but look at this thing,” Paul says, grabbing the knife to cut the turkey.

“None taken,” Bexley replies, clearly unoffended because she knows Paul’s kidding. “Make sure you don’t mess it up with your crappy carving skills,” Bexley tosses back. “You remember the last time you got ahold of a turkey.”

“Fuck you,” Paul says, laughing.

“You boys and your bad language,” Ma says.

“Sorry, Ma,” Paul replies.

She makes a face like she forgives him, but she still doesn’t like it. Samuel leans over to Johnny. “Who put this guy in charge, anyway?”

Johnny grins.

“Finally,” I say over to him. “You’ve had a frown on your face all day.”

“You know I save my best smiles for Samuel,” Johnny says with a wink.

“What the hell am I, chopped liver? I bring you to dinner and this is how you treat me?” I say, taking mock offense.

Bexley leans over. “Maybe you need a new boyfriend?”

“Maybe I need a girlfriend,” I reply.

She smirks but doesn’t blush as she looks away.

“What was that?” Samuel asks from the other side.

“Nothing,” I say.

“Let’s bless the food before we all die of hunger,” Ma says.

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