Page 84 of Moonshine Lullabies

“Can’t ever remember you invitin’ one of Jessie-Lou’s boyfriends along for the hunt.”

“Col’s different,” Cypress said. “He’s my brother in the club before he’s Jessie’s new beau.”

“Ah, I get it,” Hamblin said as Jess slid out the back slider. He leaned forward over the fire and said, “I’d never say it about my favorite niece but, I think you know where my mind went.”

Yeah.

Bros before hos.

I got it.

Made me want to smash his fuckin’ face in even more.

Cy and his daddy just laughed along but I could tell it was forced. Hamblin seemed oblivious, though.

Jess handed him his beer and she was sans her tea jar. I hould think about gettin’ goin’,” she said, and I nodded. My beer was almost through and it’d been my only one. I’d been nursin’ it a minute.

“You’re probably right, I got work in the mornin’ and the city is a drive.”

She nodded and Hamblin was like, “Well, hell! I feel like I just got here an’ you’re goin’ already!”

“Ah, you know how it is,” Jessie’s dad declared. “Workin’ for the man.”

“I sure do,” Hamblin said and he reached out for Jess who shied away.

“Aw, I forgot, you’re not a hugger anymore,” he said.

“Yeah, no, sorry.” She laughed nervously, and I passed my bottle to Cy who took it.

“Awright, now,” I declared. “I’ll seeyoulater,” I said to Cy and we clapped hands like we was gonna wrestle arms and gave it a shake.

I went to her dad and did the same, as we was family now, after all. Not much binds two men closer than plotting a third man’s death.

“It was good to meet ‘cha,” he said. “Don’t be shy now, y’all come back now, y’hear.”

“I surely do.”

“Wanna say bye to Tate?” she asked, and I nodded.

“Of course, I do!”

“Alright, drive safe, baby girl,” her daddy said and she looked back his way with a slightly puzzled look as we went back into the house.

I shut the door behind us and she said, “He ain’t called me that inyears.”

“Must be feelin’ nostalgic after all those old huntin’ stories,” I said.

“Maybe,” she murmured.

“You alright?” I asked as we headed Tate’s way and she quipped, “I’m fine!”

We said bye to her son and gave him hugs and once we were out the front door, she let out a deep cleansing breath.

“You want me to drive?” I asked her.

“Yeah, if you don’t mind.” She handed me over the keys and I went around to open her door for her. She got in the truck and I shut her in double quick, intent on getting her the fuck outta here.

She reached over and gripped my hand tight where it rested on the seat between us. I pressed a thumb over the backs of her fingers and said to her, “You got options.”

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