Page 37 of Scatter the Bones

“Yeah. He’s in the dining room with Serena.”

Murphy and Teller pop off the path from the woods. Murphy lifts a hand and waves.

“You didn’t run your ATV up here?” Rooster shouts to Teller.

Teller shakes his head and jerks his thumb at Murphy. “No, Charlotte and the twins are at his place with Heidi. I drove them up.” He nods to a ridiculously oversized blue SUV.

“You went with the Escalade?” Rooster asks him.

Teller nods. “The smaller one. Not the ESV.”

“Small?” I snort. “It’s the size of a school bus.”

Teller cocks his head and inhales a slow, patient breath. Kinda similar to the way Rock does when he’s thinking of choking one of us. “Two kids and all their shit take up a lot of space.”

“Jiggy doesn’t need to worry about that.” Rav holds out a fist toward me. “We have a no procreating pact. Right, brother?”

I hold out my own fist and tap his knuckles lightly. “I don’t remember agreeing to that, but whatever.”

Everyone stops and stares at me.

“Awww, you and Margot would have cute little babies,” Murphy jokes with a doofy grin on his ginger-bearded face.

My jaw locks shut. No snarky comeback slips onto my tongue.Margot’s so patient and calm. She’d be such a good mom.

“Shut your mouth.” Rav points a finger in Murphy’s face. “Just because you’re trying to spawn an entire football team, doesn’t mean Jiggy has to abandon his commitments.”

Murphy rolls his eyes and slaps Rav’s hand away. “Whatever.” His gaze lands on me and he frowns. “You all right, Jiggy? You look like you’re gonna hurl.”

I swallow hard. “I’m fine.”

“Oh, shit.” Rav’s eyes widen. “You didn’t knock Margot up already, did you?”

“It’s getting really disturbing how obsessed you are with everyone’s procreation plans,” Dex says.

“I’m notobsessed.” Ravage tugs on his cut and lifts his chin. “I’mconcerned.”

“It’sweird,” Murphy says.

I clear my throat and gesture toward Teller’s new ride. “Does Charlotte like it? Did you make her get rid of that sweet Raptor?”

“Make her?” Teller scoffs. “No. She loves that truck. I wouldn’t ask her to trade it in.” His shoulders shake with laughter. “Shesaidshe wanted something bigger, but she hasn’t wanted to drivethisyet. It’s ‘too big’.”

“Why?” Murphy glances at me. “You finally want to upgrade that busted-up 4Runner of yours?”

“Don’t talk shit about my truck,” I snap. “That ol’ girl’s got more miles on her than you do.”

“Doubt that,” Ravage snarks. “What’s wrong, Jiggy? Why so touchy today? Margot dump you already?”

“Shutup,” Rooster growls.

“Wait, hold up.” Ravage’s gaze swings between Rooster and me. “Did she? I got twenty bucks ridin’ on this with Stash.”

“For fuck’s sake, seriously?” Teller groans.

“Dude.” Murphy grimaces. “You’re betting on his sex life? That’s weirder than you commenting on our family planning.”

“No,” Rav says defensively. “I’m betting on whether or not he comes to his senses.”

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