Page 38 of The Barn: Frost and Q
“Yeah. I reckon. Can you believe that they brought in some guy from like Chicago?”
He chuckled weakly, and he did shake his head this time, but ow. Yeah, he wasn’t ready for that. “I told Boone it was like having a cruise director. Maybe Boone told me, I don’t remember, but seriously. A cruise director?”
“Yeah, I can see a concierge, you know, but it needs to be someone that we hire from inside, someone who understands the land and the lifestyle, the people. We need someone who can navigate all of the different levels of formality. Plus all of the different sports activities and outdoor activities and events. I mean, it’s a big job, and I think we need someone in the position for sure, but I think it needs to be somebody local, somebody who’s been doing this. Or something very close to it. You know, that’s what we need.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right.”
This was heaven.
Not the lack of headache, which was kind of amazing, or the fact that Frost agreed with him, which was only logical.
No, what was perfect was the fact that they were just talking like normal people. Just talking shit out and being together and…
It was heaven, and he was going to fight for it.
“It’s okay, I won’t tell anybody you said that.” Frost gently patted his butt.
“Good, we wouldn’t want anyone to think that we were on the same page about anything. It might disturb the balance of the universe.”
“Hell, it might rip the fabric of the universe, so we can’t have that either.” Frost chuckled, the sound tickled as shit. “Porcupine tossing, huh?”
He refused to apologize for his exaggeration. “Actually juggling. It was porcupine juggling. The meme pissed me off.”
“That sounds challenging and a little unhappy making for the porcupines.”
“Yeah, they’re cute little buggers and I adore them so. I know it was a joke. I was just so aggravated that my head was killing me. I just don’t know what else to do at the time. I think you’re right. I think we need somebody local.” They hired him, so he had to give him a chance.
“I don’t think he’s gonna last, babe. He’s a neat kid, but he is a city person. This is not a person who is equipped to handle ‘there’s a bear outside the kitchen’.”
Okay, that made him chuckle. He did love that part. The there’s-a-bear-outside-the-kitchen part of his life here. “Could be better. It could be a bear holding a fully loaded mountain lion.”
“Is this where I yell yeet the tactical porcupine?”
“Maybe not, yeah, but it totally is the appropriate response.” Q leaned hard, his eyelids getting heavy. “Can you stay for a while? I know we both have work to do, but I really need you.”
“I’m really right here, and I intend to stay, so we’re good. You holler when you’re ready to try some food, but first, let’s get that juice into you.”
His hands were shaking just the littlest bit as he picked up his juice and Sprite combo and drank deep.
“There you go. That’s going to make it better. How do you feel about grilled cheese sandwiches?”
“You know that I’m a fan.”
“Oh, good, I think that’s what I’m going to order. And then I think maybe if you want, we can just spend an afternoon being lazy. We can lay in bed and watch TV like we’re on vacation.”
“Amen.” Q just wanted to be with Frost for a little while. Then he could get back to terrorizing the other owners.
Twelve
“So when are you going to go back to work?”
“Huh?” Frost stopped with a bite of his omelet halfway to his mouth.
That came out of nowhere. Like absolutely nowhere.
“Are you going back to work? I know this season is about to be in full swing, and you know that California needs you. When are you gonna go?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think I’m ready to go back to work yet.”
