Page 33 of Beck & Coll
“You haven’t even asked me my name. Aren’t you curious about who you’re trying to marry?”
“Sugar, I plan to call you Mrs. Strong every chance I get. And when I’m not calling you that, I’ll call you Queen. How many carats you want your ring to have, Mrs. Strong?”
She giggled again.
I tried not to puke. “Bay, please stop hitting on my mother right in my face. Anyway, Ma, this is Bayliss Strong. Bay, this is my mother. Her name is not Mrs. Strong. Her name is Alisha Kingsley.” I was being a brat, and I wasn’t even sure why.
“For now,” he told me. “Ms. Alisha, is this your only bag?” He easily lifted her carry-on suitcase.
“It is.”
“Cool. Future wife, you go ‘head and get in that front seat. Collins, you gone navigate from the back.” He walked away to put my mom’s suitcase in the trunk.
“What?” I questioned while my mom dissolved into another fit of giggles.
I couldn’t help but notice that she climbed right into the passenger seat while she was laughing. I wanted to be mad, but the truth of the matter was that I was going to give her the front seat anyway.
The ride back to Jackson Falls was punctuated by a soft, quiet conversation between my mother and Bayliss, while I alternated between dozing off and texting on my phone with my sisters in our group chat.
Me:
Your mother is out here in the wilderness flirting already.
Bailey:
Please tell her to stop. I don’t need any more sisters, and this lady gets pregnant every time she says hello to a man.
Perkins:
Stop being a hater, Bailey. You have live-in dick. Let Ma live. It’s probably been a minute since she got some. Let her get some.
Bailey:
We don’t even know this man. Who is he, Collins?
Me:
His parents own the lodge. He’s the veterinarian at the cattle ranch on the lodge.
Perkins:
Smart, and he has money. And his parents own the lodge? Your man’s parents own the lodge, right? Is he your man’s brother?
Church:
Collins, you have a man?
Bailey:
Right?!?!
Me:
He’s my friend! He’s the adventure guide.
Perkins:
And he’s been guiding you on how to ride that dick!
