Page 29 of Home Town Advantage
My stomach is shaking while I try to hold back my laughter. She’s so ridiculous.
I give Jagger a warm hug. “It’s good to see you. You’ve gotten so tall.”
She smiles with pride. “I know. I love it. I’ll be taller than Daylen one day soon.”
Unlikely, but I love that she’s confident in her height. I remember Sulley being so uncomfortable about it in her youth. It’s such a contrast to how she holds herself now. I love the type of woman that Sulley has grown into.
Daylen’s father then comes into view. He’s enormous, like Daylen, with a similar, jovial personality. He’s wearing suit pants with a white shirt and a loosened tie. They man hug like they might break each other.
He then holds out his hand for me, and I shake it. “Hank. Always good to see you.”
He gives me a genuine smile. “You as well, Vance. I’m looking forward to a great season.” He waves. “Come inside. I’m starving, and this food smells delicious. Sweet cheeks, you’ve outdone yourself tonight.”
He pinches Ashleigh’s ass, and she giggles up at her husband, who’s twenty-five years her senior.
She winks at him and responds, “Yes, Daddy.”
Yep, Ashleigh outwardly calls him Daddy. Daylen cringes, like he does every single time she says it. Fuck, I love spending time with the Humblecuts.
We make our way inside. It does smell good. I don’t get home-cooked meals very often. It’s a treat, and Ashleigh happens to be a great cook. I think culinary school was one of the twenty different schools Hank supported her through until she became pregnant with Jagger and decided to stay home with both her and Daylen.
We sit down and dig into the five-star restaurant-quality-looking steaks. Ashleigh smiles at Daylen and asks, “How are you finding your steak, baby boy?”
With a straight face, Daylen responds, “Quite easily. It’s right next to the potatoes.”
It takes Ashleigh a solid ten seconds to get the joke after everyone else does, but she eventually joins in on the laughter. At least I think she gets it. Fortunately for Jagger, she got her father’s brains.
Daylen asks Jagger, “Are you feeling better than you were last night?”
She nods. “Oh yes. Will apologized. We’re back together. He’s coming by for dessert in a little bit.”
Daylen’s jaw tightens. “Oh good, he and I can have a little chat.”
Jagger’s eyes widen. “Be nice.”
Daylen’s lips twist. “Will do, sis. I’ll be super nice to thedemeaning fucker.” Yep, he and I are going to have a bit of fun with this little twerp.
Ashleigh smacks Daylen’s hand. “Don’t curse. I brought you up better than that.”
Daylen rolls his eyes before he looks his father up and down. “Dad, I thought Ashleigh had you hitting the gym with her?”
Hank does appear a little heavier than normal. He’s a large man, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen his stomach this big. It’s hanging over his belt quite prominently.
Ashleigh gives him anI told you solook, but he smiles and says, “My beautiful wife is a great cook. I feel like I’ve spent my whole life trying to live healthy, constantly battling my weight. I want to enjoy myself. Keith Richards outlived Richard Simmons. What does that tell you about healthy living?”
Hmm. He does make a valid point.
Hank looks at me. “What’s going on with you, Vance? Do you have a special lady in your life or are you a manwhore like my son?”
I chuckle. “No one special, but Daylen has a lot more luck with the ladies than I do.”
Hanks nods in understanding. “And your parents? How are they?”
“Busy on the ranch. They let me take them on vacation a few months ago, but they don’t love leaving the house in someone else’s hands. It’s always like pulling teeth to get them to go anywhere.”
And I’m persona non grata in my hometown, so I rarely visit. When I do, I’m holed up in the house for a few days before I start to go crazy and end up leaving early to head back to Philly.
He smiles. “Well, tellyo mamathat I say hello.”
