Page 375 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
"I'm sorry for your loss, man. It's a horrible time to lose someone." Jake reached out again and gripped Drake's shoulder tightly. "We're both here for you."
He nodded and turned, walking toward the cluster of Christmas trees that sat in the distance. "I'm good. Just thought I should tell you guys before Sicily told Kari and Lisa and it got out."
Jake glanced toward Marc, who had paled visibly as Drake walked off. "You know Sicily's mother died in January. It's going to be a tough Christmas for them."
Marc shook his head and they started toward the trees. "Or maybe it will draw them in closer. You know sometimes tragedy fortifies relationships."
Jake chuckled. "Where did that shit come from?"
"From experience." Marc smiled. "When my dad cheated on my mom and left town, me and Kari grew really close. All we had was each other because Mom was lost to her pain."
"I get that." He left out the part where he didn't really get it. His parents were insanely close and had always been the best of friends. They were playful with each other and loving beyond measure through all of Jake's childhood. He and his brothers had been taught from an early age that love was everything. And that it existed - for everyone.
"So you and Kari are going to see Mom in New York before you head out to the Lone Star State?"
Jake nodded. "Yeah. I need to meet your mother. I should have already gone down there. Kari and I have been together since the spring. It's a four-hour drive."
"Life happens, man. You're the junior high coach, a fire fighter, you work on the weekends for the high school coaching staff." Marc laughed. "I'm going to give you a mulligan for being a tad bit busy."
They reached Drake, and funny enough, Marc's words left Jake feeling a little bit better. He had to stop beating himself up for the things he didn't do or couldn't find time to do and focus more on the things he could.
"All right. What do we think about this one?" Drake turned and wrapped his arms around the thick evergreen in front of him. His expression was softer, his body less tense from what Jake could tell. Maybe getting the news about his mom off his chest was the best thing he could have done.
"Grab it and shake it real good." Marc pumped his hips like he was fucking the air.
Jake smiled. "I think you should let Marc shake it off. He's used to that movement. He's quite active nowadays."
"It's all Lisa, I'm sure." Drake smirked and walked towards them. The gesture didn't reach his eyes, but it was nice to see a slight shift in the darkness sitting on him.
"You guys are just jealous." Marc walked toward the tree and wrapped his arms around it. "I hump this thing and you each owe me twenty dollars."
Drake laughed low in his chest. "Dude, you hump that thing and I'll give you fifty dollars."
"I'll throw in another fifty if you wait until this older couple down here walks by." Jake glanced down the row and almost felt bad for setting the couple up. Marc was a ham, and they couldn't help but feed into it.
"Nope. Lisa would kill me." He pumped his hips and grunted a few times.
Jake ran his gloved fingers down his face and laughed loudly. The guy had no class and yet was most likely the most popular guy in the sports program at NYU. It was because he had somehow freed himself from caring what people thought about him all the time.
"Why would Lisa kill you?" Drake chuckled and turned his back to Marc. "Stop, dude. You totally earned the money."
"Because she'll probably be selling that couple’s house later this year." Marc wrapped his arm around the top of Drake and Jake's shoulders. "Let's cut it down and take it home. I just christened it for us."
"You're ridiculous. I have no clue how a classy woman like Lisa stands your ass." Drake pulled from Marc and walked toward the truck. "I'll grab the axe."
Jake smiled and patted Marc on the chest. "I know why she likes you. You balance her."
"No, I'm horny all the time. Just like her." Marc winked and moved away from Jake as the older couple walked by.
"Hi, Coach Isaac." The older woman smiled sweetly.
"Afternoon, ma'am." Jake nodded, not quite able to let go of his southern heritage.
"Speaking of ma'am." Marc put his hands on his hips. "Are you proposing to my sister in Texas?"
"What does that have to do with ma'am?" Jake gave Marc an odd look. "You're so weird sometimes."
"It's part of his charm." Drake walked by them with the axe slung over his shoulder. "It's the only part of his charm."
