Page 105 of Powerless
Sloane glances over her shoulder at my face, like what she sees reflected on the screen just isn’t enough. Our eyes catch for a moment. She smiles at what she sees there, and just as she turns back to the phone screen, Harvey lets out a loud whistle.
“Well, I’ll be . . .” His head shakes.
Beau snorts.
“What?” I ask, stepping away and crossing my arms over my chest. Because I’m not stupid. I know what they just saw.
Harvey’s grin is just a little too wide when he says, “Y’all went and made that kissing cousins saying a real-life thing.”
My eyes close and I take a deep breath. I’ve never had immunity from Harvey and his bad jokes, but I’ve always flown under the radar enough to not be his prime target. I momentarily wonder if this is how Cade feels.
Sloane gasps. “We’re not cousins!”
Beau elbows his dad, playing off of him like he always does. “I think they might be doing more than kissing. Look how red she is.”
I glance up at the corner of the phone to see her face, and sure enough, Sloane’s doing her best tomato imitation.
“We’re not cousins.” I back her up but my lips twitch. We’re going to get this joke for a long-ass time, might as well roll with the punches.
“I mean . . . sure. Not the type that’ll make a baby with a tail or something,” Harvey starts in, gaining momentum the more we all react. He’s like an over-grown child. “But still cousin-y if you ask me.”
“Literally no one asked you, Harv.”
“Hey, Dad.” Beau’s head inclines toward Harvey, and he reaches out to palm the back of his son’s neck. Harvey looks both exhausted and relieved. I twitch my nose a little to chase away the sting that crops up there.
“Yes, son?”
“On a scale of one to tail-baby-cousins, where would you put Jasper and Sloane?”
“Oh my god.” Sloane collapses onto the counter, holding the phone over her head, shaking it like I should take it from her.
“Like a five, probably.”
“Beau,” I cut them off with an amused shake of my head, taking the phone from Sloane’s hand. “How badly injured are you? Because I’m gonna make you pay for that joke.”
I meant it in a teasing way, but I can tell my comment sobers them both. I have a real knack for being a buzz kill. Sloane stands back up and leans her shoulder into my chest to appear back on the screen.
Beau clears his throat. “Some minor burns.” He gestures to his legs. “I might need a few months. Then I’ll be able to take you.”
I notice the IV line that disappears at the top of his hand. “What’s the deal?”
“Gotta stay here for a bit. Then they’ll be able to transfer me home. All you complainers will be happy to know that my days moonlighting as James Bond have ended.”
Sloane’s head nods in understanding. He doesn’t seem keen to disclose more, and I’m not one to push when someone wants to keep things under wraps, so I don’t. I default to our regular friendship.
“Yeah, but Bond gets pussy.”
Beau barks out a laugh and I smile at the sound. Fuck, it’s good to see him, and hear him laugh.
“Dude, you’re hooking up with your cousin. Don’t even talk to me about that.”
Sloane pushes up on her tip toes in front of me, like a fiery little dragon, all protective and shit. “Beau Eaton! Never mind Jasper.I’mgonna kick your ass when I see you. Right after I hug the hell out of you and tell you how much I love you.”
Beau smiles, more natural than I’ve seen on his face for this entire conversation, but I can see he’s getting tired. “I’d like to see you try, Sloaney. But I’ll take the hug.”
Harvey must notice the way Beau is fading too because he cuts in, “Okay, we’re gonna give Cade and Willa a call next, so I’m gonna jump in here. You two lovebirds have fun. It’s about dang time you two figured it out. Jasper’s been creeping on ya from under the brim of that dang hat for years. So just be safe. Know that Grandpa Harvey will love the baby, tail and all.”
“Harvey! Are you—”
