Page 10 of Tav

Whipping my head in his direction, I stare for a quick minute before getting my eyes back on the road. “You work through your thoughts? Like, you just don’t say them as they come to you?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because my last name isn’t Tombs,” he says drily.

“Hmph.”

“Just trying to figure out where you fit into the chaos. You’re open, more outgoing -”

“- Ana says I’m a golden retriever.”

Tank huffs out a breath before tipping his head side to side. “Actually, that’s the perfect description for you. Just trying to figure out how that works.”

Swallowing, I think about my family. He’s not wrong, I’m not high strung like Gus, definitely more fucking normal than Jules, he’s weird. And, well, Dayz is the baby and the only girl, so she’s spoiled.

“I spent a lot of time with my mom growing up. Gus would do shit with our dad. Jules liked being alone, and Dayz and Pops are tight. Pops is my dad’s dad. Mom was totally normal.”

“That why you like the MILFs?”

I’m already shaking my head, knowing the question was coming. People always assume I like MILFs because I lost my mom when I was young. That’s not it. I don’t need to be mothered.

“My favorite childhood memories are of family. All of us together playing football or having a picnic. Going on holiday, whatever. I loved being a part of that. When Mom and Dad died, it became about survival, I guess. Just making it through the day. When I got out of college, I met a woman with a kid. Never thought I’d want to be with a mom, but well, she changed my thinking. Just because a woman has a child doesn’t make her less desirable or whatever. She was hot as hell and sometimes we spent time with her little boy. I liked it. Being part of their little family.” I shrug. “But I’ve dated women with kids, and women without kids. Women older than me or younger. It doesn’t matter. Especially now I’ve found Blanche.”

Tank looks at me thoughtfully for a moment. “You’re gone for her, huh?”

“What’s not to go for? She’s beautiful and caring and thoughtful -”

“A stone cold killer on a mission to murder her uncle -”

“Yeah. Perfect.”

He shakes his head and then indicates a dirt road that I would have missed if I wasn’t looking for it. Following the twists and turns, driving further into a wooded area, we come to a stopat a cozy little log cabin. It’s not cold out, but I can see puffs of smoke coming out of the chimney.

An older man with a face like a screwed up fist steps onto the porch. Dungarees without a top underneath, unlaced boots, and a shotgun pointed directly at us.

Tank winds his window down and holds his hands out, showing that we aren’t armed. He brings one hand in to flick the door handle and then steps out slowly. As soon as the old man sees who it is a smile breaks out, changing the whole look of his face.

“Tank, you big bastard! What the hell are ya doing in that cage, huh? Your ass is too big for that little dinky car,” He throws his head back and lets out a rusty laugh.

Tank indicates I get out of the vehicle, so I follow his lead and do exactly as he did.

“I’ve brought the prospect I’ve sponsored. He can do all the heavy lifting,” Tank smiles at the old man who squints at me before shrugging and waving me closer.

“Henderson. Name and rank, son.”

“Oh, no rank, I’m afraid.” I firmly shake his old leathery hand and let my smile grow when he squints even harder at me.

“You look familiar. Have I kicked your ass in the past?”

My head tips back as I bark out a laugh. “No sir, I think I’d remember an ass kicking from you.”

He grins and then waves at us to follow as he stomps along the porch, heading for the back of the cabin.

“Here she is, boys, all packed up, ready to wet the whistles of the old and infirm.” He waggles his bushy white eyebrows.

I briefly wonder if I should get a bottle for Pops and then very quickly stop wondering. That would be a terrible idea.

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