Page 49 of A Little More

She aimed a looking of longing at Nash. “But Junior plays around too much. I like older men. They’re sophisticated.”

Nash risked a glance at Lexi’s legs. No. Nothing sophisticated coming to his mind at the moment. Horrible, dirty, teenage boy thoughts. Only now he knew what to do if the opportunity presented itself.

“We need to air this out once and for all.” His mom leaned against the back of the sofa, arms crossed, her glasses crooked down on the bridge of her nose to give Gina theimportanttalk, as Nash had always considered it. “Gina, darling, Junior is a year older than you. I know his grandma. Nice family. He’s in school to become a vet.”

Gina blinked. “A vet? Like a doctor.”

His mom nodded. “For animals, yes. He’ll make lots of money someday. Right now, he’s taking those first few classes at the community college to save money for school later. Now, I know he’s loud and brutish. That’s normal. Lord knows you should have seen these two at that age. Drinking beer and challenging each other to dumb contests.”

Dewey grinned. “Dang, Ms. Peggy, you saw that last week?” He laughed louder when she cut her eyes at him. That was Dewey. Either gravely serious or completely foolish.

Lexi disappeared down the hallway. Nash held his place, waiting until he could chase after her.

“I bet they were lots of fun.” Gina grinned. “When he’s around his friends, Junior acts stupid.”

“All guys do,” his mom said. “My husband, until the day he died, acted like a different man when he surrounded himself with other men, and they each had a beer in their hand. It was like the power of a cold can suck common sense right out of their heads, God love them.” She glanced up at the ceiling, really pulling out the dramatic flair. “Have you gone out with Junior without friends around?”

Gina’s lips pressed together as she considered Dewey and then Nash. “No. I keep waiting on Nash to ask me out.”

His mom patted her on the shoulder. “I love my son, but he is not right for you. He’s nearly old enough to be your dad. And he lacks a decent sense of humor.”

“Hey!” Nash crossed his arms, offended although he did want Gina to stop pestering him. He didn’t like her. Never would.

“See.” His mom rolled her eyes to the ceiling like he was a lost cause, before closing them a moment. “Can’t take a joke.” She gave her shoulder a light squeeze. “Let Dewey call Junior. Date someone your own age. I promise you’ll have more fun. Men get to a certain point in life and fun seeps right outta them, just like their hearing and eyesight.”

Dewey replied, “huh?”

That made Nash smile.

“He won’t ask me because he’s datingher.”

Gina’s question hung in the air. Dewey stepped forward and answered first, saving Nash and irritating him at the same time. “I hope not. I was trying to figure out how to ask Lexi on a date. Figure she wasn’t interested in a country guy but worth the shot.”

Gina didn’t look like she bought the excuse, but she didn’t question it again. Dewey motioned toward the door. “Let’s see if we can shake a little change from Junior to take you out somewhere nice. He’ll be much better company than Nash would ever be. That old guy goes to bed by nine-thirty, anyway.”

Nash held his hands up in defense. “I get up at four-thirty most days.” Man. Having your age thrown in your face, even to get rid of Gina, hurt his ego. He’d never thought one way or another about his bedtime.

His mom waited until the screen door closed before motioning Nash down the hallway. “Go stop her. I know a woman about to run when I see one.”

Nash sprinted down the hall, meeting Lexi as she left his old room, suitcase in hand. “Nope.” He took it from her and put it back on the bed. “You’re not leaving unless you’re headed to my house.”

She crossed her arms, her lips pursed together. “Yes, I am. I’m not going to have you, your mom, and your friendliefor me. I’m not worth it. Besides, I can’t risk losing my job. This was a stupid idea. I shouldn’t have come down.”

He’d try to handle this the mature way. He held both her hands, keeping his voice low. “Nobody gives a damn about lying to Gina for you. They weren’t lying for you, they were lying for me. To give me a chance to be with you. Which I can’t do if you are going to lose your job. We’re trying to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“That doesn’t matter. Gina still knows—”

“No. Dewey confessed that he was going to ask you out.”

“See. More lying.”

“Not that much of a lie since he already did once. Remember, you chose the Bahamas.”

She pulled her hands away. “He was joking, and you know it. I’m not going to ask your family and friends to lie.”

Because she wouldn’t ask anyone to do anything for her. Nash crossed his arms and somehow managed to keep that point to himself.

“I’ll make it home by nine if I leave now.”

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