Page 32 of Vex

“Can I go see if Bella’s around?” Tessie asks.

“Yes! Please! I mean, yeah, she’d love to see you. I’ll come get you when I’m ready to leave,” I tell her with what I’m hoping is a steady voice while pointing with a shaky finger to which house Bella resides.

After Tessie disappears into Petey’s house, I drop my head against the neck rest and sigh. How do I tell her she sucks at driving, and I’m a frightened little girl about ever riding with her again?

“What’cha doing, Vex?”

Opening my eyes, I see Craig’s little face peering up at me curiously. As he usually is, the kid’s covered in dirt, grass stains and what I’m hoping is mud this time. You can never tell with him though. Craig is Pooh’s soon to be son. Pippa, Pooh’s woman, has already adopted him and Pooh will too when they marry. Standing next to Craig is Gee. Ironically enough, the pig’s cleaner than the kid.

“Counting my blessings. Where’s Pooh?”

“Right here. Why’re you in the passenger seat?” Pooh asks as he steps next to Craig.

“He’s counting his blessings. Whatever the hell that means,” Craig states while flicking caked mud off his arm.

“Don’t let Pippa hear you swearing again, little man. Unless you’ve suddenly developed a taste for dish soap,” Pooh says with a laugh at the look on Craig’s face. The kid is notorious for not only his bad language but his dislike for soap and water.

“It’s just us men here. You said I can swear when the women aren’t around,” Craig reminds Pooh.

“That’s not exactly what I said,” Pooh replies with a grin.

“But it’s what I heard. I gotta go before Trudy sees me. She’s pretty quick on her feet when she’s got a washcloth in her hands,” Craig says with a wave as he and Gee head down the street.

“Passenger seat?” Pooh reminds me of his question.

I explain to him about Tessie’s driving lesson. By the time I’m done, he’s bent over laughing his stupid ass off at me.

“Not funny! How do I tell her she sucks big time?”

“Who sucks big time?” Axel asks as he and Gunner, with Mac on his shoulder, stop next to Pooh.

“You do!” Mac shouts.

“You know what, Mac? Your mommy isn’t here to save your ass today. Maybe it’s time the birdie goes bye-bye,” Axel shouts back.

“Bring it on, girlfriend!” Mac responds.

Axel makes a mad grab for Mac but ends up jerking his hand back with beak marks on it.

“You bit me!” Axel accuses.

“Stop right now! I’m not listening to you two argue for one more second today,” Gunner adds to the shouting match.

“He bit me!” Axel insists.

“And I don’t give two shits about that!” Gunner says exasperatedly.

I see the perfect solution to mine and Gunner’s problems. Time to get cagey.

“I was giving Tessie a driving lesson. Made me a little nervous to be honest. I’m not cut out for it. I really suck at teaching, I guess,” I interrupt adding in a mournful look.

It works to distract Axel from throttling Mac.

“How hard can it be to teach someone to drive? Losing your touch with the ladies, Vex?” Axel asks with a smug smile. “I taught Bailey how to drive a stick shift in no time flat.”

“Would you be willing to try with Tessie? She’s turning sixteen this week but still needs more in-car driving hours. She’s such a great kid, I hate to see her be disappointed if she doesn’t get those hours. You can use my truck. Maybe just keep her on the compound and put her through the paces?”

“Sure. Be happy to,” Axel answers as we all watch Tessie and Bella walk our direction.

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