Page 88 of Perfect Playbook

He glances up at me. “Can I go outside?”

“Course. We’ll all be out there around the grill in a minute. Don’t touch it.”

“I know. It’s hot…” he says but he’s already running away from me with Kieran and Eve.

Colt, Sam, and Ashton are in the kitchen getting marinated meats on a plate to go outside. And the rest of the adults circle Luis to make him feel at home.

Everyone knows Luis on a superficial level. Jolie is his vet, though she’s not doing certain large animal or cat calls anymore now that she’s pregnant. My mom and Luis have known each other since Luis’ family immigrated forty-odd years ago. It’s a small town, so everyone knows everyone in some way, but while Luis is happy to be here, I know he’s unsure of his place.

Still, my mom won’t let people be uncomfortable for long. But she doesn’t take the easy-does-it approach, making light conversation and talking about the weather.

She goes for the jugular, lets you know she’s ready for the real stuff. “So, Luis, how is it with Shay and Nino all moved out? You okay over there?”

Luis looks at the floor and tries to brush it off his shoulders by lifting them casually. “Yes. Fine. Fine.”

“Don’t you lie to me, Flash.”

The corner of his mouth raises at the apparent nickname I vaguely heard he earned when he was on the bronc riding scene in his younger years. “It’ll certainly take some getting used to.”

“You need two things,” my mom says authoritatively. “Food. And a new hobby. I’m already making meals for Jolie and Ashton, to stuff their freezer for when the baby comes…”

“About that,” Jolie interjects. “We still have six months till little Fletch arrives. We might need another freezer.”

“Or,” Mom gazes over her eyebrows, “I might just have a new fridge to put them in. Luis, what do you like? Lasagna? Chili?”

“Joy. I can cook…”

“Nonsense. I know what ranchers eat when they come in from a long day. Let me guess. Potato chips and some sort of cheese dip?”

He chuckles low. “Nearly got me. Tortillas and salsa.”

“You need real food, Luis.” She takes a drink of her soda. “And a hobby. I got that covered for you, too.”

“Mom.” I scratch my jaw. “No.”

“Why not? If anything would take Luis’ mind off his empty nest it’ll be my book club.”

A pensive look overcomes Luis’ face. “You know, that sounds all right. I like reading.”

My mom tosses me a devilish expression and raises her eyebrow. “See? He likes reading.”

“Luis, I’m not sure you’ll be up forthiskind of reading.” Or maybe he will. I sure as hell enjoyed the spicy romance book Mom gave me one Christmas. It was about a hockey player who wouldn’t settle down and eventually found love. And he also somehow gave double orgasms with his ten-inch dick and tattooed lines on his body every day he was apart from his childhood love, like being apart was a prison sentence.

I thought it was a little extreme but then reflected on how I haven’t etched lines onto my body just to lament Shay, but I could tell a person near enough to the date howmany days passed between Shay breaking up with me and Vegas. I have some sort of internal ticker. So maybe it wasn’t that wild.

“Logan.” My mom places her hand on my arm. “Let Luis decide for himself.” She swallows a mischievous laugh. “Flash, if you aren’t into the book club, I can also offer jewelry making. There are some nice men at my classes in Santa Fe who do metalwork.” She turns to my brother, Dash. “Maybe you and Molly could help Luis out with some staff a couple times a month and give him a break for a change of scenery?”

Dash raises his beer bottle. “Can do. Happy to come over anytime with some of the guys.”

“Me, too,” Molly offers, threading her arm through Dash’s. She’s never one to shy away from ranch work.

I didn’t think our girl, Chicago, would stay for the long haul but, man, I’m happy she has. Dash actually cracks a smile once in a while now, and though my brother will always be introverted, now at least I know he won’t be alone.

“Thanks, Joy.” Luis smiles at her like he knows exactly what kind of mischief my mom can get up to. “I’ll consider it.”

Colt announces, “Let’s move this party outside, people.”

We follow into the backyard where Kieran, Eve, and Nino have set up long rows of tunnels using logs, making a big maze for her guinea pigs.

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