Page 70 of The Bro Pact
We have new neighbors that parked one spot down from our RV while we were at the animal sanctuary. I’m a little annoyed because we like our privacy, but I can’t be mad when he sounds so nice.
“Dan, stop it,” the old lady scolds her husband who seems pretty amused with himself. “Come on over and have a nice meal, darling. I’m Greta, and this is my husband, Daniel.”
All of the hollering must wake Kyle because he steps out of the RV looking sleepy-faced as he turns around and stares up at me. “What’s going on, Ren?” His brows furrow.
“Dan and Greta have invited us over for dinner.”
Kyle tilts his head, shaking the sleeping kitten cuddled to his chest. “Who?”
“Our neighbors.” I nod toward the RV next to us, and Kyle’s eyes follow.
“Oh.Cool. Sure, I guess. I am pretty hungry.” Socks finally wakes up from all the moving and talking, giving us a big kitty yawn.
We’ve needed groceries for a couple of days, but no one’s put forth the effort.
“As long as it’s okay if we bring a friend!” I shout back to our neighbors, and Kyle holds the kitten upLion Kingstyle.
“Oh my word.You three cuties get on over here and let me feed you! I won’t take no for an answer!”
“Be right there, ma’am!” I holler with a warm smile as Kyle thrusts the kitten into my arms.
“Here.Hold him while I pee and put a shirt on.”
Kyle comes back out three minutes later in his favorite faded blue T-shirt with all the holes in it.
“Seriously, dude? You couldn’t have put on something nicer? Something that fits?”
Kyle just shrugs, and I shake my head, handing him the kitten.
We make our way over to the neighbors, greeting them with warm hellos and polite smiles.
“I’m about to put the steaks on. Tell me how you like ’em, boys,” Dan says with a kind smile as he lifts the lid of his grill.
The smoky scent of charcoal infiltrates my nostrils, making my mouth water at the thought of a big, juicy steak.
“Medium-well for both of us. Thanks, Dan,” I answer without thinking twice about speaking for Kyle.
“You got it. Beers are on ice.” He points with his tongs to a big white cooler.
I grab two as Kyle sits down in the folding chair next to Greta, handing her the kitten.
“Oh, he’s just darling,” she coos. “What’s his name?”
“Socks.”
“Well, isn’t that adorable.” She picks up one of his little feet, petting the coloration. “And appropriate. How long have you had him?”
“This is our first day, but we’re just babysitting for the night,” Kyle says politely. “The animal sanctuary down the road is a really cool place to visit if you haven’t already.”
“Oh!We haven’t. Did you hear that, Daniel? We should plan a visit to see the animals.”
“Sounds good, honey!” Dan shouts from the grill.
I sit next to Kyle, opening his beer and handing it over.
We all chat while the steaks cook, and I tell them how we just finished our freshman year of college and decided to travel for a couple weeks.
We find out they’re recently retired, sold their house, bought an RV, and just kicked off their travels with a trip to Vegas that ended three days ago.
