Page 52 of Hot Doggin'
Followed by Rhett. “Aw, so cute. Matching haircuts. Did you match your underwear too?”
Then Jax. “Every time I see you, you two just get dumber looking.”
Mandy stays quiet, but his big shoulders shake with silent laughter.
Nash tries to be kinder. “I want to ask, I really do, but I’m afraid to ask.”
Brandt smiles kindly but then ruins it by breaking out in laughter. “Anything is better than that mullet.”
When Riggs enters the classroom, he does a double take on his way to his seat. “Do I wanna know?” I shake my head. “Didn’t think so.”
Pharo graces us with his presence today. A rare sighting lately as he’s been gone more and more. He contains his laughter, but grins and winks. “Listen, next time, go on down to the barbershop. It’ll cost you a few bucks, but it’s worth it, I promise.”
It seems like that’s the end of it, everyone gave their two cents, but no. It never is with these guys. Every time West looks over at us, he starts laughing again, setting off a contagious wave of hilarity throughout the group. I run a hand over my fuzzy head, feeling self-conscious.
“Does it really look that bad?” I ask McCormick in a side whisper.
He scoffs. “Shit, they’re jealous. They’ve probably got weird shaped heads and can’t pull this off like we can.”
Of course, he would say that. You can’t get Mac down. He sees the bright side of every situation. And he always thinks he’s the best-looking guy in the room.
You know what? Fuck it. He is.
It’s not just his face, it’s his confidence. His personality shines brighter than his hair. I shoot him a grateful look.
This big, bald orange motherfucker is all mine.
“All right, listen up,” Riggs barks. “It’s the holidays, and people do a lot of asking around the holidays. Only two of you fuckers have an actual job, the rest of you just fudge it. So I know you’ve got plenty of time on your hands to volunteer. No excuses. Margaret Anne is looking for volunteers to help out with the Christmas party. She needs someone to play Santa. Linda, who runs the gift shop, needs a volunteer to cover two of her shifts while she’s visiting family for the holidays.
Mac raises his hand. “I’ll do it.”
”Seriously?” I ask. What does he want with the gift shop?
“Hell yeah. I’ve got ideas for new merch. By the time she comes back, she won’t even recognize that place.”
Jesus. Is it possible to get kicked out of a volunteer organization? Because if so, his name is on the shortlist. Or, it’s about to be.
“I’ll pass your name along,” Riggs insists. “Nash is looking for volunteers to help with his Helping Homeowners initiative. He’d like to gift a couple of homeowners in need with some home renovation projects for the holiday. If you can read a tape measure and operate a saw without cutting off your hand, please get with him after the group.”
Brandt and West give Nash a nod, and I guess they’re offering to help out. Mandy elbows Nash and I guess he’s in on it too.
My heart squeezes again, and I get choked up, just like when Mac asked me if he was mine. This community is truly specialand I’m grateful to be a part of it. Sure, they may laugh at my hair or rib each other. That’s what brothers do. But when the chips are down, we step up and help. Make sure we have each other‘s backs. No man left behind.
A brotherhood of broken men, but we help repair each other’s cracks and breaks. We put together the broken pieces and make each other whole again. My eyes betray me and start to mist, and I stretch out the neck of my shirt to wipe them dry.
“Are you tearing up over volunteering?” Jax asks from my left. “Nobody’s fucking making you do anything.”
He’s such a grumpy fucker. I hope somebody pulls that stick out of his ass someday, so he can find his smile again.
“It’s the hair,” West jokes. “I’d cry too, if I looked like him.”
Whatever. They can tease me all they want. They do it because they love me.
When the meeting comes to a close, Nash jumps to his feet. “Who's hungry for some chicken wings?”
Mac answers for the both of us. “Not us. I got a hot date.”
Rhett snorts. “With your remote control and your right hand?”
