Page 176 of Restless
“He’s probably stealing some peach apple cobbler,” Ransom said.
“Peachy apple cobbler,” Tabitha corrected.
“That’s what I said,” Ransom told her.
“No—”
“Mom, Dad, is it okay if I visit Harley if she’s still awake?” CJ interrupted, in no mood to hear Ransom and Tabitha’s back-and-forth.
“Don’t be long, boy,” Dad said.
“Is everything okay, CJ?” Mom asked.
“Nope, because Harley is a petty heifer, and CJ deserves better,” Rebel said.
“Can I talk, Reb?”
“I didn’t want you to leave out the pertinent details, including the woeful fact that you are probably going to suck up to her.”
“Rebel!” Mom said sharply. “Let CJ tell the story.”
“Fine,” Rebel mumbled, raising her hands. “Whatever.”
“I’m not going to suck up. I just want to check on her. And I want to talk to her. Jaleena…Jaleena—” He rubbed his eyes. Jaleena what? Why was this even an issue? He’d already decided his feelings were too uncertain to involve her in his life.
“CJ!” Rebel breathed. “Tell me it’s true. You’re moving on from the Wicked Bitch of the Northwest.”
“I can take off my sock and stuff it in Rebel’s mouth, Mom,” Ransom offered. “I was going to change them tonight anyway.”
Mom simultaneously groaned and placed her hand on Rebel’s arm.
Dad steepled his fingers. “How long the motherfuckers been on your feet, Ransom?”
“Four days. Why?”
“You haven’t showered in four fuckin’ days?”
“I never go over five days, Dad. That’s gross.”
“The entirety of your wretched little body is gross,” Rebel told him.
“Daily showers are bad for your skin, Reb,” Ransom said.
“But wonderful for your fuckin’ nose. Smelly balls and dick not something you want.”
Mom and Rebel exchanged mutually disgusted looks at Dad’s admonishment.
“Does…does anything ever get settled at the table?” Tabitha asked with hesitation.
“Private family dinners are generally chaos,” CJ said with a smile, since Diesel wasn’t talking to his wife. “We love every moment of it.” He looked at his parents again. “Speaking of…are we having another family get-together before Christmas?”
“Your ma just got home, son,” Dad said. “We don’t want to tire her out. She’s already talkin’ about the decorations that still need doin’.”
“A family get-together would be fun,” Mom said. “It’ll be a break from all the sadness.”
“Christmas is three fuckin’ weeks away, Megan. Let’s wait ‘til the new year to start with the weekly dinners again.”
Though Mom nodded, her disappointment was clear. Dad scowled at her, probably aware a get-together was suddenly imminent.
