Page 34 of The Homecoming

“Oh, I’m sure that’s what he’s doing.” She smiled. “I mean, if the relationship is worth saving, you should try, right?”

Rebecca took a long drink. “I guess,” she paused. “But part of me wonders if this hasn’t just run its course.”

Autumn nodded. “Well, that’s something you need to figure out, then.”

“I mean… I’m sort of sick of him and his crap.”

“You need to talk to him, ‘cause there’s no point in dragging it out, right?”

She nodded. “I know.”

“But hey, if it doesn’t work out, at least you get to keep all of us.”

Weasel walked up with four hot dogs skewered onto a bent wire coat hanger and capped with a large marshmallow. “You ladies ready to roast some weenies?” He flashed a broad grin and wielded the coat hanger like a sword before walking off.

Rebecca looked at Autumn. “That’s not any consolation.”

Autumn shook her head. “Yeah, I didn’t think that through.”

Rebecca laughed, which made Autumn feel better. “Although, I would like to roast a weenie.”

“You mean Kyle’s?” Autumn asked, and Rebecca burst out in laughter.

Brandon made his way over to Autumn and handed her a plastic cup. Autumn raised it to her lips, discovering that it was ginger ale. She smiled at Brandon. “Feel like a hot dog?” he asked.

She wasn’t, but smiled and lied for him. “Sounds good.” She followed Brandon and Rebecca across the yard to the table of food. Brandon stabbed a hot dog onto a long-handled skewer and handed it to Autumn. She wandered to the pit and held it over the flames.

“Hey, Mac attack.” Weasel came up next to her at the fire and she rolled her eyes at the nickname. “So, what’s up with Jason?”

Autumn shrugged. “Not much.”

“I’ve been trying to get him to come out for weeks and do something.”

She kept an eye on her hot dog as it roasted. “Yeah, I know.”

“Does he do anything?”

Jason wouldn’t want her to talk about it. “I think he’s still acclimating to being home,” she replied. “So far the only thing I can get him to do is target shoot and play video games.” She pulled the hot dog from the fire and went to the table for a bun as Weasel followed. “Shooting what?”

“Bow. He’s been teaching me.” She busied herself with ketchup and picking out which potato chips she wanted.

“You’re bow shooting?” he asked with a smile as she nodded.

“Something amusing about that?”

With a mile-wide grin, he shook his head. “Naw, it’s a very appealing quality in a woman.”

She shot him a side-eye. “Weasel.”

He frowned. “Shit, Mac. I ain’t hitting on you. I don’t have a death wish,” he laughed.

She cringed but decided to let it go. “Do you still bow hunt?”

He looked incredulous. “Yeah.”

“Come out one night and target shoot with him. It might be good for him.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I can do that.” She turned to walk off, but he called out, “Hey, Mac?” She turned back to him he asked, “You sure he’s alright?”

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