“Or you could go back home and get a jump on tomorrow’s work.” The thought of her mom and Nelson discussing their relationship was not something she wanted to encourage.
“I would definitely like to try the strawberry wine,” Gavin announced. “And perhaps something stronger.”
“Don’t forget, you’re driving,” her mom admonished.
Gavin shrugged. “There’s always Ally’s golf cart driver. We could give him a call.”
He wandered off.
She prayed the night didn’t end in disaster.
* * *
* * *
“Your girl seems to be getting along with everyone,” Zep said after taking a sip of his beer. He leaned over and gave Dolly a pat. The dog rubbed her head against Zep’s leg, seeking affection from the man who’d found her on the side of the road and brought her back to his shelter. “Roxie thinks she’s far too nice and normal to be in Hollywood.”
Major looked across the grounds to where Brynn and his father were currently being strapped into one of the Ferris wheel cabs. The neon-colored lights of the ride lit up the night around them and played across Brynn’s skin. Even from here he could see the way her eyes sparkled with pleasure. It should probably worry him, how much he liked the fact that his friends had started calling Brynn his girl. “She definitely gets along with my dad. He adores her already.”
“And you do, too. You’ve had a goofy grin on your face for days. I remember that goofy grin. At least your girl can’t arrest you twice a day just to get your attention,” Zep said on a grumble.
“I so did not do that to get your attention.” Roxie walked up with a bag of kettle corn in her hand. She was dressed casually, her hair down around her shoulders. “I did that because you used to be really annoying, and the only time I could stand to be around you was when you were in handcuffs.” She leaned over and stroked a hand over Dolly’s head as the dog’s tail wagged furiously. “Zep needed a leash. Yes, he did.”
Zep’s lips kicked up in a grin. “Nah, you were definitely trying to get my attention.”
A brow rose over Roxie’s eyes as she straightened up and gave her husband a knowing grin. “I still have those cuffs, you know.”
“I am counting on it, baby.” Zep leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. “I was telling our friend how much you like Brynn.”
“I never expected her to be so down to earth,” Roxie admitted. “Armie and I had made bets on which one would be more obnoxious, but Gavin and Brynn both turned out to be lovely. That will teach me not to stereotype. Though I think she was surprised by me, too. She came down to Louisiana not expecting this New York accent, if you know what I mean. I also think she didn’t understand how much of our time goes to making sure people don’t kill themselves on ATVs. I’m going to miss spending time with her. She’s pretty cool. I will say Gavin can be a bit of a windbag when it comes to lectures on social justice, but he’s okay, too. And that coffeemaker they gave us is straight from heaven.”
He didn’t like the reminder that their time was rapidly running out. Over the course of the last few days with Brynn, he’d come to the conclusion that he needed to stop thinking about the future. He was a planner, but he couldn’t be right now. He needed to live in the moment. Major glanced over to see the Ferris wheel turning round and round.
“Your dad seems to be doing well,” Zep said. “He remembered who I was. He was surprised to find out I got married though.”
Roxie nodded her husband’s way. “Yes, because he remembered what an obnoxious, bad-boy player you used to be. I got some stories out of him. Did you actually hit on his ex-wife? I thought I’d heard it all.”
“Yeah, I was hoping he would remember less,” Zep replied. “And you know I used to flirt with all women. All of them. I’m sorry, Major. I’m joking. It’s great that your father seems to be on the mend.”
“The medications Lila’s been giving him are working well, but I’m afraid he’s going to have to come off of them because they’re wreaking havoc on his internal organs.” He wasn’t going to lose his dad. Not now. Not when he’d just gotten him back. He’d made the decision while he’d walked around the grounds this evening, watching his dad charm Brynn’s mom. She’d been perfectly pleasant the whole time his father had been around, listening to his every story with interest.
It had been almost like they were a family, his father getting to know Brynn’s mom and de facto dad. It felt like they were an everyday, normal couple with a future ahead of them.