“You sure you don’t want a picture of you shoveling shit in the barn? You in your natural habitat?” I tease, knowing it’ll annoy the hell out of her.
“Now, now, Adam. Be nice and watch your language.” River steps forward, grabbing her phone from my grip, and gently pats my cheek.
“Yeah, Adam.” Rowan huffs and crosses her arms over her chest, which was a really bad thing to do. The movement pushes up her tits, and I immediately avert my gaze, trying not to stare. “Maybe you should go back into your natural habitat, in the mud, with the pigs.”
Riley howls, cracking up so hard, I’m worried he’ll piss himself. This is an ongoing thing in the Bishop house. Me teasing Rowan, her throwing it right back, and Riley laughing at my expense.
“You ready to go, princess?” Alex asks, digging his keys out of his pocket.
“You sure you don’t want me to take her?” Riley interjects. “I’m her big brother after all and way cooler than you.”
“Excuse me?” Alex nudges Riley in the arm, wearing a playful grin. “I managed to land your mother, didn’t I? I smooth-talked her into moving to Texas, after all. She had it bad.”
“According to my math,” Rowan chimes in, “and my sources, Mom was knocked up with Riley and came back to tell you, which means y’all had sex before marriage.”
My cheeks heat at Rowan’s bold words, but honestly, I expect nothing less from her.
“Rowan Rose Bishop!” River scolds. “Who told you that?”
“Grandma,” she reveals. “Like it’s a secret? Riley was born before your wedding date.”
“So Riley’s a bastard. What else is new?” I tease.
“Language, Adam.” River gives me a firm look before turning to Riley. I can’t help but laugh, considering the conversation. “We’re taking Rowan to the dance, but I need you to pick her up at midnight. I’m trusting you to be there on time.”
It’s Saturday night, and knowing Riley as well as I do, he’s not gonna like this.
“Ma, what? Why do I have to pick up the little rug rat?”
“Because you’re so cool. Also, your father and I are going to bed early so we can all get up for church in the morning,” she says pointedly. “I expect you to be there tomorrow, too.”
Riley groans with an eye roll, which causes me to snort.
“Yes, ma’am,” he begrudgingly mutters.
“Good boy.” She sweetly pats his head like he’s a five-year-old.
The three of them leave, and I’m anxious the moment Rowan’s out of sight.
“Thank God, they’re gone. Let’s go drink in the barn!” Riley shouts, pushing me toward his room. “I’m gonna shower first, though.”
“Did you suffer a blow to the head?” I ask as he follows me down the hallway. “You have to pick Rowan up in four hours.”
“So?” He shrugs without a care in the world.
“So you shouldn’t be drinkin’, smartass.”
“I’ll be fiiiiiine. Quit worryin’, pretty boy.” He slaps my shoulder. “You can be my DD.”
He knows damn well I’m only fourteen and don’t have my license, but that hasn’t stopped me from driving his drunk ass around before. I drive around the ranch sometimes, and I’ve had to take him home from partying in town a couple of times but never with Rowan in the truck.
Over three hours pass, and I’m stuck dealing with a shit-faced Riley in the barn we hang out in on the weekends. He invited a few friends who brought an ice chest full of their parents’ booze. I tried to slow Riley down, but he downed six beers and four shots of bourbon like there were no consequences. Now he’s three sheets to the wind.
“Dude, you’re supposed to pick up Rowan in forty-five minutes. You need to start chugging water,” I tell him. My last beer was over an hour ago, and I only had two total.
“Stop being a pussy,” Riley slurs.
I check my watch. By the time I manage to get him into the back seat and drive into town, it’ll be close to midnight. I don’t want to keep Rowan waiting around by herself or worse, with those little dicks from her class.
“Say goodbye. We’re going.” I stand and tower over him. Riley might be muscular from working on the ranch, but I have a good four inches and fifty pounds on him. Grabbing his arm, I lift him to his wobbly feet. “You’re gonna be puking your fuckin’ guts out.”
“Whatever you say, Dad,” he mocks, and the other guys laugh. If he wasn’t my best friend and a decent human—sober—I’d leave his ass out here for his parents to find in the morning.
With fifteen minutes to spare, I pull into the parking lot. Since Riley’s passed out in the back seat, I leave the truck running and hop out. Parents are already starting to arrive to pick up their kids, so instead of waiting out here, I go inside to check on Rowan.