“Cuz!” I bellowed happily as I walked over to give the man a hug. “When did you get into town?”
“Been here a few days,” he said with a hearty back slap. “Should have come up to the lodge. We could have partied together like old times.”
“No,” I grunted. “Ain’t steppin’ foot in those fancy digs until mymômanshows up.”
Romeo rolled his eyes. “Good grief, Gator. Auntie Marabella ain’t gonna care. There’s a weddin’ coming and she would expect you to help.”
“Not gonna dis’ mymôman. No way. No how.”
“It’s like we tried telling the doc last night,” Donut piped up, all helpful like,sansthe thumb. “The prez ain’t above his station...”
“I get it, Donut.” Romeo groaned.
“What the hell happened last night?” the doc spoke up, glaring about the room. “I said you could help yourselves to the bar, not drink it dry. And why the hell is Thore crying over a dead raccoon?”
“It’s dead!” Thore screamed. “I killed it!”
“This is the most asinine thing I’ve ever seen,” the doc grumbled as he stood next to me watching the scene before us. “The damn thing was already dead, Gator. Why the hell is Thore digging a grave?”
“Because, Doc, Thore’s gotta pay his respects. The man has a soft spot for all critters, and he feels responsible,” I explained, watching my brother dig a hole in the ground for the dead animal. This was nothing new to me, just another typical Saturday morning.
Or was it Monday?
I couldn’t remember.
Hell, the backyard at mymôman’splace deep in the bayou was nothing but graves, but I didn’t think the doc needed to hear that.
“But the damn thing was already dead!”
“Yep.” I nodded. “But it don’ matter.”
“For crying out loud,” the doc grumbled as his phone vibrated. Looking at it, he stiffened.
“Hey, guys!”
“Great, crazy is here,” the grumpy man groaned.
“Wow!” Cameron gasped. “What’s Thore doing?”
“Digging your grave. Jump in,” the doc deadpanned, shaking his head. “Romeo, I hate to do this, but I need to go bail Josie out of jail. Can you handle Cameron and whatever the hell it is?”
“Sure.” My cousin rolled his eyes, shaking his head. “And let my cousin know if she needs help to castrate your balls, I’ve got the perfect knife.”
The doc grumbled, “She’s mad. I was just letting her calm down.”
“No, you were biding your time, trying to find a way out of the doghouse.”
“Whatever,” the doc muttered, walking off and yelling, “Just watch the brat and make sure he doesn’t get into trouble.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Is Josie sure about that one, cuz? He seems a little wound tight for our family, if you get my drift.”
“He’s an educated idiot, but he’s harmless.”
“He needs to get laid.”
Romeo quirked an eyebrow at me and smiled.
