“Help yourself,” she says, pointing to a coffee maker that has to be as old as I am, at least, and is just one giant pot of coffee instead of the single serve I’m used to. That tracks. I grab a mug and pour a steaming cup before making my way over to the table.
A large, hearty plate is plopped right in front of me, and I take in the stack of pancakes, the pile of bacon, and the fluffy heap of eggs before I look up at my Aunt Kelly’s shiny bright face. “Eat up. You need your strength.”
“Umm...” I look at the plate again, overwhelmed beyond belief. “Can I just have some yogurt or something?”
I hear my cousin Millie snickering as she sits across from me, a derisive snort from my uncle, who I’ve said maybe three words to in my life, and then look over to see Jasper shaking his head with a huff as he shovels a bite into his mouth.
“Oh . . . um . . .” I can see my aunt is struggling, and I wave her off.
“Never mind. This is fine. Thank you,” I say, picking up a fork and stabbing some of the eggs, bringing it to my mouth. She watches me until I finally take a bite and chew, then smiles, pleased, and walks back over to the stove to do something—I don’t know what, but please God don’t let it be making more food.
“You boys going to start with the fence by the pond today? Damn cows.”
I don’t know what that has to do with cows, but Jasper seems to be amused as he smiles and nods at my uncle. “Yes, sir. Firstthing on the list this morning.” He has a look of fondness on his face. “And they couldn’t help that they got spooked. I think you meandamn hunters.”
John smiles at that, taking a big bite of his pancakes. “True. I don’t know why they think they can just shoot off their guns around your big babies.”
“Oh, Jasper and his cows,” Millie says, teasingly.
“Cows are awesome. Don’t act like you don’t like them.”
They all continue talking about cows and other things I tune out because I have no interest whatsoever. I’m just here to do my time.
After breakfast, Jasper hands me a pair of dirty, muddy, dusty work boots. “I’d wear socks with them or you’ll get blisters.”
“I’m not wearing those monstrosities,” I say, not taking them.
He just holds them out, his eyes trained on me. “Yes. You are. Take them.”
I can feel the three other pairs of eyes on us as we stand there and decide it’s just not worth it. I grab them from him and huff up the stairs, grabbing socks and pulling on the stupid, hideous boots before stomping back down.
“Wasn’t so hard, was it?” Jasper asks, happy with himself.
“Let’s get this day over with.”
“Have a nice day, boys!” Kelly says, way too happy, but she’s impossible not to like, I realize, and wave to her on my way out.
It’s bullshit on top of bullshit as we go about the day. We fix a fence, which sounds simple but took forever because it wasn’t just one little section. The big-ass cows took out an entire portion of the old wooden fence. It’s hot already as the sun comes up, and the entire day, I’m just cursing my own mother.
Maybe I don’t need college.
By noon, I’m almost certain I don’t when I trip and fall face-first into a pile of fairly dry manure. And I’m almost positive Jasper put that bucket behind me, though he did act awfully surprised by the whole thing—but then burst out laughing.
We eat lunch at the house—Kelly trying to be polite about the stench while Jasper was busy wrinkling his nose. Like he smells like goddamn daisies or something. He doesn’t.
We’re both baked by the sun and filthy by the time the sun starts to set and finally call it a day.
“Are you going to fight me on the shower again tonight?” he asks as we make our way back up to the house.
“Why? Offering to shower with me again? You really did have an awakening yesterday, huh?” I grumble, my entire body aching as I sludge up the drive toward the house.
“You need to stop that shit,” he says, grabbing my arm to halt our walk.
I glare at him and jerk out of his hold. “What shit?”
“That...” Here comes the frantic flailing. “The whole...” he looks around, even though the only sign of life around us are cows chewing on grass on the other side of the fence. His voice is lowered when he looks back at me. “Gay thing.”
A started laugh falls from my lips, and I cannot with this guy. “Gay thing? Do you fucking hear yourself right now?”
