Page 95

“I’ll freeze them and have one a week.” Pops winked.

“You get hell for Twinkies, huh?” Tank asked. “My granddaddy used to get it for dry roasted peanuts. He wasn’t supposed to eat so much salt.”

“Doctors are devils set to make us all unhappy,” Pops muttered.

“Right?” Roy slapped the table. “Ain’t like we don’t work it off.”

“True that.” Pops grinned. “Lord, boys, is it good to be home?”

“Hell yes.” Dustin sounded so damn satisfied.

He nodded. “It was time to settle for a little while.”

“It’s good to charge up sometimes,” Tank said.

Pops grunted. “Sometimes. Hell, your momma wants me home to deal with your hellion sister all the time.”

“Well, she’s been holding the fort a long time.” Patricia refilled their coffee.

“Since Deb was born, hrm?”

“Yep.” Patricia winked.

“He loves it,” Dustin said. “That Momma wants him home.”

Pops shrugged, but his smile told the story. Him and Momma had a love story for the ages.

Tank chuckled. “They’re something. I can’t wait to see your momma.”

“Me either. It’s been too long since I got a hug.”

“I bet.” Tank stroked his leg again, making him want other kinds of touching that had nothing to do with familial anything.

“Y’all about ready to hit the store? Momma’s starting to text.” Dustin winked at him, eyes just twinkling.

“Guess we’d better.” He waved Patricia over. “We need to get a move on, hmm?”

“You taking Deb’s food?”

“Yeah, and Aaron’s, please, ma’am.”

“You got it.” She took his card when he handed it over. “Be right back.”

“I could’ve got it,” Tank said.

“You can get the next one, hmm?” They all took turns.

“Cool.” Tank bounced up when they all got ready to leave, Patricia bringing the to-go orders. Time for the store.

“Let’s do this. Snacks and steaks and burgers and Momma’s list.”

Tank rubbed shoulders with him on the way out the door.

“Let’s do this thing, and then we’ll go see Momma.” They climbed into the truck and headed out. Store. Groceries. Maybe a nooner. Then fried chicken.

Fucking A.

Chapter Twenty-Three