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“Uh-huh. How’s the boyfriend? Houston?”

“A total loser. Total.” She had the fury that no one but a teenaged girl could. “We hate him.”

“Oh.” Dustin chuckled low. “Did he dump or did you?”

“By text! He texted me to tell me he was going out with that bitch, Ashley McBride!”

“Oh, honey.” Dalton hugged her. “Cut him dead.”

“I’m going to cut his balls off.”

“Vicious.” Dustin gave her a thumbs-up.

“I was raised by wolves.” She flounced over to the huge fridge. “Y’all want anything to drink?”

“I would love a Coke,” Tank said. Give her something to do.

“Sure, what kind? We got Dr Pepper, Coke, and Sprite, plus the diets and Big Red.”

“Dr Pepper would be fine, thank you.” He smiled at her when she handed him his drink. “You’re so grown.”

“Thank you.” She blushed, looking so pleased. “At least someone sees it.”

“We all do, baby girl. We just want you to stay ours.” Dustin hugged her with one arm.

“Like I could ever not be a Jakoby. Ever. I have three crazy brothers and Deb the Psycho.”

“You’re a lucky gal,” Tank said.

“Yeah. I guess.” She grabbed a foil packet of Pop-Tarts from the cabinet. “Y’all are at Momma’s beck and call, huh?”

“We are. Wanna grab a peeler?” Tank knew very well she would say no.

“No way. I told her I’d shuck corn.”

“Ah, well, beware the corn worms.” He made wiggly fingers at her.

“There aren’t going to be any, right, Dalton?”

“Uh-huh. If you find any, they’ll be dead.”

“Oh.” Tank got the feeling maybe Dakota was actually scared.

“Dustin….”

“Baby girl, they’ll be fine. I will deal with any you find, okay?”

“Okay.” She bit into a Pop-Tart, her smile reasserting itself. “Mmm. Cherry.”

“All this good food around and she eats that garbage.” Linda came bustling in, winking at Tank.

“Moooom.” Dakota rolled her eyes again, and this time Linda popped her butt.

“Roll those at me one more time and I will pick them up and roll them back.”

“She’s evil. Was she this evil with you, Dalton?” Dakota asked.

“More. And Deb? Christ.”