“Not what you said when we made her, or last month for that matter,” he said, taunting her.
“Stay away.” Ellen disconnected, shaking as she rested her head against the wall in her bathroom. Please let this be the right choice.
* * * * *
“What’s this I hear about Joey being your sweetheart?”Shooter asked.
Moose glanced up from the bike he was working and watched his friend enter the garage. “Good news travels fast,” Moose muttered, returning his attention to the bike he’d just finished doing maintenance on for a customer.
“Is it good news?”
“Are you seriously playing big brother right now?” Moose shot back.
“Hey, I’m trying not to get caught in the crossfire with my old lady before we even get married,” Shooter said. He stopped a few feet away.
“Yeah, well, I’m not pissed about it, if that’s what you’re asking. You should be happy I got Red deported. Crazy bitch,” Moose said.
“Yeah, I’ll buy you a drink for that one,” Shooter said.
“Keep your money, it was my pleasure.” Moose grunted, tightening bolts.
“So you making a go of it?” Shooter asked.
“Not like you, family man.” Does getting married turn you nosey?
“Family? I’m getting married to Juliette, not knocking her up,” Shooter said.
“First comes loves, next comes marriage,” Moose sang.
“What are we, nine?”
Moose finished tightening a bolt and held up his hands. “Just saying, that’s the road you’re headed down.”
“Maybe someday man. Not now,” Shooter defended.
“Damn, can’t say I ever thought I’d hear you say that,” Moose said.
“Me either. But I never had a problem with kids. It was the flighty mothers that made me wary. Joey was cool with you treating Red like a ragdoll? I heard shit got intense.”
“Can’t say, bro. I haven’t had the pleasure of talking with her. The day after the blow-up we had the charity ride and she’s been swamped with work since. She’s due over tonight, though.”
“Fuck man, sounds like a night of fun,” Shooter said sarcastically.
“Yeah, you’re telling me. Joey’s such a cool fucking chick. I keep waiting for her crazy side to come out unexpectedly, like a fucking jack-in–the-box.”
“Jul says her mom is cool as shit. Maybe it runs in the family,” Shooter noted.
“How cool can she be, living in suburbia?” Moose replied.
“Well, when you’re referred to as a black Angelina Jolie, I’d say she’s not your cookie-cutter variety,” Shooter said.
Moose whistled. “No wonder she’s so chill.”
“It’ll make meeting the parents a hell of a lot easier than I had it. I think my old lady’s mom is still plotting my demise. I’m not what she envisioned for her only child. That’s for sure,” Shooter said.
“You keep talking so long-term I might break out in hives, brother,” Moose said, amused by his friend’s one-eighty.
“Funny, your actions say the exact opposite.”