Chapter 17

JOEY

"Um…" Lynn watches me from across the table with pronounced wrinkles between her eyebrows.

"I didn't really think this through, did I?" I peer down at my giant burger and frown. How in the hell am I supposed to eat this one-handed? My eyes dart around the diner as if the answer lies somewhere among the Formica-topped tables and vinyl booths.

Taking pity on me, Lynn shoves her plate aside and hoists mine over in front of her, where she painstakingly cuts my burger into bite-sized pieces like the seasoned mom of a toddler—where I'm playing the part of toddler.

"This injury is turning out to be quite the humbling experience," I mutter as I watch her.

"This is nothing. When Miller broke his arm last year, he forgot he had to bag the cast before showering, and I had to rescue him—with my eyes closed! That's an experience no sister wants to have twice."

"No comment." I wouldn't mind Lynn helping me shower at all. And, being the thoughtful person I am, I'd even soap her up in return.

She gives me a puzzled look and hands my plate back to me. "There you go."

"Thanks." I fork my first bite and bring it to my mouth, moaning when the taste hits my tongue. When Lynn looks up from her plate, I shrug. "I haven't eaten since yesterday," I explain once I swallow.

"Wow. Do you need to hire a live-in maid or something?"

"Unfortunately, I think I have one on the way." I spear another bite. "My cousin has decided I need a caretaker."

"That's sweet," Lynn responds as she picks up her club sandwich.

"Is it?" I tilt my head and eye her.

That makes her laugh. "Ah, I see. Maybe she and my brothers can bond over their overprotective natures." She takes a giant bite of her sandwich. Impressive.

"At least her boyfriend is coming too. He's more normal."

Lynn covers her mouth as she talks around her mouthful of food. "Normal people are so underrated."

"I couldn't agree more." We both chow down, clearly having been deprived of sustenance for a dangerous length of time. When I'm sure I won't die of low blood sugar, I ask, "So, how was this last school year? It's been a while."

"You know, normal college stuff." She shrugs, looking uncomfortable.

I lean into my forearms on the table. "Hey, you can talk about it. I want to know. That's why I asked."

"Yeah, I know. It's just…"

Shit. "That I treated you like a kid last summer?"

She wipes her mouth with her napkin and leans back in her chair with a sigh. "I feel like I'm still punishing you for something in the ancient past. Sorry."

I shake my head. "Clean slate, okay?" When she nods, I ask again, "So, how was school?"

This time, she smiles. "Amazing." She goes on to tell me about the semester-long research project she did on exercise physiology and some independent study work she got to do with her department head.

"You really take this seriously, don't you?"

"Why else would I spend all this time and money on school?" She pops a fry into her mouth.

"I don't know. I mean, a lot of people go to college to party." I'll admit I spent way too much time partying and playing ball and way too little time in the classroom for the two years I was in college.

"Well, I didn't say I don't have fun." She sends me a half grin and straightens in her seat. "I've been known to attend a party or two."

"Oh yeah?" I ask around my straw. I've opted for water, and while I hoped Lynn would order Cheerwine, she's also drinking water.

"I even might have—gasp—indulged in an illegal beverage now and then."

I shove my drink aside in feigned disgust. "That's shocking. How dare you?"

She dips a couple more fries in ketchup and grins. "Well, the thrill of law-breaking is behind me now that I'm officially twenty-one. The misdeeds of my youth are a thing of the past."

"You might be the oldest twenty-one-year-old I've ever met, you know that?"

She only shrugs and shoves the fries in her mouth.

"Why is that?" I ask when she's done chewing.

"I mean, being the youngest of five, I guess I spent a lot of time wishing I were older. I was kind of in a hurry, you know?" I nod and she continues. "And then when my dad died, there was that realization that nothing is a given. Your sense of security as a kid that you'll always be cared for is tilted on its head. Don't get me wrong, my mom is a kick-ass mom and resourceful as hell. But I can't say it didn't cross my mind a time or twenty that she could suddenly die too, and I'd be left alone."

"You'd have had your brothers, though, right?"

"Yeah." A wistful smile crosses her lips. "I know I complain about them a lot, but I really do love those bozos. I'm lucky to have such a tight family."

"I'm happy for you."

Lynn watches me as she takes a sip of water. "You're not close with your family?"

"I am. It's just not the same living so far away. They don't get the whole baseball thing either, so that can be tough. When I left for college and then to pursue baseball, I never really went back, so it's basically phone calls and holiday visits now."

"I have no idea what it feels like not to have at least one family member sticking their nose in my business on the daily. Hell, my mama sends me pictures of Mango at least twice a week so I don't forget what he looks like."

"The skunk, right?"

She pulls out her phone and scrolls briefly before turning the screen toward me.

"Holy shit. That's a full-grown skunk." Displayed on the screen is a black-and-white animal that looks like a cross between a messed-up fox and a porcupine. I realize I've never seen a skunk up close.

"What did you think I meant?" Lynn snickers at my expression and takes another bite of her sandwich.

"I don't know. I guess in my head he was some combination of a cuddly kitten and Pepé Le Pew."

"The cartoon molester skunk?" She covers her mouth as she chuckles over her food.

I can only shrug because I'm an idiot. "You'll have to introduce us." Yeah, I'm using my blunder to try and win another date.

She grins over the table at me. "How's that burger? Need me to cut up your fries too?"

"Smartass."

We finish lunch, and when the check comes, I expect her to argue with me about paying. Instead, she allows it, commenting, "I've got the next one," which makes me happier than she can possibly know. Because that means I have another date with Lynn Brooks.

Finally.