Jake brings up his chin with a cocky smile. “Don’t even try it. Won’t work.”
Jaxson chuckles under his breath. “I don’t see Jake as the strip club type.”
On a casual shrug, Jake says, “Why have hamburger when you’ve got steak?”
Mutual agreement all around.
“Speakin’ of Steak.” I motion to the dining room. “Let’s take this to a table. Starving.”
As Justin pays the tab, the groom-to-be tells us how Drew’s been the opposite of the crazy bride, how she turned down Mom’s wish for a big wedding, which is why we’re having it at the house. “Her dad is marrying us.”
“No shit?” I say with a smile. “Why?”
“He’s a Pastor. Guess I got his approval. Wasn’t easy. They’re old school so they weren’t stoked about my being eight years younger than her. But they came around.”
“Ready?” Justin throws his arm around me. “You had to wear the leather here, didn’t you?”
Reaching to smack Jason, I say, “If this Hip Hop motherfucker can wear a hat inside a place like this, then I can wear my fuckin’ patch.”
“At least it’s not my baseball hat,” Jason laughs, touching his saggy, grey beany.
“You look like a kid,” I mutter as we all walk to the host stand. The pretty hostess stands straighter at the sight of five Cocker Brothers coming at her.
“I’ll always be younger than you, Jett. Even when I’m seventy.”
“Just think how stupid you’ll look in that thing, then.”
From the look on the hostesses face as she eyeballs Jason, he doesn’t look stupid now. But I love to fuck with him. How he can listen to the crap he produces, I’ll never know. Mainstream has never been my thing. I hear he has a talent for it, but I wouldn’t be the best judge. I’ll just take Justin’s word for it, since he knows Jason’s work better.
Luna
A dark-haired, brown-eyed woman in her late fifties answers the door. Since Jett is blonde and grey-eyed, I’m not sure who this is.
“Mrs. Cocker?”
“Yes?” Her eyebrows are up as her gaze drops to take me in.
I’m wearing my usual jeans and t-shirt with my black jacket. Boots, of course. And a small suitcase Melodi loaned me for the plane ride has replaced my backpack. But I feel very out of place at a home like this.
The residential neighborhood of Buckhead in Atlanta is very upscale and lovely. Huge lawns and even bigger homes. Lots of columns and brick. Birds chirping everywhere and I swear I just saw a fucking chipmunk.
“I’m Luna.”
Her eyes light up. “Oh! I’m sorry! Is it two o’clock already? Come in!” She leads me into the large foyer and closes the door, glancing up to the sky first. “Still sunny. Let’s hope that sticks for tomorrow!” Turning around, she glances at my outfit again.
“I uh…I’m not one for shopping. Just a basic type of girl, I guess.”
She smiles, “Don’t be silly. I was just takin’ you in, honey, because between you and me, my Jett is a mystery to me lately. I’m just learning, is all.”
“Ah,” I whisper, glancing down to see what puzzle pieces she put together from me. “I guess we’re a lot alike then. Not really fluffy.”
She laughs and the sound is genuine. Ushering me further into the house, she leads the way. “When Melodi called me and told me about you, I have to admit, I jumped for joy. I hate to think of my son’s being lonely and Jett…” she pauses, thinking of the words.
We walk into a kitchen that is so pretty I can’t stop staring. A backyard the size of a small park is visible through the windows. Chairs are already set up for the ceremony. Tables, off to the side, wait to be dressed with cloth, flowers and food. It’s the bare bones foundation of a celebration, and I can’t believe I’m here, nervous as hell.
As she opens the refrigerator, I set my suitcase down by the wall so it’s out of the way. I feel very much like I’m not supposed to be here, even with her being as kind as she is. This is just not my type of place. Way too homey, something I’ve never known.
Taking down a couple of glasses and pouring lemonade for us, she continues, “Jett has a wild side. Always has. Heck, I guess all my boys do, in their own ways. Boys are different than girls.” She glances to me like I might be an exception. “Most of the time.”
“Mrs. Cocker, I think it’s very sweet of you to be helping me like this.”
“Well, I’m doing it for Jett, honey,” she smiles. “Ever since he went on the road with those men, I worry about him. I want him to be happy, and Melodi tells me that he loves you.”