Junkyard Dog(39)

I feel pretty great too. Lust without fear is a novel idea for me. Great sex without consequences isn’t something my family ever manages. We always fell in love, usually to our disadvantage. I wonder if that’s what happened with Honey. Was Andrew great in bed and the powerful orgasms blinded her to his many, many flaws?

I glance at Hayes and feel safe. Not because he’s a nice guy. He’s most definitely a jackass, but he’s my jackass. I’ve known his flaws from day one. He’s known my boundaries all along. We work because we both suck at normal relationships. This f*cking employee/employer/friends thing could totally work especially if we don’t think about it too much.





TWENTY FIVE - HAYES


Restless during the weekend, I drive around White Horse and check on my investments. People bow to me and say happy things, but I only become more agitated. I can’t even lie to myself about why I feel this way.

I want to see Candy.

Two days without her feels like a f*cking eternity. I consider dropping casually by her house. We’re friends. Her kids know me. I can hang out and do whatever normal people do during the weekends.

I imagine taking them out to dinner. We can play family, and I am the average dad who happens to cuss a little too much. The twins think my foul mouth is funny. Candy does too. They understand me. I bet they won't mind at all if I drop by.

Instead, I visit my father. Seeing him won’t open a can of damn worms like going to Candy’s house would. She’ll think I’m her boyfriend when I’m not sure what the hell we are anymore.

Balthazar is in his comfy chair. Gladys the Cat sits on his lap. The TV is on as usual, and he’s watching something on the Discovery Channel. I check the kitchen to make sure it’s well stocked. His aide Lizzy Anne doesn’t work on the weekends unless it’s an emergency. She left a note on the fridge, so Balthazar knows what food she made for him to eat at each meal.

On the counter, his medicine is in three containers. Each is labeled with large letters. I doubt Balthazar needs shit dumbed down to this level, but Lizzy Anne doesn’t want him dying on her off days. Or she doesn’t want him calling her when she’s at home and ruining her weekends.

I sit in the spare chair and ask how he’s doing. Balthazar only shrugs and pets his cat. He’s like a bitchy teenager these days. He grumbles, shrugs, rolls his eyes, and gives me shit constantly. I wonder if this is typical behavior for old people or if Balthazar is just using his last years on the planet to give people a hard time.

“Has Candy been coming by?” I ask when he ignores me to watch his show.

“Every day. She and Lizzy Anne don’t like each other.”

“How do you figure?”

“Lizzy Anne said she doesn’t like Candy, and Candy flipped off Lizzy Anne when she thought no one was looking. I was looking, though. I’m always looking.”

“I’m not paying her to like Lizzy Anne. I’m paying her to check on you.”

“She does.”

Balthazar doesn’t say anything else, and I watch the show with him for a few minutes.

“What do you think of Candy?”

“She’s a looker.”

“Anything else?”

“She’s taller than Lizzy Anne.”

Rolling my eyes, I sigh loudly so he’ll pay f*cking attention.

“I’m dating Candy.” I say and then pause to wonder if hotel f*cks count as dating. “We’re seeing each other, so I wanted to know what you thought of her.”

“I suspected you’d sleep with her.”

“Why’s that?”

“I told you. She’s a looker.”

I nod and consider leaving. Rather than give up on this father and son bullshitting session, I try again.

“She has two kids.”

“Oh, you don’t want any of that. I’ve seen on TV what happens when mothers and kids get new men around,” Dad says with a knowing nod. “Never goes well.”

“It’s a package deal. If I want Candy, I have to deal with her kids.”

“Good luck then. Won’t end well. I’ve seen it on TV.”

“Not everything on TV is real.”

“Enough of it is.”

I think about Candy and immediately crave her touch. I want to hear her voice, see her smile, and taste her body. She’s got me feeling like a f*cking fool inside.

“Even if she and I don’t stay together, I think she’d be a good candidate for giving me an heir.”

Balthazar gives me a side glance. “What do you want one for?”

“Don’t you want a grandchild?”

“No. Your mother wanted one. I don’t like children. They steal and never flush.”

Frowning at him, I ignore his dig at me for waiting too long to have kids.

“I never stole from you, and I always flushed.”

“Yes, but you were a weird kid. Most kids steal and never flush.”

“Candy’s kids are well behaved.”

“That’s what they want you to think,” he says conspiratorially.

Frustrated, I stand up. “I don’t know why I came here for advice.”

“You don’t want advice. I gave you some, and you got your panties in a bunch. You want an ass pat. I’m too old to pat your ass, Gussie.”