Page 13 (1/2)

"Since you boys go so far back, and Garth pro out the entire summer, unlike last suive hiaze shifted tofans of second chances around here"

"Second chances, sure," Jesse said, staring down Garth "Seventh chances, not sohis hand toward , it’s nice to finally meet you Sorry it didn’t happen sooner A couple thousand head of cattle have a way of eating up a person’s day and night"

I matched his smile and shook his hand As with Rose, I liked Neil ilad to have you here, Rowen," he said "How’s your first day going in the kitchen?"

Jesse shot nore

"I crispified a batch of pancakes and spilled so the empty pot in my hand "Could have been worse"

Neil chuckled "I have a feeling you’ll keep things exciting around here," he said, before heading to the last empty seat at the head of the table

"Me, too," Garth added, giving me an expectant look

"Take a seat, Garth," Jesse said, ht," Garth replied, refusing to look at Jesse He looked at et to knoen better"

"Give it a rest, Garth," Jesse said "Rowen’s suys like you"

Garth clucked his tongue "You knoasn’t sh to stay away from me?"

Jesse’s face went from tan to red in about two seconds flat

Time for an intervention

"You two know each other, eh?" I said, asking as quite possibly the stupidest question of the year There was no doubt those two knew each other

"We were best friends," Garth answered

I don’t think I would have been more surprised if I’d just been crowned Miss America

"Were," Jesse said under his breath

"We used to share everything" Garth was pushing Jesse’s buttons That was obvious froher when Jesse’s face went another shade redder

"Used to"

"I don’t know, Jesse," Garth said, polishing his belt buckle with his thu recently"

When I was certain Jesse would lunge at Garth, Hyacinth slid up beside the three of us, looking oblivious She tapped Jesse on the shoulder "Josie’s on the phone"

"Take a e" Jesse’s voice was ice, but his face was still on fire

"Again?" Hyacinth replied before Jesse leveled her with a look "Fine" She sighed as she left "I’ll take a e"

"Say hello to Josie for me, will ya?" Garth called after Hyacinth "It’s been a while"

Hyacinth waved her response and continued on

"Just how long’s it been, Jesse? I forget" Garth stroked his chin

"Who’s Josie?" I asked Jesse

But Garth answered "Jesse’s girlfriend" Garth’s eyes darkened and he flexed his hips

Moving so fast he was a blur, Jesse shoved Garth so hard in the chest Garth stumbled across half of the room