17. Talon
17
TALON
UNKNOWN: It’s Cora. Where are you?
TALON: How did you get this number?
UNKNOWN: I have my ways
UNKNOWN: Where are you?
C ursing my brother—undoubtedly the traitor—I save her contact information and type out a reply.
TALON: Busy
CORA: I need to pay you for the truck
TALON: It’s taken care of
CORA: And I appreciate it. Truly. But I still need to pay you.
TALON: Bring the guys at the shop lunch and we’ll call it even
CORA: I liked it better when I was mad at you
Sighing, I look up and watch Navy chase the teacup pig around the yard, both squealing like it’s the best day of their lives.
And maybe it is.
TALON: I’m not mad at you
My phone rings in my hand, and I grimace as I look down as her name flashes across the screen, then hit accept.
“Now I might be mad,” I say in lieu of a proper greeting.
“You’re exhausting via text.”
“It’s part of my charm,” I deadpan and she tsks.
“Didn’t know you had any.”
“That’s just untrue…”
“Do you think we’ll ever be nice to each other?”
“I thought I was rather nice when I had you pressed against the wall last night.”
“I’m being serious,” she huffs, and I can just imagine her hand landing on her hip to go along with the aggravated expression I love so much.
“I happen to like our little back-and-forth, Firecracker. We’ve been playing this game for what seems like a lifetime, but after feeling the way you fall apart for me, I can’t go back.” I lower my voice even though my niece can’t hear me. “I don’t want to.”
Silence hangs between us, but they’re the realest words I’ve ever spoken to her.
“I can’t give you all my truths”—her voice cracks a little and my eyelids flutter shut—“but I can give you some.”
“Don’t shut me out,” I say, gruffer than I intend. Softening my tone, I add, “Please.”
“I’ll try. But only because you said please. ” A lightness is back in her voice, and I let myself lean back in the lawn chair as Navy flops to the ground, her little chest heaving as she stares up at the sky. Chip sniffs her face and then collapses on the ground beside her.
“I’ll be at the garage tonight.”
“Is this a brush-off, Talon?”
“No, I just have to be an uncle and a pig dad right now.”
Pulling my phone from my ear, I take a picture of my charges and hit send.
“I’ve heard about the pig, seen you with it with my own two eyes, and I still have a hard time wrapping my head around it.”
“If you’re a good girl, maybe I’ll tell you the story one day.”
“Oh, the things to look forward to,” she teases and my lips twitch.
“I’ll see you tonight.”
“Mm-hmm, and Talon?”
“Yeah?”
“Buy condoms.”