Like I was moving forward with Rowdy. Which would be even easier now that Jackson was dead.
“I’m free now, you know?” I said softly to Sarah and Kari.
“I know,” Kari smiled. “It’s a beautiful feeling, isn’t it?”
“That it is,” I smiled back. “Now, let’s get me suited up and ready for a wedding!”
◆◆◆
ROWDY
“I thought I might find you here,” I told Jace when I walked up beside him. “You just never quit working, do you?”
“This isn’t work,” Jace told me as he flipped his welder mask down over his face. “Back up and let me get this one spot before I stop for the day.”
I stepped over and grabbed another mask from the shelf and put it on my head so I could watch Jace work without burning my eyes. He was creating a large sculpture this time and I gauged it to be over 12 feet tall. It was at least that wide, if not wider. I realized it was a squared archway and when I looked closer, I could see the initials of a nearby ranch over the middle.
After just a few more minutes, Jace was finished. He flipped open his mask and reached for a big mug he had sitting nearby. I watched him drink it down before he let out a big belch and finally turned my way.
“What’s up?” Jace asked as he walked toward the small refrigerator over in his makeshift office area here in the shop. “Want a beer?”
“Still on shift, asshole,” I laughed. He knew I was working, he was my boss after all. “Need to ask you a favor.”
“I already gave you this week off and as a wedding gift, I’m going to give you the next week off, too. So, yeah, you can be off tomorrow for your wedding.” Jace laughed.
“Well, no shit,” I told him and caught the water bottle he threw my way. “I kind of figured you’d know already without me having to get all sappy and shit, but will you stand up with me at my wedding.”
“Me?” Jace asked dramatically. “You want me?”
He pretended to wipe a tear from his eye with one hand as he fanned himself furiously with the other.
“First off, I’d like to thank the academy and my family and friends, because without their support I wouldn’t be the man I am today,” Jace kept fanning his face and with his free hand he picked up a beer bottle to talk into as if it was a microphone. “We’ve come so far.”
I threw the bottle of water at him and he ducked, laughing.
“Of course I’m going to be in your wedding, asshole. I’m your only fucking friend.”
“Fuck you. I rescind the offer. I’ll let Sam and Zeke fight it out. Winner gets to hold the rings.”
“Any of the three of us would be honored, brother,” Jace said seriously as he pulled a stool over and sat down by the chair I was in. “Most definitely honored.”
“Thanks,” I told him as I nodded. “It’s fucking crazy that I’m getting married tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” Jace tilted his head. “It’s awfully sudden. You sure this is what you want to do?”
“I’m sure,” I nodded. “At first it was to help us both out - for her so she could hide the lottery money from her ex and stay safe, for me so I could have an airtight case against any judge trying to give Beverly a chance to get time with my daughter. Now, Sierra’s ex is dead and Beverly is the only worry.”
“She fucks with your kid, man... that would be crossing a line we couldn’t accept.”
“No doubt.”
“Marcus talked to Sam and Zeke about it and I know he also brought it up to Lout and Kale. Clem knows about Beverly, too. He said something about keeping an eye out for her around town and that he’d talked to some friends in Lubbock that could make their presence known as a favor to him.”
“Really?”
“You and Leia grew up with us, man. Seriously. We were just kids and Leia was always there. She grew up right beside us. We watched her learn to walk, taught her words she should’ve never heard, used her to pick up chicks - she’s our little sidekick. Anyone upsets her, they upset a whole lot of people.”
“I’m going to have another girl running around too, you know.”
“Sassy little Lexi. That one is a pistol,” Jace laughed. “I’ve been around her a few times when I’ve gone in to do some work for Kari. Love that kid.”
“She’ll be mine, too. Marcus has the stuff ready for me to adopt Lexi and for Sierra to adopt Leia. We’re covering our bases just in case something happens to one of us. We’re lucky that the girls are such good friends, I just hope that moving them in together strengthens that rather than breaks it.”
“Oh, they’ll fight,” Jace laughed. “But if you fuck with one you’ll get the wrath of both. That’s what having siblings is like. You might want to kill them half the time, but if they need you, there’s no hesitation.”
“I didn’t have that until I met you guys. Best thing I did, other than raise an awesome fucking kid, was to join the club. Now I’ve got family and brothers busting out the seams.”
“That you do,” Jace agreed. “Is it just me up there beside you?”
“No, Fain is coming in tonight. He’ll head back up to Colorado to be with Jenna tomorrow after the wedding. I told him I’d understand if he didn’t want to leave her, but he said Martha is up there right now so she won’t be alone.”
“That’s good. I haven’t seen nearly enough of him since her accident. It will be nice to catch up. So, tell me what to wear, where to go, what to do, the works.”
“Sarah is going to bring you a shirt to wear under your cut - just find some jeans without too many holes. Other
