“He needs to go to therapy,” Sam said. “That was fucking wild.”
“I know,” Zach sighed. “Should we call Senior?”
“Maybe. Mom will just calm him down, but Miss Leona and Senior are the only ones who really get through to him. Evie used to but—”
“She’s Team Zach now. The traitor.”
“You noticed that too?”
“She used to be his homie. Now she’s my woman, with, like, no time for him to adjust.”
The ten years Evie and Zach were on the outs she’d kept in touch with Sam and Jesse, but she really talked to Jesse to the point where she’d made him her ultimate emergency contact. It was her connection to Jesse that had brought her back into their lives when she’d lost her memory. Jesse was glad to have her back in his life as a friend, but her love for Zach had taken the lead in the saddle. There was no conversation to be had about it. It was what it was.
“Can we sign him up for a class or something?” Sam said. He wasn’t trying to be funny, but Zach laughed anyway. “I’m serious. Does he have any friends outside of the ranch and the senior center? Is his whole world the ranch and the old people?”
“Fuck. I think so. Jesus, maybe I haven’t been present.”
“You just got Evie back. You guys are opening the restaurant and shooting a documentary. It’s all right for you guys to take this time just for the two of you.”
“And now you have Amanda? She okay after last night?”
“She’s great! Just left.”
“She’s a good girl, man. Evie loves her. Majesty loves her too! That’s a damn miracle.”
“Yeah, she’s what’s up.”
“You go change and shower, ’cause you look like you just rolled back over here.”
“Yeah. Let me go to do so.”
“I’ll call Senior.”
“Sounds good.”
Sam headed out to get cleaned up, still thinking of what he could do to help his brother. Maybe he could invite him up to LA just to get a break from Charming. Or maybe they could go to Vegas or something. Just to get him out of town. Whatever it was, it was clear Jesse needed something. Sam just wasn’t sure what.
Chapter 19
Amanda rolled onto her back, trying not to giggle. She’d only meant to text Sam, but when he replied asking if he could say good night over the phone she couldn’t think of a reason why not. As soon as the word TEX lit up her phone screen, she knew it wasn’t going to be a quick call. She’d only been away from Big Rock Ranch for eight hours or so, but the thought of talking to Sam again made her giddy. As soon as she heard his voice, the soft, smooth “Hey, Cha-Cha” rolling off his tongue made her whole body tingle. Dru had a packed week and Amanda needed all her sleep so she could keep up with Dru’s schedule and her attitude.
She double-checked the clock and did the math on how long she had. Twenty more minutes. Twenty more minutes before she had to brush her teeth and wash her face and get ready for bed. A tiny voice in the back of her head screamed, FUCK THAT. You kinda have a boyfriend now. You stay up all night and tell this boy how much you like seeing him naked. She wouldn’t, but man, was the thought tempting.
“I don’t believe you,” Amanda said, trying to catch her breath. She’d never been the giggling type. Until now.
“Why would I lie? Damn Cha-Cha. I thought I was among friends. You telling me I can’t confess my darkest secrets to you anymore?”
“No! Of course you can. Teeexxx,” she laughed. “Listen. When it comes to Banker Down I don’t play around. I just can’t believe you spent all afternoon reading Banker fic. I have to stay away from it. I’ll go down a rabbit hole and a week later I’ll wake up screaming about how Jens and Calloum should have gotten together way sooner.”
“They’re together. It’s legit. It’s canon. I’m still pissed they killed Banker III.”
“Thank you! She was the best. They seemed to learn their lesson about fridging, but I maintain that they need to resurrect her pure soap opera style. You don’t get Angella Weller to slum it on your cable sci-fi show and then kill her off right after she meets the love of her life.”
“You know it was her decision, right?” Sam laughed a little more.
“No. I know. She got cast in the Flight remake and made, like, a bajillion dollars, but I still hate the way they did it.”
“She could still come back and do guest spots. No fictional death needs to be forever.”
“Amen to that shit.” Amanda sighed and reached for her stuffed Pluto plush under her pillow. “I’m glad you called. It’s nice to hear your voice.”
“Couldn’t agree more. I love the sound of my voice.”
“Ha. Ha.”
“You know I’m playin’. I do have bad news though. Well, good news and bad news.”
“What’s that? Gimme ya news.”
“I won’t be able to see you this weekend.”
“So you were just using me, huh? I let you catch a glimpse of this beautiful, beautiful face. I let you touch this sweet, sweet ass, sample of this prime pussy, and you’re just going to leave me. I won’t be ignored, Samuel.”
She smiled as Sam’s laughter came through the phone. “Are you sure you don’t want to be an actor?”
“God no. I hate cameras, but what’s up?”
“My brother Jesse. He’s going through some shit so I figured he and I could get out of town. We’re going to Bali for a few days.”
“Oh, just to Bali.”
“Wanted to take him to a different time zone so he wouldn’t be thinking about the ranch, and he loves to swim.”
“I’m trying to picture him doing a lazy backstroke.”
“Oh, that mufucka can swim. He won’t touch a horse, but if you challenge him to a fifty-meter breaststroke he’ll grab his goggles and tell you not to be
