Mace sat down next to me, threw Vance a look and then started eating.
Uncle Tex said in my ear, “Yeah, you ‘n’ me.”
“You’l talk to her?” I said low.
He paused. Then he said, “Yeah.”
Instantly, I agreed. “I’l stay the night.” I felt like doing cartwheels but Uncle Tex had moved on.
“Have fun with the boys. You’re cookin’ dinner tonight.”
“Fine by me. We’l celebrate. I’l make something fancy.”
“Sounds good. I’m feelin’ like fat, juicy pork chops with that rice with the vermicel i stuff in it, like on TV. The San Francisco treat.”
I watched Vance eat a fry, stuck in a moment of stupefied silence.
Once I tugged myself out of my silence, I asked, “The San Francisco Treat?”
“Yeah,” Uncle Tex said, “I’l go to the store.”
“I was thinking something fancier, like, beef wel ington.
That’s everyday food, not food you eat after talking to the sister you haven’t spoken to in decades.”
“Fuck that. Next thing you’l want champagne instead of hooch. I’l go to the store, you get home in time to cook.
And, since you’re with Vance, give him a good look-over. If you don’t like what you see, have a look at Mace. I don’t know Mace al that wel but he seems a good sort.”
“You are joking, right?”
“Fuck no. Those boys are the shit. Hank would have been my choice but he f**ked it up. Matt and Bobby are taken, Ike’s on the road and he’s a scary motherfucker. You don’t like Mace or Vance, I’l introduce you to Luke. Lee says Luke’s a serious badass but he’s been recoverin’
from a gunshot wound so I haven’t seen him in action. Stil , I heard Indy sayin’ she thinks he’s cute. You’l just have to go easy on him for a while.”
Good God.
Uncle Tex, the matchmaker.
“You’re nuts,” I said.
“That’s what they tel me.”
Then he disconnected.
I flipped my phone shut and stared at it for a second.
Then I curled my fist around it, threw my hands up in a
“Goal!” gesture and shouted, real y loud, “Woo hoo!” Everyone turned to stare, everyone including Lee, Eddie and Hank, who were now standing at the bar.
Whatever.
Nothing could pierce this piece of happiness. Not even Hank.
I grinned at Vance.
“Seems your luck just changed,” Vance commented.