We swung into Fortnum’s way late.
No one noticed.
Mom was on the couch, Lottie next to her and I gave them both a kiss and went behind the espresso counter to help Duke and Tex with the line of customers.
“I see you’re stil alive,” Duke said, obviously stil feeling crotchety about my recent troubles and deciding to blame it on me.
I felt the best course of action was not to answer.
It proved not to be the best course of action.
Duke stared at me a beat, then turned to the CD player, yanked out Tex’s Steppenwolf and put in Charlie Daniels.
Normal y, this was indication of a throw down. Once a CD was on, it was on and the only reason you were al owed to turn it off was if it wasn’t some of Duke’s country or some of Al y, Indy and Tex’s rock ‘n’ rol .
I held my breath waiting for Tex to react.
Tex wasn’t biting.
This was weird, Tex always bit.
Both Duke and I stared at him.
“Are you okay?” I asked Tex.
He turned to me, “Gonna ask your mother to dinner and I want your blessing.”
My mouth dropped open.
Duke made a sound like someone punched him in the gut.
“Wel ?” Tex asked me.
I struggled to find my voice.
“Um… you two are consenting adults, you don’t need my blessing.”
“Don’t want you and your sister playin’ snotty tricks on me like those brats on TV,” Tex said.
I blinked.
“The brats on TV are usual y kids, not adults approaching thirty like Lottie and me.”
His bushy eyebrows hit his hairline.
“Wasn’t very adult, pul in’ each other’s hair and having a f**kin’ catfight on the floor, Loopy Loo.” He had a point.
“You have my blessing,” I said.
Then I smiled liking the idea of Tex dating my Mom.
He scowled.
“What? I said you have my blessing,” I told him.
“Now I gotta ask her.”
I looked at Mom, she was watching us. Or more likely, watching Tex. She looked away the minute she saw me looking at her.