“Think so. Senior.”
“I am so going to hit that this year.”
“Ah, the joys of young love,” Mark sighed. “Joe, don’t put french fries up your nose.”
“Hit that?” Kelly asked, incredulous. “Dude. Gross.”
“Oh, I’m sorry if I offended your delicate sensibilities. I meant make love to.”
“Please don’t tell Thomas or Elizabeth anything about this,” Mark begged me. “I’m a good uncle, I swear.”
“Ox, hey, Ox! I’m a french fry walrus. Look! Look—”
They all stilled at the same time. Mark’s hands curled into fists on the table. “Stay here,” he growled. He was up and out the door before I could speak.
“What the hell?” I asked.
Kelly tried to follow him, but Carter held him back. “Let me go, Carter!”
“No,” Carter said. “We stay here. Ox and Joe. You know this.”
Kelly nodded and stood next to the table, arms crossed, like he was guarding anyone from coming over.
I looked out the window of the diner.
Mark was across the street. With Gordo. They were not happy to see each other.
“Motherfucker,” I muttered.
I pushed my way out of the booth. Kelly grabbed my arm and said, “No, Ox, you can’t just—” but I snarled at him something fierce and his eyes went wide and he stepped back.
“Joe, you stay here,” I snapped over my shoulder.
Joe’s eyes narrowed and he opened his mouth to retort, but I cut him off, telling Kelly to watch him. Carter was up and followed me out the door without a word.
I only caught bits and pieces of the conversation as I approached. There was no context, no way for me to understand. I saw the look of fury on Gordo’s face. The harsh set of Mark’s jaw.
“Gordo, it’s not the same—”
“You left. I kept this town safe and you fucking left—”
“We had to, we couldn’t—”
“I’ll put up wards around him. Strengthen the ones around his house. You’ll never—”
“It’s his choice, Gordo. He’s old enough to—”
“You leave him out of this. He is not part of this.”
“You know what happened to Joe. He’s helping Joe, Gordo. He’s fixing him.”
Gordo took a step back. “You fucking bastard. You can’t use—”
“Gordo!”
He looked over at me, eyes wide. “Ox, you get your ass over here. Now.”
“What the fuck is your problem, man?” I asked him. I pushed past Mark and stood in front of Gordo, inches from him. I’d never used my size to intimidate anyone before.