End of Day (Jack & Jill 1)

“She?”

“They,” AJ corrected. “They are older than you.”

“But younger than you. It’s not like they’re old enough to be my parents. I haven’t met them, but they or she seemed pretty cool.”

AJ sighed. “You saw her in her underwear.”

“Let me repeat … she seemed pretty cool.” Cage smirked.

“Behave.”

*

AJ cursed God and the local meteorologists for the blanket of blue sky that kidnapped the seventy percent chance of rain. Cage pulled his red Husker cap over his unkempt blond hair he inherited from his mother—along with his blue eyes—then grabbed the cooler from the back of the truck—sporting a shit-eating grin as the residents of Peaceful Woods greeted him like a celebrity.

Smoke billowed from the large grill as the men huddled around it while the women arranged side dishes on the picnic tables in the pavilion. The glaring contradiction to the scene was Jackson Knight surrounded by the flock of women shoving food at his pretty-boy face as they vied for his attention.

“Sarge, where’s your meat? We’ll throw it on the grill,” Dodge called.

AJ raised his chin. “Cage is getting it.” He grabbed a beer and navigated to the smoke. Cage handed him their brats, and AJ dropped them on the grill next to what he thought looked like the most pathetic excuse for a hot dog ever.

“Watch it, Senior Master Sergeant. I don’t want my Tofurkey dog touching your big sausage or I’ll be tasting it all night.”

AJ turned. Jillian peered at him over the frames of her sunglasses that sat low on her nose. Stray hairs from her ponytail whipped in the wind as reckless as the rest of her.

“It’s a bratwurst and what the hell is a Tofurkey dog?” Hidden by his dark aviators, AJ’s eyes roved her pint-sized body barely covered by a strapless sundress that was a good six inches too short. Why did that bother him? Simple. His dick had lost all self-respect.

“I don’t eat meat. It’s tofu.” She winked and pushed her glasses high on her nose.

“My ex-girlfriend is a vegetarian.” Cage managed to physically and verbally squeeze his way into the conversation as he nudged AJ to the side. “Don’t mind my old man, he wouldn’t understand. I think he brushes his teeth with bacon-flavored toothpaste.”

“No. I don’t,” AJ grumbled.

Cage winked. “It’s a joke…” he cupped his hand at his mouth “…but he doesn’t understand what that is either.”

Jillian’s smile grew exponentially as she held out her hand. “Jillian Knight. And you must be the young son.”

Cage took her hand with an eagerness that tipped AJ even closer to the edge. “Cage, and yes I’m young, twenty to be exact.” He looked around. “But that’s not saying much with this crowd. I’ll be twenty-one next month.”

“Well, I might have to take you out for a celebratory drink.” Jillian teased the neck of her beer bottle along her blood red painted lower lip.

AJ cleared his throat. “You’re married.” To your brother, you incestuous whore.

“I am?” Jillian raised up on her toes and looked around. “Hmm, I don’t see my husband. I think we’re good.” She stepped closer to Cage. “It’s just a drink. I’m not going to take your virginity.”

Cage adjusted his hat and AJ suspected that wasn’t all he needed to adjust.

“I’m not a virgin.” Cage wet his lips and chuckled a bit.

Jillian moved her head in a conspiratorial side-to-side glance, then whispered, “Neither am I.”

“Speaking of drinks…” AJ gave Cage a firm squeeze on the shoulder “…why don’t you grab me another beer and go entertain the ladies that I’m sure are dying to chat with you.”

Cage walked off with a quick look back at Jillian.

“Entertain the ladies? Am I not a lady?” Jillian sipped her beer.

“No. You’re not.” AJ tried to look anywhere but directly at her.

“Have I done something wrong?”

How was he supposed to answer that question? Especially since she failed to deliver her words with an ounce of give-a-shit. “Do you have any morals?”

She twisted her lips. “I think so, unless they were lost in the move. Why? Do you need to borrow some?”

AJ shook his head. “Just stay away from my son.”

“Is everything okay?” Jackson slid his arm around Jillian.

The roiling in AJ’s stomach intensified, festering like a flesh eating bacteria. “Keep your wife away from my son.” He brushed past them, enraged that he was the only one who didn’t think they were God’s gift to Peaceful Woods.

“Here’s your beer.” Cage handed him another can and a plate for food. “Jillian’s—”

“Trouble. Just … keep your distance.” AJ mentally reprimanded himself. Cage was a good kid, but he also had a wild side that was drawn to trouble.

“Hey, Sarge.”

“Dodge, good to see you.” AJ smiled. “How’s Lilith?”

“She’s okay. Katie’s been visiting the past week so I’ve been able to sneak out on a few occasions.”

“Any luck finding some part-time help?”