•••
"shine, did you get the flowers? they are going to be here soon and i dont want it to look like we've been cleaning all day." flore always stresses herself out whenever we have guests. its something my mom did too and it must've passed down because all morning shes been hounding me to make sure everything is perfect. we've been vacuuming, cooking, doing the dishes, fluffing and re-fluffing the pillows all day.
i just got home from the store because flore realized we were out of nutmeg for our cinnamon rolls and that the flowers on our kitchen island were dead. i cant believe it took her four weeks fo notice they were dead, but then again, shes hardly been home.
"yeah, i got them dont worry!" i call to her from the front door, not mentioning the truck i see pulling into the driveway. i head to the kitchen to put them into a vase as the doorbell rings.
"ill get it!" flore shouts as she races to the door. i give her a weird look, not understanding why shes acting so awkward today.
i can hear ber open the door and greet whoever is on the other side. as i am fiddling with the flowers, hangman walks into the kitchen with a bouquet that he must've brought.
"florence told me i could bring these to you, although i didnt know yall would already have some." he sets them on the counter as i hear someone knock on the door.
"oh, she made me go get them today. thank you for brining these anyway." i say, smiling at him despite our small work induced feud. i pick them up and combine them into the same vase my flowers were in.
we both walk together into the living room where flore is welcoming pheonix, fanboy, and payback. coyote must've come with hangman because he is already settled into our couch, his feet kicked up onto our freshly cleaned coffee table. hangman settles in beside him, nudging his feet down as he does so.
"hey i brought mashed potatoes, payback and fanboy brought some corn too, where should we put them?" pheonix lets me lead them into the kitchen where they set their food on the counter.
"oh, phoenix these potatoes look incredible," my eyes roll back in my head as i lift the lid off and smell them. she smiles at me and opens her mouth to say something when fanboy beats her to it.
"what about our corn? we shucked it all morning, it was not fun."
"the corn looks amazing too, thank you for coming." i laugh and high five the tow boys as we walk back to the living room. everyone takes a seat on the couch and i sit on the floor in front of the tv, which is playing some quiet music.
"when are we going to eat? im starving." theres a chorus of agreements as hangman calls attention to everyones hunger.
"as soon as roosters here we can start, we have a few more minutes on the chicken anyway." flore responds to him, i notice shes sitting awfully close to him and i assume it must be his weight on the couch pulling her in.
"classic bradshaw, being too slow." he says to the group.
"hey, dont be mean, no one likes that." i glare at him playfully. "although he is taking forever and im starving too." just as i say that, the doorbell rings and i get up to let him in.
"speak of the devil." fanboy says as Bradshaw comes inside, handing me a tray a of rolls.
"y'all were talking about me?" he asks unbothered he follows me into the kitchen as be continues the conversation with the rest of the group.
"just about your rugged good looks and that ugly ass mustache on your face." pheonix responds, joking. he laughs and the people in the living room start talking about something else.
"thanks for bringing these, they look so soft." i set the tray on top of the stove and bradshaw gets himself a glass of water. i laugh, "wow, make yourself at home why dont you?"
he shrugs, "im thirsty, and i know you don't actually mind."
"your right, i dont. km glad your here because were all starving." i call in the rest of the group and we all dish ourselves up, sitting down at our dining table. i almost dont notice bradshaws small snort when flore sits next to hangman, because be tries to cover it up with a fake cough.
"what was that about?" i lean closer to ask, already sitting next to him at the table.
"it was nothing, just a snide comment i dont even remember anymore." i can tell he's lying but i dont push it anymore.
"can you guys believe weve only got three weeks left at top gun? what do yall want to do after?" payback speaks up, trying to start a conversation.
"ive already got a couple of offers to join some squadrons but i think im going to join the vigilantes." hangman is the first to respond, having already finished eating.
"payback, fanboy, and i are planning to join the black aces together." pheonix chimes in.
"thats really cool, storm and i have been asked to join the friendlies." i say, nudging bradshaw to get him to share as well.
"im joining the golden warriors." he says, looking at me. my heart sinks slightly, knowing both squadrons are on opposite ends of the country. i know that i still hate him, but theres been something different ever since he brought me home, i didnt want it to end i guess.
•••
after everyone has finished their food, we make our way into the living room to play some games. bradshaw and i sit on the floor while everyone else is on the couch.
"do you guys want to play never have i ever?" fanboy suggests.
"what are we, fifteen?" hangman turns it down quickly, reaching for his beer.
"oh, come on. it will be fun!" flore nudges him with her elbow, grinning slightly.
pheonix raises her hand, "ill start, never have i ever had an enemy." she winks at me as i take a drink of my beer, as well as bradshaw and payback.
"are we going clockwise or counterclockwise?" flore asks, sitting on pheonixs right. "never mind, never have i ever cheated."
"like on a test or on a person?" payback asks
"either." she glares at me and i roll my eyes, taking a drink along with everyone else.
"never have i ever, lost a parent." hangman looks at bradshaw as he says this, making everyone in the room go quiet. bradley and pheonix both drink and everyone glares at hangman.
"what was that for?" i hear florence ask him quietly, frowning at him.
"never have i ever, had sex." i lighten the mood and take everyone's attention off of bradley and hangman.
"are you kidding me? how old are you?" payback asks, eyes wide.
"im twenty four, im not that old, im just waiting for the right person so i dont have to feel guilty after. should i repeat my 'never have i ever' so yall can drink?" everyone including florence drinks. i widen my eyes st her, last i checked she was a virgin too. "um since when storm?" i eye her suspiciously.
"it doesnt matter." she smirks at me and winks. i know ill get it out of her eventually.
"never have i ever, had a sibling." bradshaw smirks at me and i glare at him.
"come on rooster, really?" florence laughs, taking a drink. everyone but fanboy drink, a few of us drinking the last of our beers.
"im all out," pheonix says, a series of "me toos" following. "its getting late anyway, we should probably head out." she looks at payback and fanboy and they agree, standing up.
"bye, thank you for coming, we would love to have yall again soon!" florence calls as they head out to their car, waving.
"i should probably go too, thank you for the wonderful dinner. im going to need the recipe for those cinnamon rolls for my mom as well." florence walks hangman out as well, walking him al they way to his truck, leaving me inside with bradshaw.
" tonight was great, thank you for inviting me." he grins at me as he says this.
"i didnt invite you, storm did." i smile at him, playfully nudging him. "im glad you came anyway."
we say our goodbyes and i watch him walk back to his jeep. flore meets me at the door, smiling.
"thank you for letting me do this, i loved having them over." she hugs my side as we stand on the porch.
"you know, i wouldnt be apposed to making it a weekly thing if you want." she looks up at me hopefully and i laugh. "were only here for three more weeks anyway. thats not too bad."
we laugh and say our goodnights, closing the doors to our separate rooms. and as i lay in bed, i cant stop thinking about bradley all night.
•••