Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“Ready?” he asks.
“Yep.”
“I’m going to cube this chicken. Can you take the containers and add a spoonful of rice and a spoonful of broccoli? Oh, and this.” He walks to the cabinet and pulls out two cans of black beans. “Can opener is in the top drawer to the right of the stove.”
“This all smells really good.”
“Thanks, it’s the seasoning. It’s your dad’s, actually.”
“Really? How did I not know that?”
“I don’t know.”
“How did you get it?”
“Deacon. He had some at his place one night, and he got your dad to give me a container. I actually need to hit him up for another. That man is a genius.”
“He won’t tell us what’s in it. He claims it keeps us kids coming back to see him.”
Brooks nods. “It’s worth it. Not that you wouldn’t go visit your parents, but this seasoning he makes is definitely an added incentive.”
I start dishing out the broccoli and rice, then move on to opening the two cans of black beans while he cubes up the chicken breasts. “All set,” I tell him.
“Perfect. I’m going to add the chicken, and then we just scoop a little of the black beans and a spoonful of salsa over the rice, and we’re good to go.”
“This looks really good. No wonder you’re okay with eating it all the time.”
“I sometimes do steak and cooked carrots. I do mix it up, but it’s always the same for however long it takes me to eat through this. I’m usually too damn tired after a twelve-hour shift that turned into an even longer one to cook. I can shower, pop this in the microwave, and call it good. Same thing for packing lunch. I can sleep a little longer being able to just pull one of these from the fridge.”
“You’ve got the bachelor life down to a science,” I tease.
“Blame Orrin. He started it. The rest of us just went along with it because it’s a genius plan. The only one that differs a little is Declan because he has Blakely. She does like most foods, but she’s also a kid and loves chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs, and macaroni and cheese.”
“I mean, it’s a dinosaur nugget. Kid’s got good taste.”
“Right? I keep a bag in the freezer for her.”
“You really do spoil her, you know.”
“Yeah.” He nods. “We all do. She’s our only niece, and she’s a hellcat, that one. Some of the things she comes up with.” He shakes his head as if he can’t believe the adorable little girl is capable of the personality that she rocks.
“Nothing wrong with a little spoiling. As the baby of the family, I speak from experience.”
“I can imagine. We do the same with Ramsey, and she’s our cousin and has only been in our lives for more than a quick visit for a couple of years now.”
“I’m happy for them. I know I give her and my brother hell for me getting them together, but that’s just to rile them up. I knew instantly they would be perfect together. It just took me a while to get my workaholic brother to slow down and convince Rams to do me a favor.”
Brooks points at me. “That was sneaky but a good move. He’s good for her.”
“She’s good for him.”
“So, what about you? No leading man in your life?”
“Does my camera count?”
“Nope. Must be human,” he teases.
“Nah. I’m always working it seems, and well, when you grow up with everyone in a small town, it’s hard to find someone you don’t remember picking their nose and eating it in elementary school.”
Brooks grimaces. “Nice visual. I understand what you’re saying, though.”
“What about you? Just living your best life as a bachelor?”
“For now.”
“For now?”
“Yeah. One day I’ll find her.”
“Find her.”
“Yeah, the one that will make me want to change her last name.”
“Brooks Kincaid, are you a closet romantic?” I jest, because the talk is getting a little deep, and it’s on the tip of my tongue for me to blurt out that I volunteer for the position.
“Nah, I wouldn’t say that. Do I plan on being a bachelor for the rest of my life? No. I’m not in a hurry either.”
“So you’re just living your best life? Is that what you’re trying to tell me?” My tone is light, hiding that deep down, I want to know the answer.
“Maybe.” He laughs. “But I look at it more as I want to settle down, but I don’t want to settle, if that makes sense?”
I let the meaning of what he’s saying sink in. “Yeah, it makes perfect sense, actually. Should I add ‘words of wisdom’ under the things I’ve learned about you today?”
“Only if you promise not to tell my pops. Those are his words. Raymond Kincaid is full of life lessons. For as long as I can remember, he’s taken all of us on camping and fishing trips. We load up and leave Mom at home, giving her some time without all of us kids. Some Mommy time we used to call it. Anyway, we fish, camp, and play flashlight tag, and just goof off and expel all the energy that’s created with nine boys so close in age. We still play now, even as adults from time to time. At night we sit around the campfire, and Dad always has something to say. Some type of wisdom for us.”