Joker

The next day, Joker was walking through the Compound after taking a shower and changing clothes. Even though Carissa was off, he’d worked that day at the garage because his build was on a deadline. Now, he was done with what he needed to do, showered, and on his way to her.

He had his hand to the front door when his phone rang.

He pulled it out as he pulled open the door and stepped into the Denver sunlight, which meant he had to squint at his phone.

He grinned, took the call, and put the phone to his ear as he pulled his shades out of his hair and put them over his eyes.

“Yo, Lie,” he greeted.

“Okay, bud, you can’t strut your Carson goodness back into our lives then disappear,” Linus said as reply. “Mrs. Heely is pissed. Which means command performance at her place for dinner. Tuesday. And Car, prepare ’cause my brood and you at her place for dinner is a tight fit. But she’s not takin’ no for an answer. She called Kam and gave her what for about you, which meant my woman gave me what for about you. And even though Kam offered her our kitchen, Mrs. Heely is standin’ firm. Her place. I figure this means we’re all in for it because she intends to trot the lot of us out to her cronies. She’s big on doin’ that. Old folk jockey for position, and the best ammo they got is to brag about how many people give a shit about them. So best be on your game ’cause you’re gonna get picked over by a bunch of biddies and none a’ them are gonna like your hairstyle.”

Joker had stopped at his bike and was grinning when he said, “Sorry, Lie. Shit’s gone down that I had to focus on. But I’ll give you and Mrs. Heely a call if I can make it.”

“You didn’t hear me, Car,” Linus returned. “This is a command performance. There’s no if about it.”

“Gotta talk to my girl and see if she’s free.”

This bought him several beats of silence before, “Your girl?”

“The shit’s that gone down I had to focus on,” Joker explained.

“Right,” Linus said slowly. “Few weeks ago you rolled your bike to my garage tellin’ me you been around awhile and just got your shit sorted to make an approach, but no woman involved in that shit. Now you got one and she’s one you’d bring to Kam and Mrs. Heely?”

“Yeah,” Joker answered easily.

“Uh, son, maybe you don’t get this. You don’t bring just any woman to Kam and especially not Mrs. Heely. Those women are gonna pick her over like vultures. Nothin’ but the best for the kid they let into their hearts but lost then got back only very recently.”

That felt good, but still Joker shared, “Wouldn’t bring anything but the best to either of them, brother.”