Page 41 of Just Like That
I need a favor.
Royal
Uh, oh ... brothers-only text thread. Whose ass is getting beat?
Abel
Why are you the way that you are?
Whip
Childhood trauma is my guess.
I’m serious.
Abel
You’re always serious.
Royal
Look who’s talking.
Whip
While our oldest brothers bicker, what can we do for you, JP?
Hazel wants to go to book club with the Bluebirds.
Abel
And?
Royal
It’s like a rite of passage in this town. Does that mean she’s sticking around, Daddy?
Don’t ever call me that again. I have no idea if she’s planning to stick around, but if she goes to book club tonight, I’m stuck with the kid. He’s a good kid, but I don’t have a clue what to do with a seven-year-old.
Whip
Oh, we got you, Daddy.
Jesus . . . not you too.
Abel
Sorry, man. I’m out. Sloane and I have plans but if it happens again, maybe he’d like to hang with Ben and Tillie sometime.
Royal
The women are all at book club together anyway. We can let him stay up late and watch Big Trouble in Little China or some shit.
Whip
He’s seven.
Royal