"Did you hear that?" Jameson asked me. "Quickest transformation from asshole to sweetie on record. And do we really need the greens? I mean there's fucking pot roast."
"I heard that," Rio said. She walked straight to the cuss jar in the cookie cupboard. It was packed with coins and bills.
Jameson looked at her. "Do you have sonar hearing?" He patted his pockets. "Fresh out of greenbacks." He lifted a piece of lettuce off the cutting board. "I could put this in."
Rio sighed loudly, screwed on the lid and put it back. "You owe the jar, and I will not forget it." Rio turned my direction. "I'm saving for a car. Dad's hobby of cussing is going to get me one before I'm even sixteen. And it's going to be one of those new Broncos, baby blue with white stripes."
Jameson laughed. "Dream on, kiddo, dream on."
The doorbell rang. "I'll get it." Rio raced to the door.
"Who are you expecting?" I asked and instantly knew the answer to my question when I heard Colin's voice in the entryway.
"Didn't know you were inviting Colin," Jameson said.
"We had so much food. You bought such a big roast," Indi explained.
"Yeah, cuz I'm planning on having leftovers on my sandwiches," Jameson said. "And there goes my beer supply, too."
Colin came around the corner. "Bro, what's up?" He patted me hard on the back. "Hey that beer looks good."
Jameson gave Indi an I-told-you-so glower. Indi grabbed Colin a beer, and my brother sat on the stool next to me.
Rio came in texting wildly on her phone. "Indi, I'm going to invite my friends over."
"No way. It's a school night," Jameson said.
Rio looked at Indi to see if she could skirt his ruling. Indi shook her head. "Dad's right. It's a school night."
Rio moved closer to Indi so she could talk quietly. "Yes, but this is like a solar eclipse, a rare event, both twins in the house at the same time. It'll just be Team Ronan and Team Colin. That's all."
Colin elbowed me. "We're a rare event, a fucking solar eclipse." Colin put up his hand. "Before you grab down that annoying money jar, squirt, I don't have any money on me. I humbly retract the f-word."
"Don't think that's how it works." Rio put her hands on her hips. "You owe the jar. Besides, it's for a good cause. Namely, my baby blue Bronco." She was in that awkward stage where she was a kid one minute and teenager the next.
Rio stomped off angrily but then stomped back and stood between Colin and me. She took a selfie with us and then marched away. "The teams are going to be very mad about this."
"We've got teams," Colin said. He took a drink of beer.
"Yeah, but don't get too excited cuz all of them would give up their jerseys to be on Team Nate. Are you still getting the keys Friday?" I asked.
"Sure am. We can move our shit in on Saturday."
Jameson spun around with his chopping knife. "So, you're taking our wonderful houseguest off our hands?"
"I feel so loved," I muttered.
Indi smiled at me. "We love having you. Really. Why don't you guys take your drinks out to the dining room and we'll serve dinner."
Colin patted his stomach. "Smells so good. I was working out for the last two hours, so I'm extra hungry."
Colin and I walked out to the dining room. "Hey, I'm going over to the Gold Rush after this. Meeting Kelly and Gina for a few beers. Come along."
I sat down. "Nah, I need to be at work early. Besides, I'm banned until I pay up." I hadn't mentioned to Colin that I was trying to cut down on the partying. Living with him was going to make that extra hard.
"Have you talked to Dad?" Colin asked. "Z says he and Nev have to keep tabs on him to make sure he's eating and not just downing whiskey and frozen burritos."
"Well, Zander lives right there, so it's not a big deal for him. And no, I haven't talked to him, and I'm good with that. Asshole kicked me out with a concussion."