“Land a man while you’re young and pretty,” Jenn says, wrapping blonde hair behind her ear. “I know that goes against what all us girls hear when we’re growing up. We’re supposed to think career and have fun first, but it’s a lie. Oh, sure, it works for those fancy city girls with their degrees. Girls like us don’t work that way.”
Jenn sets aside the potato salad bowl and starts working on coleslaw. “Look at me and my little sister Debbie. I grabbed Lucky when I got the chance. She said I was settling down too early. We were party girls and she wanted to keep partying until she got too old. Her plan didn’t even make any sense since our mom still parties and she’s old as fuck. Anyway, I married Lucky and had kids. Being a wife and mom settled me into the woman I was going to be. That’s how I figured out the job I wanted. I was never going to have a fancy career, but I like working as a medical technician. I never would have gone that way when I was younger.”
People walk past the kitchen and say hi to Jenn and Darby. Once they’re outside where Lucky is grilling, Jenn returns to her story.
“My sister tried out a bunch of jobs and just as many men. The guys were all players and not looking to settle down yet. Debbie didn’t worry because she figured she had time. Unfortunately, beauty fades. Even for the hottest chick, she only has a certain prime window. We’re not living in Hollywood where we can buy a new face when we’re forty. So I settled down young and got me a good man. Debbie wasted her youth on men who weren’t ready. By the time she pushed for a husband, her options were pretty shitty. The guy she married works some fuckwit job and moved the family to northern Minnesota. Do you have idea how fucking cold it is where she lives? Oh, and he doesn’t make crap for money and she works a shithole job because she never found her calling or whatever. That’s what happens when you wait too long and grab the first asshole willing to commit.”
“Pearls of wisdom,” Darby teases as the margarita kicks in.
Jenn rolls her eyes then looks at me. “You’re a pretty girl and there are a few guys I know who are interested. They’re rough around the edges, but they’ve got a fierce protective streak like Lucky. They’ll take good care of their women and kids. Unlike my brother-in-law who will spend money on himself and let his family do without.”
Jenn walks to me and slides my hair off my shoulders. “Don’t waste your time on a guy who isn’t ready. Men who say they’re not ready really mean you aren’t enough for them to be ready. They’ll only settle down when they have no options. So those guys sniffing around you right now are interested, but most only want to play around. Maybe long term play, but you can’t think of finding a guy for a year or even five. That shit gets girls like us in trouble.”
Jenn gives a nod to someone passing by then sighs. “Don’t waste your youth being dumb. Find a man who treats you right and wants you now and always. Grab him and don’t let him go. Also, don’t let a guy who looks like bad news scare you because you’re bad news too. Some people just draw trouble to themselves. A girl like you could use a scary fucker to keep her safe from all that trouble.”
Jenn steps back and smiles. “Or you can be like Darby and grow old alone.”
“Single and loving it,” Darby says, giving me a wink. “Marriage was great, but I have no interest in ever doing it again. Love is a lot of fucking work and I’ve grown too selfish for it.”
“Darby is special,” Jenn says as she returns to cooking. “Most of us want a warm body next to us each night. When I first met Lucky, I thought he might rob me.” Darby and I laugh, but Jenn just smiles. “He had the worst pickup line too. Something about me a seductress and making him my slave. It was awful and he also made a comment about my boobs. I wasn’t impressed, but he did make me laugh. The next time I saw him, he was shirtless and I realized he was more than funny. The rest is history.”
My thoughts returning to Ford, the image of him shirtless sends me into heat. I need to regain control of my hormones. Darby senses this much.
“She’s got it bad for Ford.”
Jenn snorts then realizes Darby’s serious. “Oh, honey. Ford won’t marry you. Sleep with him, but don’t get addicted. He has commitment issues from all those years in foster care. Besides Pax, the man doesn’t really care about anyone.”
I want to ask about his past. Or maybe not knowing is best. I have my heart set on getting close to Ford. Reality might destroy the fantasy, so I choose ignorance. For now anyway.
Leaving the women, I walk into the large backyard and watch Jenn and Lucky’s kids jump on the trampoline with other kids from the club. Paige thinks I’m cool and keeps telling me about her school. I suspect she thinks I’m her sister. Everyone keeps thinking I am Lucky’s kid. No doubt if I grew up here with parents like Lucky and Jenn, my life would have been a lot different.