Chapter 43
"So did you ask her?" Jake asked Quinn the next morning. After Sam had left, Jake had gone back to his room and crashed. He never woke up until morning and had no idea when his brothers had gotten in. Their parents were due home later today.
"Yeah," Quinn nodded, taking a sip of coffee. "I'm an engaged man."
"Congratulations," Jake told him with a smile.
"Thanks, little man," Quinn answered his smile.
"Is she coming by later?" Jake wondered.
"Heck no!" Quinn laughed. "This is guy's day."
"You invited Sam," Jake pointed out.
"She's family," Quinn told him.
"Besides, you're leaving and won't see her for months," Nate said. "We'll allow Sammy to come by but that's it."
"Girls just don't understand guys and football," Bryan agreed. "They want to talk during the games."
"Face it, they want to talk through most everything," Quinn joked. The other three guys nodded.
"So what did you and Sammy end up doing?" Nate asked.
Jake blanked out his expression but not quick enough.
"Spill it little brother," Bryan told him.
"Not that," Jake murmured.
"Why not?" Quinn wondered.
"I didn't have any protection," Jake responded.
"So take some of ours," Nate looked at him like he was insane.
Jake's face got a startled expression and the other three guys started to laugh remembering an incident from when he was younger just like Jake did.
He had been bored with nothing to do. Jake couldn't remember why he just didn't go over to River Bend or go out on the range, but he ended up in Kit's room. Jake had found Kit's stash of condoms, however he didn't know what they were. Curiously he had opened the foil package and taken it out. It had looked like a balloon to him.
Jake had blown one up and taken it outside to bat around in the yard. He was having fun throwing it in the air and chasing it down in the wind, when his mother had driven in.
"What have you got there, Jake?" Maxine had asked him.
"A balloon," Jake had answered, catching it in his hands.
"A balloon?" Maxine looked at the object in Jake's grasp.
She had gasped and grabbed it out of Jake's hands.
"Where did you find this?" Maxine demanded.
Jake couldn't understand why his mother was so upset that he had found a balloon. Still he didn't want to snitch and say he had found it in Kit's room.
"Luke!" Maxine yelled for his father and Jake knew he was in a lot of trouble.
Dad had come running out of the house, thinking someone was in danger.
"What's wrong, Maxine," he asked as he reached them.
"Jake found this," Maxine held the object out to him.
Jake waited for his father to scold him and ground him. Instead, his father's mouth twitched.
"Luke, it's not funny," Maxine almost stomped her foot in irritation. "He was playing with this in the ranch yard."
"I'm sorry," Jake murmured, hoping he wouldn't get in too much trouble.
"It's okay, Jake," Dad had said, the amusement evident in his voice, much to the exasperation of Mom.
"Maxine, he's sixteen," Dad told her.
"But Jake isn't," Maxine had responded.
Jake felt like he was at a tennis match, his head kept moving back and forth between them.
"I'll tell Kit to be more careful," Dad's voice shook with humor. Mom had thrown up her hands and stormed into the house.
Then Dad had turned to Jake and put his hand on his son's shoulder.
"You'll understand more when you're older, Jake," Dad promised him. Then he had followed his wife into the house, leaving Jake thoroughly confused.
Dad must have spoken to Kit since his brothers soon cornered Jake and started teasing him about what he had found. Adam had patiently explained what it was and what it was used for. Jake had been appalled and vowed never to touch one again.
Now though, his brothers were remembering and all four of them were laughing about it.
"No way was Jakey gonna go looking for one," Nate managed to choke out.
"He'd be out playing with it and Mom would come home again," Bryan's laugh was boisterous.
Jake shuddered, thinking of his mother knocking on his door while he was with Sam.
"Seriously, little man," Quinn told him. "You need to get yourself some. Neither of you need an unwanted pregnancy."
Jake simply nodded.
His brothers smiled at him and Jake tried not to respond, but he couldn't help it.