Chapter 75
Betsy turned and lowered her feet to the carpet. “Sorry, Rory, I didn’t mean anything bad. Me and Zane always joke around but I know not everyone gets it.”
Rory nodded. “Zane’s…special.” He felt himself blush.
Betsy smiled. “Yeah. Can see you’re good for him.”
“He’s good for me, too.”
Rory was relieved that Betsy dropped the conversation and after surfing through another handful of channels, she turned off the TV.
“Nothing worth watching.” She then focused her attention on Rory. “So you like trivia then?”
Rory shrugged. “Sometimes.”
Betsy reached into her voluminous bright pink purse and pulled out a cell phone in a case in a matching shade of pink. After a few taps, she said, “Here’s a good question for you. Who was the first US vice president not to later become president himself?”
“Aaron Burr,” Rory said immediately.
Betsy smiled and swiped her phone’s screen. “The only president to serve two non-consecutive terms?”
“Grover Cleveland.” Rory hoped this wouldn’t continue for much longer. He hated showing off, but a part of him wouldn’t allow himself to deliberately get a question wrong just to take the heat off of him.
“Okay, let’s try world geography,” Betsy said. “What’s the largest bay in the world?”
Rory had to think for a second. “Bay of Bengal?”
Betsy nodded and did some more swiping. She grinned then asked, “Where on the body is the wenis?”
“Betsy! Stop it!” Brenda said, knitting needles frozen in mid stitch.
Rory laughed, lifted his left arm, rolled up his sleeve, and pinched the skin on the outside of his elbow. “Here, although I don’t think that’s its official name.”
Betsy smirked and stuck her tongue out at her mother.
“Clever madam,” Brenda harrumphed but resumed knitting.
“And what’s the only planet in the solar system to be named after a Greek god.”
Rory smiled. “Uranus.”
That earned him a look from Brenda, but the knitting didn’t pause.
Betsy swiped through a few more screens. “Nah, that’s too easy. Gay men know all about Broadway musicals.”
Rory smirked. “Very true.” Although he’d be willing to admit he wasn’t all that knowledgeable on the subject.
Betsy swiped some more. “I know, sports. Only realmen know about sports.” She smiled to show she was teasing. “Who’s the most successful Super Bowl player?”
“Tom Brady.”
“Is he the one with the…” She pointed to her chin.
Rory nodded.
Betsy tapped her phone a couple of times then fanned herself. “God, he’s so hot.” She showed Rory the screen, which showed a full length picture of the famous quarterback.
Rory grinned. “Yep, he’s pretty hot.”
“Hotter than Zane?” Betsy teased.
“Elizabeth Louise Owens.” The knitting was dumped in Brenda’s lap and she glared at her daughter.
Rory blushed.
“Well, is he?” Betsy persisted, punching Rory in the arm.
Rory was saved from answering by the sound of tires on gravel. He looked out the window and saw Bill’s car coming up the driveway. He was closely followed by a black truck.
“They’re back sooner than I expected,” Brenda said, finishing her current row before setting down her knitting and climbing to her feet. “Better put on a pot of coffee.”
Rory watched as Zane got out of the truck cab and grinned when he saw that the upholstery was brown.
Rory helped Betsy get off the sofa and together they walked into the kitchen.
“Hey, Sis,” Zane said, picking her up effortlessly.
“You be careful,” Brenda said. Rory wasn’t sure who she was talking to.
“Little brother,” Betsy said, smacking Zane’s shoulder affectionately.
“You get bigger every time I see you. Sure you aren’t having twins?” Zane asked.
“That’s what folks used to say about me when I was pregnant with you,” Brenda said, shaking her head. “Now put Betsy down and come sit at the table.”
Zane grinned, set his sister down, and turned to Rory. “Betsy said if it’s a boy she’s gonna call him after me.”
Betsy rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right.”
Rory smiled. This grew when Zane approached him and picked him up, too.
“Missed you,” Zane said softly before kissing Rory gently on the lips.
“Oh, young love,” Betsy simpered. “Which reminds me, I got you this.” She rummaged around in her huge purse and pulled out a light green bolt of cloth, which she held out to Zane.
“What is it?” Zane asked, setting Rory down and accepting the material. He opened it out. It was a T-shirt. He held it against his chest and looked down at the picture on the front.
“Thought as you’re gay now you should have a Green Lantern tee.”
Zane laughed. “I love it.” Immodest as ever, Zane stripped off his shirt and tee before putting on the new T-shirt. He then pulled his sister into a hug. Thanks, Sis.” Letting her go, he turned to Rory. “Wadda ya think?”
Before Rory could answer, Betsy asked, “Hotter than Tom Brady?”
“Huh?” Zane looked confusedly between Rory and Betsy.