Balance (Oakley’s Crew #2)

3. Cane

3

CANE

T his isn’t happening. I stare out the French doors in the living room that look into the backyard where two members of Oakley’s Crew have started their work—one who I just happened to hook up with months ago.

What the hell are the odds of that? I haven’t been able to get the time with the strong, beautiful redhead out of my mind since that night, but I never thought in a million years he’d show up here. I never thought I’d see him again.

Slim arms wrap around my waist from behind, and I stiffen. “You don’t have to supervise them, you know? Oakley’s Crew comes highly recommended. Kaitlyn swears by them.”

Doesn’t surprise me that Evie’s best friend, who happens to live in Hayes, is the reason these men were hired for this particular job. Fate just loves to keep fucking with me.

“I’m not supervising. Just observing,” I say tensely.

I can’t get the way Archie was looking at me out of my mind. I know what he’s thinking—that I’m a cheater. I want to talk to him and explain the situation. But I’m not really sure why the need is so great.

He’s a stranger to me. I don’t know him. It was one time, and I’m sure he hasn’t thought about it since. But the way he looked at me—like I was a disappointment—it just didn’t sit right.

“Why don’t you take them some lemonade?” Evie says sweetly, unwrapping her arms from around my waist as I turn to look at her.

“What?”

Her smile is beautiful and intoxicating—same as it’s been since we were kids. The woman is impossible not to love. I’ve never known anyone sweeter or more kind than Evie. Maybe I should just tell her the truth.

But as I look into her pretty eyes, my heart sinks, knowing it would hurt her. “Take them some lemonade.” She winks at me. “That way you can spy up close.”

She’s already walking toward the kitchen, and that feeling deep in my gut—that bitter, ugly feeling—just gets worse as I follow her. She hands me two glasses of lemonade and kisses me on the cheek before I take a deep breath and go outside toward the men.

I head to Walker first, who’s busy pulling weeds around one of the large oak trees and hand him a glass. He takes it gratefully, but he also looks a little wary. His hesitant gaze slides over to Archie before giving me a nod and thanking me. I smile at him. “Not a problem.”

I walk over to Archie, his eyes firmly on me, but the lightness of our first meeting is gone. God, that night was wild. It was on a whim that I ended up in Hayes that night. I was tired of so many things, just took a drive and somehow ended up in the small town that was our rival in high school.

The bar looked inviting somehow. I thought I’d go get a drink, maybe play a quick round of pool and relax, but what I wound up with was so much better—or worse, depending on how you look at it.

“Archie—” I start, keeping my voice low, but he quickly gives me a sharp shake of his head, cutting me off.

“Don’t.” It’s quiet but firm.

“Just let me?—”

“No,” he says, deadly serious as his cold eyes lock on mine. He reaches out for the glass in my hand and takes it. “Thank you for the lemonade.”

I know he’s dismissing me, and I should let him. It shouldn’t matter what he thinks of me, and I can feel his co-worker’s eyes on me. His protective glare makes me think they’re more than just co-workers.

Friends for sure. Lovers? Maybe.

The thought makes my insides twist, no matter how unfair that is, considering they’re only here because of my engagement. “Please let me explain.” I barely recognize my voice as I plead with him.

“No.” His voice is rough, and his eyes are glaring at me—a startling difference from our night together. I’d never felt so calm and free in my life than that night with him. But now, all I feel are nerves skittering throughout my body from the angry way he’s looking at me. “Did you need something, Mr. Butler?”

I swallow hard, the action almost painful because it feels very final. “No. Just wanted to give you something to drink.”

“Thank you.”

I turn away from him and head back to the house, feeling numb and out of sorts. I hate feeling this way. Evie is waiting for me, a curious expression on her pretty face. “Everything up to your standards?” She’s teasing, but she knows I’m a bit of a perfectionist.

Always have been. Even in school, I wouldn’t turn in an assignment until I was sure it was a perfect score. I’m the same way with my store. Everything needs to look professional and in order. I find old antique items and refinish them, but I refuse to put them up for sale until they’re absolutely perfect, and Evie loves to tease me about that.

“It’s fine. I need to go.” I know the abrupt statement startles her, but I can barely look into her eyes as I start for the front door.

“Cane.” The worry in her voice stops my feet from moving, and I turn around. “Is everything okay?” Her eyes are watery, and I hate that I’ve made her feel this way. No matter what’s happened to us throughout the years, I still can’t stand to see her sad.

“Yes.” I walk over to her, kissing her temple softly and placing my hands on her hips. “I just need to go feed Baby and Dolly.”

A slight smile tilts her lips as she looks up at me. She’s a full foot shorter than me and feels almost small and fragile in my hands. “You really should just bring them here. The barn is finished.”

It’s something she’s been suggesting for a long time, but for some reason, it sends a sickening feeling through me. I got the miniature donkey, Dolly, and her best friend, Baby—the cutest little black and white goat you’ve ever seen—a year ago at an auction. As odd as it may seem, they’re like family to me. The thought of moving them here and out of their home just seems wrong. Or maybe I’m overthinking the entire thing. “I will. Just not today.”

She doesn’t pull away from me, comfortable being this close to me after so many years. Evie and me, we fit. We work. It was always supposed to be this way. Since we were kids, it was like it was known we’d end up together. I need to remember that. Keep it in my head.

I kiss her forehead and release her. “I’ll be back later.”

“You promise?” The hopeful way her eyes light up is sweet—but the fear I still see in them that I won’t come back is like hell on earth. The definition of torture.

“I promise.” The thought of coming back here after leaving Dolly and Baby at my house isn’t as exciting as it should be. In fact, I’m already dreading it.

I finally turn my back on her again and then walk out to my truck, sparing one glance at the men in the backyard. They’re both hard at work, the sun already starting to beat down on them both, but it’s Archie who it takes me far too long to look away from.

I see the set in his jaw—the determination to get the job done so he can be free of me. I wish he’d let me explain, even though I don’t know why. It doesn’t matter. None of it matters.

I made my choice—which was never really a choice to begin with—and now I need to live with it.