Chapter 20
It’s been four days since I heard from Jaxon. He was right when he thought work would stop because of the weather. It’s been raining on and off all week, so I haven’t seen him. I haven’t seen him at all.
With my head down as I slip through the trees walking away from Coopers’ ranch, I chew on my lip while reading through the last few texts I sent, all without a response. I battle with wanting to try one more time before I take the hint, or maybe I should take the hint now and just stop pestering him.
Does he regret offering to teach me how to ride now that we’ve tried it once? I stop walking immediately when a bigger worry hits me. Does this mean we aren’t friends anymore?
Another thought crosses my mind, and I make my decision without hesitation. What if something is wrong and he’s not okay? Quickly, I type out probably the longest message I’ve ever sent him.
I apologize that I keep texting, but I grew concerned that something was wrong. Are you okay? Is there anything I can do for you or that you need?
There.I’ve apologized if he’s irritated that I won’t shut up while also expressing I’m just concerned about him.
I start walking again and as soon as I step out of the trees, my phone vibrates in my pocket just as my father blocks my path. There’s no way I can answer the phone, not with him facing me down like this.
My throat closes up because I don’t know what’s about to happen. His eyes look over my shoulder briefly before moving back to me. “Where you comin’ from, girl?”
His question doesn’t sound worrisome, just as if he’s asking a simple question, but if I tell him the truth, he’ll be furious.
“Just walking through the trees.” It’s not a lie. I was walking through them. I’m just not going to tell him where I’m walking from.
I don’t think he believes me, and I fight not to close my eyes, knowing I’m about to get it, but he shocks me.
“Come inside. I’m leavin’ for a job, and I need you to get some shit together for me.” Turning away, he walks toward the house without waiting for me.
My mouth falls open as I quickly catch up. Did Griffin really get my father to leave town? I don’t want him to ask how I knew he was leaving, so to play into that, I ask, “Where are you heading to?”
“Don’t matter. Got a job,” he calls over his shoulder, leaving me even more confused over why he isn’t laying into me for questioning him. As soon as I step inside the house, I figure out why.
Corbin and Griffin are standing in the kitchen, an empty duffle bag at Corbin’s feet. I desperately want to look at Griffin, but I fight the urge since my father is facing me once more.
“We don’t got much time before we have to hit the road, so I need you to pull out the laundry from the dryer for me. Few changes of clothes, an extra just in case.” He picks up the bag he must be borrowing from Corbin just as Griffin stands up straighter and glares at him.
“Not even a please? Awfully rude there, Clay.”
My eyes widen, and now I look directly at Griffin, silently screaming at him to stop. I glance at Corbin and he’s looking at his brother, clearly surprised by his scolding.
I can’t see my father’s face, but his back is rigid, and he’s staring hard at Griffin. Spinning around, I decide now is not the time to stay and see what happens, but I hear a soft smack, then Corbin’s voice.
“Dude, it’s fine. We gotta get on the road. Help me move shit into your truck while they get shit together.”
“I’m just sayin’ there’s no need to be rude when she’s helpin’ out. You got anything else you’re bringin’ along, Clay? Or just the one bag?”
I make it to the laundry, barely able to hear my father. “Just the one.” He’s pissed, but thankfully I won’t have to bear the brunt of his annoyance at being called out. At least, not tonight anyway.
Folding the clothes as fast as possible, I wonder why they’re loading stuff into Griffin’s truck. Maybe he’s going away with them. But if that were the case, why would my father need to go? Unless the job needs three people instead of two.
Disappointed that it sounds like Griffin’s plan didn’t pan out the way he thought, I’m still looking forward to a night alone. I have no idea how long my father will be gone, but even one night is a blessing.
Setting the stack of clothing on the table, I wait as my father inspects the clothing without a word. The room is filled with tension, and I swallow convulsively, waiting for him to lash out, but again, he keeps himself in check. An uncomfortable, niggling feeling inches its way past my relief that I’m going to get it once he returns home. This whole interaction is out of the norm and I’m not sure how to respond.
He jerkily zips the bag shut and turns to me. Wincing, I look away, not able to stand the amount of rage swimming behind his eyes. He doesn’t have to say anything. The warning he won’t let this go is right there. I just have to wait for it.
The fear emanating from me makes him smirk, and he shoves past me toward the front without any orders or direction about what I should do while he’s gone.
Moving through the living room, I peek through the curtain and watch as the three of them fill Griffin’s truck bed high with boxes, strapping them down so they won’t shift during the drive. My father tosses his bag in the footwell of the passenger seat, then slams the door, waiting on the brothers.
If I listen closely, I can just make out what they’re saying as Corbin and Griffin exchange keys.
“Thanks for letting us use your truck. Mine wouldn’t have made it, plus Jessie needs it for some kid thing this weekend.”
Griffin shrugs and sticks his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels. “No problem. Not planning on goin’ anywhere, anyway.” Then he asks what I’m dying to know. “You guys back tomorrow or Sunday?”
“Sunday, most likely. I’ll let you know if we’ll get back sooner and bring your truck to you. Let Jessie feed ya. She’ll make way too much food otherwise.” He snickers and slaps his brother on the shoulder before heading to the driver’s side.
My eyes follow him and as I shift to glance toward Griffin once more, I stop on my father. He’s staring directly at me. I immediately drop the curtain and step away, tangling my fingers together so hard I’m afraid they’re going to break in half.
Two engines start up and I realize I was holding my breath; not entirely certain my father wouldn’t make them wait so he could come back inside. It wouldn’t be fair since I’m not the one who called him out for his bad behavior, and he has no idea that I wasn’t just walking through the woods. I’ve done it before when I head toward the back near the ledge.
A sense of injustice fills me, and I swipe away an angry tear in protest. Why should I have to be afraid to walk alone outside?
I don’t pay attention to the truck as it rumbles down the drive and the noise disappears, not until I hear the other engine remaining turn off and a door slam.
Shoot, maybe my father is going to come back in here!
My eyes fly around the room wildly, trying to find anything to do, so when he walks in he’ll see me already setting myself to task in his absence. The last thing I need is for him to accuse me of being lazy the moment he steps out of the house.
Flying to the kitchen, I wrench the dishwasher open and start unloading them as quickly as possible, so if he does come in here, it’ll look like I’ve already been busy.
The front door opens, then closes, and I hear him heading straight for me. My breathing picks up and my chest is actually rising and falling so rapidly I feel like I’m about to rip my shirt apart from the force. With a trembling hand, I set our few plates in the cabinet.
Hands land on my waist, and I jump, realizing immediately it’s not my father. He’d never touch me like that or with any kind of softness. Spinning around, my eyes fly up to Griffin’s grinning face.
“So,” he rumbles out, his smile growing even wider. “I might have gotten your daddy out of the house for the weekend. Not sure if you noticed.”
A burst of laughter bubbles out of me, mostly out of nerves. Holy cow, I’m alone in my house with Griffin. Abruptly, my laughter dies off, and those nerves hit me hard. Griffin is alone. With me. In my house.
His smile slowly falls away, turning into concern. “I can see you overthinking things right now, darlin’. You know I don’t have any expectations, right? I just didn’t want to have to sneak around like I’m sixteen again.”
“You were sneaking out of girls’ rooms at sixteen?”
He barks out a laugh. “Maybe. But I’m serious. The only thing I demand is to know how Edmond gets out of prison because I feel like he’s been there forever.”
My teeth dig into my lower lip, so happy he wants to keep up with our reading. Eyeing the front of the house over his shoulder, I ask, “You don’t think they’ll come back?”
“Nope. Corb’s on a deadline. They have to get there by two tomorrow afternoon and it’s a good ten-hour drive. No way they’ll turn around. I even gave them a full tank of gas.” He eyes me curiously. “You really worried about your dad coming back and catching us?”
“Yes,” I answer immediately, then soften my response. “He’s just very particular about people in his house.”
Griffin is quiet but frames my face to keep my focus on him. “He’s a dick. I know he’s your dad, but I don’t like the way he talks to you. Is that a normal thing?”
I quickly come up with a way to explain exposing what’s actually going on in this house and figure a way to answer without answering. “He can be cranky from time to time. It doesn’t bother me much and I try to have patience.”
“You know you don’t have to accept that, right? You’re a grown ass adult. There’s no reason he needs to speak to you like you’re the help around here. It really pissed me off.”
“I live here for free.” It’s all I can think to say, but Griffin shakes his head to shut me down.
“That doesn’t give him the right to talk to you like that.”
I sigh and let my shoulders fall. “I know. I actually don’t plan on living here much longer. That’s why I’m working. I want to save up money and find my own place.”
His smile comes back, only this time there’s a flirtatious tease behind it. “Does that mean I’ll get to come visit you at your new place? I’ll even bring a housewarming gift.”
Snickering, I try to shake my head at his joke, but his hands are still framing my face and I can’t move very far. “I think it’ll take me some time before that happens, but I’d make you dinner if you wanted. Oh! Are you hungry? Should I make you something now? It’s still pretty early and I haven’t—”
Griffin silences me mid-sentence with his lips. It’s not a kiss like when we were in my room, just more comforting and normal. Like we’ve been doing it for years and goosebumps erupt over my skin.
Pulling back, he presses his head to my forehead and closes his eyes. “Let’s not worry about that right now. How about we order a pizza or something later, my treat, when we get hungry? I really do want you to read more to me. I’m addicted to our story.”
I’m not sure what to say, so I just wait, wishing he’d kiss me once more. Instead of doing it again, he leans down and reaches an arm around my side. I think he’s going to hug me to him, but he shuts the dishwasher door instead, then winks.
“Come on. Read to me, darlin’.”