RIVAL: An Enemies to Lovers Why Choose Country Romance

Chapter 43

“You know, if you’d lay that sh—”

A gruff cough stops me from cursing, and I glance apologetically over at Mrs. Danielson, which she’s insisted we all call her now. Her name Ruth is no longer allowed for boys who can’t even respect Jesus on Sundays, according to her.

We’ve been over here for weeks, every single day, working our asses off, and this barn is almost done. If Jaxon would stop being so fucking stubborn about suggestions…

“Sorry, ma’am. Don’t know where my heads at.” Flashing her with a broad smile, I turn back to Jaxon. “I was just sayin’, if you lay that stuff out here, we can mark the backs with numbers so we can pre-cut and not worry about tossin’ it down every five minutes.”

Jaxon blows out a breath, clearly frustrated as he stares down at the stacks of flashing we need to get up on the roof. From the corner, Mason snorts, drawing our attention to him. “What?” Jaxon snaps out.

This guy has been a real grump ever since Edith left, but I have to admit, he’s fucking great at his job. I haven’t said anything yet because of this uncertainty over what’ll happen when Edith comes home, but I wouldn’t mind working for him.

With an annoyed sigh, Mason straightens from where he’s bent over from installing flooring and points at me. “He’s right. Pull your head out of your ass and take some advice once in your life.”

Mrs. Danielson makes an intelligible noise in the back of her throat, but Mason being Mason, disregards her objections to his language. He’s the only one with balls big enough to only placate her in very small ways.

Slapping Jaxon’s shoulder, I make an executive decision and lean over and start laying everything out.

“What if it doesn’t work?”

“All human wisdom is summed up in two words. Wait and hope.” A pang of remorse hits me when I quote mine and Edith’s book to Jaxon, who’s now staring at me as if I’ve grown two heads. “What?”

“The hell does that mean?”

My laugh isn’t as full now, but I mask how I’m feeling and explain. “It’s from the Count of Monte Cristo. You know, the book?”

“I think we all know the book. Shocked you do. Didn’t think you could read,” Mason complains.

Ignoring him, I point at all of us. “I was reading it with Edith before she left.” There’s a flash of pain behind Jaxon’s eyes, and I choose to keep going instead of avoiding the topic. “It just means we should have patience and hope it all works out in the end.”

Mason snorts and comes to stand next to Jaxon. “Doesn’t really apply to the situation.”

Shrugging, I keep working. “Sounded good, though.”

“I think we’ve had enough for today. Jaxon, walk me to my car, please?” Mrs. Danielson is slowly hobbling herself out of the chair she’s set near the entrance of the barn. Best place for her to watch us.

While Jaxon disappears with her, Mason and I begin our clean up. I can’t help glancing over a few times, debating if I should ask if he and Jaxon want to grab a drink or something. It’s not that I love these guys, but if I’m being honest, they’re growing on me.

In another life, I could actually see all of us being pretty good friends. My daily routine has always been sort of what’s expected. The normal. I followed my older brother around for as long as I can remember, which is the only reason I ever ended up over at Clayborn’s in the past few years.

As much as I hate myself for giving that fuck any of my time, I’m thankful I was there, or God only knows what would have happened to Edith that day.

It’s been fucking weeks since we last saw her. I’m certain the cops at the station are sick of hearing from us, asking for status updates on Clayborn’s case. They’ve got what they need for the most part, but now we’re just waiting for a date before the judge.

Complete bullshit, if you ask me. But apparently lawyers have schedules they need to work around. I’m itching to have Edith standing in front of me so I can make sure she really is okay.

Christ, I miss the fuck out of her.

Glancing again at Mason, I let out a long sigh.

“If you stare at me long enough, you’re gonna make me think you’ve got a crush. What do you want, Griff?”

Surprised by the nickname, I ask, “Wanna grab a drink?” Before he answers, Jaxon walks back in. “You too, Jaxon. Drinks?”

“I’m not really a drinker,” he mutters, then gathers his tools, shoving them into a bag.

Mason barks out a laugh. “I’d argue that, but we all saw how poorly you handle your liquor, so I’m not actually surprised.” To me, he adds, “I gotta head back to my farm. Got shit to do tonight before heading home.”

“Need a hand?” The offer is out before I think, and Mason lifts a brow in surprise.

Jaxon moves in next to me and jerks his chin toward Mason. “I’ll give you a hand, too. Don’t have anything else going on tonight.”

I have to give Mason credit. Although he looks annoyed as fuck with us, he simply nods once. “You know where I live. Griff is shovelin’ shit.”

Snorting a laugh, Jaxon smiles, and I realize it hasn’t happened a lot since being around him lately. Neither has Mason, for that matter, not that the asshole ever did smile before. Edith being gone has taken a toll on all of us. Hate to admit it, but this is going to be tough when she comes home with a baby belonging to only one of us.

I’m still gonna stick around. There’s nothing wrong with being with a woman who’s got a baby daddy. People do it all the time. I just need to convince her she wants me around.

It’s not long before I’m standing shoulder to shoulder with Jaxon in a barn, watching as a tiny, furry kitten attacks the hell out of Mason’s legs. He just keeps walking like it’s completely normal.

Jaxon is completely stunned, and I want to ask what’s up with the little devil, but I feel a soft bump against my ankle. Dipping my chin, I get a glimpse of two more kittens who are now rubbing up against Jaxon’s legs, since I wasn’t quick enough to give them attention.

Squatting down, he scratches their heads while cocking his head at Mason. “What’s with the zoo in here?”

“It’s Edith’s zoo. Fuckin’ hell Billy! Knock it the fuck off, you demon!” As pissy as he sounds, he’s toeing the spitting and hissing kitten gently with his boot to push him away.

Instead of running, Billy the cat literally lunges for Mason’s leg and starts clawing his way up until his nails are dug into his side. Mason shouts more curses, but again, gently unhooks the little daggers embedded in his skin.

Marching to us, he shoves the kitten against my chest. “Here. If you think he’s so funny, you can enjoy the nightmare of Billy the Kitty all you want.”

I didn’t realize I was chuckling until Jaxon’s dancing eyes meet mine and we both burst out laughing. Prepared to be clawed, I cradle Billy to my chest, but the little fucker immediately starts purring and settles right into my hand.

Drawing his brows together in confusion, Mason plants his feet and jabs a finger toward us. “How the hell did you get him to do that?”

Raising a brow, I scratch a single finger under Billy’s chin. The damn thing is purring so loudly I can feel his vibrations deep within my chest. Waving my fingers at Mason, I grin. “Guess I’ve got skilled hands.”

“He probably just thinks you’re a dick,” Jaxon adds helpfully, still laughing to himself. “What do you need done here?”

Bumping him with my elbow, I get his attention. “It’s ‘cuz he is a dick.”

“I gotta get Austin out for a bit and clean his stall. Jax can handle that, I think.” Mason is grumbling, but I catch the twitch in the corner of his mouth as he pushes past us, picking up one of the other kittens on his way out. That one climbs right onto his shoulder and they walk away as if they’re used to their routine.

Following Mason, I continue petting Billy as I ask, “So, what’d you mean when you said this was Edith’s zoo?”

Without turning around, he calls out, “Girl kept showin’ up with a kitten in tow every day she came over. One right after the other.” He stops in his tracks to face us, something odd written on his face, as if he’s lost in thought. “Mentioned she couldn’t keep them at her place because her dad wouldn’t want pets around. That’s how she started workin’ here. To house them in the barn.”

He reaches up thoughtfully to pet the kitten on his shoulder. Jaxon’s just as interested in the story as I am. “What’s that one’s name?” he asks, lifting his chin to indicate the kitten on Mason’s shoulder.

“Bonnie. She’s attached.” Mason clears his throat. “Especially since Edith’s been gone. That one you got there is Buck. He was the first to show up.”

I didn’t even realize Jaxon had the other one in his hand and a bubble of laughter erupts out of me.

“Fuckin’ hell. We’re a bunch of pussies,” I say, swiping at my eye.

Growling, Mason storms off and wrenches the door to another barn open. “Wait out here!” he hollers, then disappears.

Eventually, he comes back out with a beautiful white gelding, who I assume is Austin. Mason has a decent sized ball connected to a rope hanging from his other hand as well.

“That’s from my place,” Jaxon informs us. His eyes are locked on the ball and Mason pauses, looking down at it, then sighs loudly.

“She brought it for Austin. Said she got it from a friend teachin’ her to ride. Is it safe to assume that was you?” He seems almost resigned to the fact we’ve all had these little connections to each other unknowingly. All because of her.

Nodding sharply, Jaxon doesn’t comment further on it. “Rake near the stall?”

“Yup. I’m takin’ him to the corral. Griff, feel free to play with the kittens to keep yourself busy. Don’t touch anythin’.”

What a prick.

Choosing to follow Jaxon, I look around and find a barrel to wheel over so Jaxon can shovel shit. He hands his kitten, Buck, over to me and I lean my shoulder against the frame of the stall as he gets to work.

“So,” I say slowly. “You were teachin’ our girl to ride?”

I smirk when he straightens, shocked by my use of our. Swallowing hard, he turns his back to me. “She’d never been on a horse before and had always wanted to learn. I’ve got a stable full of them over at my parents’ place, so I started showing her the ropes.”

Nodding to myself, I ask, “Seems like you two were pretty good friends. She told me about workin’ with you.”

Again, my words bring him up short.

“She told me about you both as well. Not who you were, but she confided what happened between you. Asked for advice. She is my friend. Was. Fuck, I don’t know. Obviously, things became more.”

I’m surprised he’s talking so much, but I want to know everything. Partly out of curiosity, but I like hearing about different sides of her. “We were friends too, in a sense. She cooked me dinner a few times and—”

“And read books.”

“Book.” I correct him because I want it to be books. Lying with her was peaceful, and I loved every second of it. My chest swells with a small pain, so I rub it away. Billy meows his dislike that I removed my hand from his head.

Jaxon continues to work quietly as I think back to all the times I got her alone. She lit up when she wasn’t being crushed under Clayborn’s hard stare, which builds my ire once again. It happens every time I think of him.

After some time, Jaxon hits me with a hard question. “Why’d you leave? That morning, I mean. She was real tore up about it.”

Maybe he’s giving me some courtesy to sit with my shame in private, but I deserve to be laid out for it. “I hadn’t planned on it. I was actually gonna talk to my brother, Corb, and get his advice on whether Clay would give me shit for seein’ his daughter.”

My throat feels dry, and I know Jaxon is eyeing me as I spill my fuck up to him.

“That mornin’, he was supposed to be hours away with Corb on a job, but the truck got fucked up, so they came home early. Edith panicked. I know now why she pushed me away, but at the time, I didn’t know how bad it was. I thought her dad was just a dick sometimes. Figured she wasn’t as interested as I thought with her freakin’ out so badly.”

“So, you left her.”

“I tried to make it easy on her,” I defend. “I thought I was doin’ her a favor so she wouldn’t have to worry about an embarrassin’ situation by sayin’ it was a one-time thing.”

Mason’s voice cuts in. “You’re a fuckin’ idiot.”

“Yeah, I know,” I snap at him, annoyed he was eavesdropping. “I talked to her about it a bit, but he was around. I misread the situation and I’m hopin’ she’ll understand it wasn’t intentional to hurt her like that. Because it wasn’t.”

I glare at Jaxon when I say my last statement and see him wince. The conversation ends there, and Mason helps finish up in the stall before we’re all heading over to Austin.

Jaxon snorts and I look to where he’s staring, my jaw dropping as I watch Mason’s horse prance around with that toy, swinging it in wide circles.

“What the hell is he doin’?” I ask no one in particular.

“I swear to God, that horse was normal since the day I bought him. Edith shows up with a little present from our friend here, and now he’s like a fuckin’ toddler who just found his dick for the first time. He won’t stop playin’ with the damn thing!”

I bite my cheek because, although Mason sounds annoyed, I think he’s more frustrated she’s not here to watch. The three of us lean against the fence in easy comfort, Mason slipping through every now and then to throw it, encouraging Austin to run.

The kittens are wrestling between mine and Jaxon’s feet, little cries of pain sounding when one of them nips too hard.

I really wish Edith was here.

And that thought brings me right back to Clayborn.

Shoving myself from the fence, I check my watch and know it’s probably the perfect time for another little visit. He’s probably knocked out in his chair by now, considering the way he drinks.

Besides, it’s been a full week since I was there last. I quite enjoy my weekly ritual of beating this shit out of him and whispering promises I’ll be back next week, and the week after, until Edith is safe and home.

“Where you going?” Jaxon asks, still watching Mason and Austin together.

“Headin’ next door. It’s my weekly check in with Clay.” With a wink, I shove my hands into my pockets and stroll toward the tree line that will take me to the Hughes’ backyard.

I might even have an extra pep in my step as I gear up for his ass-whooping.