RIVAL: An Enemies to Lovers Why Choose Country Romance

Chapter 44

Rolling my eyes at Mason’s abrupt text, then Griffin’s buddy comment and his commitment to not using Ruth’s first name ever, I tap my thumb on the side of my phone in thought.I don’t know how it happened, but apparently, we’re friends… of sorts.

Picking you up in ten. You at your office?

Hey buddy, Mason and I are heading your way. We want to go see Mrs. Danielson and see if she’s got any updates on our gal. I’d ask if you want to go, but I know you do.

Their offer to bring me along to see Ruth pleases me. She tends to shut me down when I call, but maybe with the three of us putting pressure on her, she’ll give us something about Edith this time.

Texting them back in the group text they refuse to use, I hit send, then gather my things together.

I’m at my office. I’ll be ready when you get here. Need someone to bring me back to my truck when we’re done.

Heading to the door, I let Jennice know she can head out for the night. She must have been ready to go because she’s out the door within minutes and I wait alone until Mason’s truck pulls into the lot.

Locking up, I yank the passenger door open and wait as Griffin shifts to the middle to give me room. Mason’s truck only has the one bench, so it’s a tight fit for the three of us.

All of us sitting shoulder to shoulder, I press my lips together tightly as Mason pulls out of my lot and we make the first few minutes of the drive to Ruth’s in silence.

Griffin seems on edge with his knee bouncing harder and harder the closer we get. Finally, Mason slaps his hand down hard on his thigh.

“Would you knock it the fuck off? You’re makin’ me want to crawl out of my skin.”

“You realize that she’s been gone seven weeks? She was probably a good three weeks pregnant before she left, so that puts her at ten weeks pregnant now. Maybe even eleven, but I think ten is a good guess. I did some research and at ten weeks, the baby would be the size of an apricot.”

My eyes bulge, then glance at my hand and imagine a baby that big cradled in my palm.

“Fuck,” I murmur, then wince when Griffin jabs me in the side.

“How’d you take it when she told you? We already know Mason froze up like an icicle, but you never said how she told you.”

Mason’s low growl has both of us smirking before I remember the way our conversation went and my mood sours.

Glancing out the window, I mutter, “It didn’t go well. Gotta fix that when she comes home.”

Both of them turn their heads toward me, Mason scowling and Griffin with a brow raised, clearly interested. I refuse to elaborate, but when Mason says, “Go on,” I know I have to share my biggest regret.

“It wasn’t good,” I warn them.

Griffin’s easy demeanor shifts to a more serious one. After spending seven weeks with these guys, I know I’m about to get my ass kicked again. But my guilt has been eating me alive, and it’s nothing more than I deserve. Neither says anything, so I suck it up and spill how much of an asshole I was.

“When she told me, I knew there was a chance I wasn’t the father, but I was pretty on board with being there for her. Told her we’d figure it out, and I’d be a support. Then…” I swallow hard. “Then I found out who her father was.”

“How did you not know? I thought you were friends?” asks Griffin without accusation, only curiosity.

“Will you believe me if I say it just didn’t come up? When we were introduced, it was just as Edith. We got to know each other, and it was one of those things where I just never asked her last name. I thought she knew my history involved her father, but when I took the time to remember all of our conversations, I realized I never mentioned his name. I fucking hate saying his name, so it’s not surprising.

“Anyway, she was terrified of telling her father she was pregnant and I told her I’d go with her to break the news, then asked who he was when she expressed her fear. I’ll be honest, when she told me, I lost my shit on her.”

Mason’s hands grip the steering wheel harder when he lowers his voice dangerously. “What’d you say to the girl?”

I sigh. It’s long and low, but I bite the bullet. I’m filled with so much shame as I admit everything I said. “I pretty much questioned if she was playing me, manipulating me. Then told her I wanted nothing to do with her kid and once she found out paternity, if I was the father, all she’d get from me was money.” Feeling even lower, I tell them the worst. “I told her I’d never want my blood mixed with a Hughes and to get the fuck out.”

Neither of them says a word. I watch the scenery flow by through the window until my curiosity gets the best of me and I glance toward them to get an idea of what they’re thinking.

Pain explodes across my temple, and black spots fill my vision as I gain my bearings. Another fist slams into my face, but instead of warding him off, my body flies forward as Mason’s brakes squeal on the pavement from how hard he slammed on them.

Griffin reaches over my lap to open the side door and shoves me out into the ditch. I expect to be left behind, which I deserve, but instead of leaving, they follow me out.

“Are you fuckin’ kidding me, Jax? You know that girl! How could you have been sittin’ here as if you’re God’s gift to mankind, carryin’ that bullshit in your pocket?” Griffin is shouting, shoving me back with each statement.

My instinct is to fight, but I force myself to keep my arms to my side. I deserve every insult and punch they deliver. Edith deserves to reign over my punishment, but she’s not here. I’ll let these guys take the pound of flesh she’s owed.

Mason pushes past Griffin without a word and lays into me, a few hits to my stomach and one to my chin, but as soon as he realizes I’m not blocking them, he stops, pushing me to my ass.

When I land, my teeth clank together so hard, I grimace as pain shoots through my jaw. Hanging my head, I wait for more blows, but they never come.

“Get in the goddamn truck, Jax.”

Mason’s order surprises me, so I drag myself to my feet. Neither of them offer a hand, only their backs as I follow them to the truck, then climb in.

Once we’re settled, Griffin murmurs from the side of his mouth. “You better fuckin’ make it right with her. What you said is fucked up beyond belief and the only reason we’re not leavin’ you behind is because we know you care about her, as pathetic as you are.”

Nodding, I swallow hard against the lump in my throat and keep my mouth shut for the rest of the ride.

Stopping much carefully when we arrive, Mason shoves his truck into park and kills the engine. The three of us stare at the house, knowing Ruth isn’t going to be very welcoming.

“Well, let’s get to it, then,” Griffin mutters.

Mason hops out, so I follow, Griffin close behind. We don’t even need to knock this time before she’s opening the door and ushering us inside.

“Boys,” she says, her greeting cold.

“Ma’am,” Griffin says, pressing a kiss to her cheek and ignoring the way she rolls her eyes. “You’re lookin’ more lovely than ever.”

“Your flattery will get you nowhere,” she snaps, then asks, “You boys want something to drink? Need a rag to clean up your mess?” Ruth is staring at me and I touch the corner of my mouth. Pulling it away, I notice a sheen of blood on my finger and nod quickly. Fuck, they got me good.

It was well deserved.

Ruth disappears into the kitchen for a few minutes, then comes back in with some glasses of lemonade and a damp cloth for my lip. After dabbing up the blood, I take a sip of the lemonade and wince at the sting. I glance at her and catch a flash of glee at my pain and I just know she chose lemon to make my punishment sting a big harder.

“What can I do for you boys?”

Her insistence on calling us boys actually makes me smile, and I look down at my lap to hide it.

“Have you heard from her? We just wanted to check in and make sure she’s doin’ good. Is the baby healthy?”

Leaning back in her chair, she folds her hands in her lap. “I have heard from her. She’s doing the best she can.”

“What does that mean?” I blurt out, pleading with her to give us more.

“It means she’s doing the best she can. I won’t tell you more, other than she’s healthy, recovered, and working through the damage to her mental health her father, and all of you, wrought on her.” Eyeing us critically, she adds, “The baby is also doing well.”

If I didn’t think we were a unit before, the way we all deflate in relief would make it quite obvious we were. Ruth’s brow lifts as she studies us, then asks, “Anything else?”

“Will you tell her we miss her?” Griffin asks, and the way Ruth snorts is enough to know she couldn’t give a rat’s ass how we’re feeling.

Shaking her head slowly, she says, “I absolutely will not tell her that. You all can wait until she comes home.”

“When will that be?” Mason’s question comes out gruff, filled with longing, and I don’t blame him. I want to know the same.

Her eyes narrow on him. Slowly, like he’s stupid, she says, “When he’s taken care of. Not a moment before.”

I know he means Edith’s father and we’ve all been driving the police up the wall with our almost daily phone calls, asking for updates. Thankfully, Clayborn hasn’t said a word about Griffin’s weekly visits, even when Mason and I accompany him from time to time. We’ve been doling out our own revenge on him for the trauma he’s inflicted for years on Edith.

“Do you know where she is?” I ask, and when Ruth shoots a glare in my direction, I clarify. “I’m not asking you to tell us. I just want to know if you know where she is. Have you seen her or only talked to her?”

“I won’t share that. But I have been speaking with her. She’s getting the assistance she needs right now, so I think you all need to be satisfied with that.” Ruth stands indicating it’s time for us to leave, so we all rise with her.

“Thanks, Mrs. Danielson. As always, you’re a ray of sunshine,” Griffin says, then walks toward her and plants another kiss on her other cheek.

Smacking him, she turns away, but I catch the slight twitch of a smile trying to emerge from her stony demeanor that’s always present when we’re around. “Off you all go. Call next time you think you’ll want to come visiting.”

“Yes, ma’am,” both Mason and I say under our breaths, then I thank her for her time.

Seeing us out, the door snicks shut, and I follow the guys to Mason’s truck. Griffin gets into the passenger side and before I get the chance to climb in, he shuts the door in my face.

Lowering the window, he hangs his head out with his arms resting on the sill. “As much as we’d love to give you a ride back, I think it’d do you some good to take a walk and think about your actions.”

Mason snorts, then a laugh bubbles out until he’s actually laughing his ass off.

With a wide grin, Griffin rolls up his window, but not before I hear him add, “Enjoy your walk. It’s a beautiful evening,” with a salute to say goodbye.

Gunning the engine, Mason peels out from Ruth’s drive and I wave off the cloud of dust they leave me alone with. I want to be irritated, but honestly, it’s well deserved.

So, I begin my trek back to my office a good three miles away, refusing to call anyone to pick me up.