38. When Youre Getting Some Youre Way Easier To Get Along With
JAKE
38
It’s been three days of radio silence with Bri, and to say I’m miserable would be an understatement.
“What is up with you this week? You’ve been grumpy as fuck.” Dylan slams the toolbox closed after I bit his head off when he handed me the wrong size screw driver for the panel I am attaching to the wall.
“Nothing,” I reply, holding my hand out so he can hand me the correct one.
“Bullshit. What happened? Did you and that girl break up?”
“Why do you assume every mood I have is related to a woman?” I grumble, turning back to my work and praying Dylan will get the hint that I don’t want to talk.
No such luck, though.
“Because when you’re getting some, you’re way easier to get along with. When you’re going through a dry spell, you get all grumpy. Although, you’re also grumpy when you’re getting some from a chick in Brisbane. Seriously, you should have just stayed with Stacey.”
“I like Bri. I hope you haven’t chased her off, Jake.” Dad decides to weigh in on the conversation from the room across the hall, his voice echoing through the empty house.
“Jesus, not you too,” I snarl, pushing down harder than I need to, nearly cracking the plastic on the panel.
“I note that you are not actually denying that something happened between you two,” Dylan continues, and I glare at him over my shoulder.
“Why are you just standing around harassing me about my personal life? Go and help Dad.”
He throws his hands up and backs out of the room slowly. “Sure thing, asshole. You clearly need a time out anyway.”
“Fuck me,” I mutter under my breath.
“I heard that.”
“Good, fuck off!”
“Jake! That’s enough. Dylan, stop pestering him and go and get us some lunch.” Dad stands at the door, giving me a dark look.
“I still can’t drive,” Dyan protests.
“You’ve got legs, don’t you? It’s only a ten-minute walk into town, the fresh air will be good for you. Go on. The usual sandwiches from George’s, please.” Dad doesn’t allow Dylan to say anything else, staring him down.
Dylan leaves, grumbling about assholes under his breath. I’d better be the asshole he’s referring to, or Dad’s going to wipe the floor with him.
“Do we need to talk about being nice to the apprentice again?” Dad asks, coming into the room I’ve been wiring for the last hour.
“No. But the apprentice really needs to learn to stay the fuck out of my personal life.” I don’t bother looking at Dad while I continue working.
“Jake, this isn’t like you. I haven’t really said anything because I learned a long time ago just to let you do your thing, but these last few months, your moods have been up and down. What’s going on?”
“Nothing, okay. Just let it go.”
“Nope, not happening. We can either have this out here, or you’re coming for dinner tonight, but either way, we’re having a discussion.”
“Look, just because you feel shit about not talking to Sam about his problems doesn’t mean you can hound me into talking to you.” I know the second I say it that I’ve gone too far.
We very rarely discuss Sam - my brother became a dark cloud over our relationship many years ago, and I can tell from the stunned look on Dad’s face that I’ve hit a nerve.
I open my mouth to apologise, but Dad raises a hand to silence me.
“I think you need to cool off. Go home, Jake. Dylan and I will finish up here. But we will be having a conversation tonight. I’ve let you stew in your bad mood for far too long, and I’ve had enough of you stomping around town like a bear with a sore head.”
I stare at him, stunned. Sure, I’ve been a moody asshole this week, but I don’t think it warrants being sent home.
“I mean it, Jake. Go home.” He turns and walks away, leaving me standing there with the screwdriver in my hand and feeling like the world’s biggest dick.
I decide against going home, knowing I’ll sit there feeling sorry for myself and instead take myself for a drive. Without even really knowing where I’m going, I end up back at the waterfall walk that I went on with Bri.
Of course, this is where I’d end up. It’s like she’s haunting every aspect of my life.
I grab a spare shirt from the ute and change from my work shirt, which has long sleeves that are already bugging me in the heat.
Setting off down the path, I put on my headphones and try not to get too lost in my thoughts while I navigate the bush track until I reach the falls and find a rock to sit on.
I know I need to sort my head out. The fact that I can’t call the one person I have grown so used to speaking to daily affects every aspect of my life, but I vowed I would give Bri her space. While I am determined to find our way back to each other eventually, I won’t crowd her while she works out why being with me makes her an anxious mess.
I’ve been trying to sort through all my issues since Sunday, realising that what I’d blurted out to Chris and Morgan about needing to get back to my life in Stanthorpe was true. I’d loved having the chance to show Bri around, and seeing it through her eyes over those days had done wonders for how I’d felt about the place. It reminded me how much I’d grown to love the small town, even though constantly having people in my business was frustrating.
I know I need to talk with my father, but I honestly don’t know how to do that. Although I moved into his place full-time when I was eighteen, I spent the majority of my formative years living with Mum most of the time, so we’ve never been particularly close, and we’ve never been great at communicating. But then, Sam lived with him all the time and couldn’t talk to him, so I know at least part of this issue lies with Dad.
I sit there staring at the waterfall for so long that I lose count of how many people walk past, eyeing me curiously. Even with music blasting in my ears, it’s just so peaceful here, and by the time I get up to leave, I know I’ve found my new favourite place. It’s not lost on me that it was Bri who introduced me to it and helped me find the beauty in a place I’d come to resent. I don’t know how I will be able to keep my distance from her at the wedding, but I’ll do my best.