19. Nineteen
Nineteen
Jake
B y the time I get to the river, I’m beyond frustrated.
To say I’ve had a brutal month would be putting it lightly.
Due to my father’s growing inability to focus on anything other than his next drink, he’s made the mistake of taking on too many projects at once, which resulted in us struggling to meet deadlines.
The majority of our clients are upset—rightfully so—and our crew is growing more and more frustrated with the lack of organization and leadership.
Two of our best guys quit earlier in the week, leaving us in the lurch and forcing the rest of us to pick up the slack.
The strain of trying to keep up with my schoolwork, as well as my father’s never-ending demands, is slowly but surely taking its toll.
Today, I didn’t get off work until close to eight p.m., and by the time I’d finally gotten some much-needed food into me, I was so tired I’d dozed off on the couch.
When I woke up to fourteen missed calls from people, all wondering where the hell I am, I was livid.
I’ve been looking forward to tonight all week, and now, I’ve not only missed half the party already, but Tessa is due to be home soon if she doesn’t want to miss her curfew.
I’m making my way toward the fire pit, hoping to steal at least a few moments with my girl, when Shane Cooper bumps into me.
Irritated, I wipe at the spilled beer that now stains the front of my shirt and makes it cling to my chest.
“What the hell is your problem? Do you have a goddamn death wish?”
“Take it easy, man. It was an accident. Geez. Ever since your mom died, you’ve turned into a real prick.”
What the actual fuck? I’m not an idiot. I know he keeps mentioning my mom to get under my skin.
What I can’t for the life of me figure out is why.
What is his angle? Tessa sidles up to me then, linking her elbow with mine and silently begging me not to do something stupid.
Reminding myself that I came down here to kick back and have some much-needed fun, I ignore his insult and push past him, pulling my girl along.
“Never mention my mother again,” I growl in passing because I’m a dumbass who can’t seem to leave well enough alone.
“Or what?” Shane calls after me, an anticipatory smile playing around his lips. I can’t believe the nerve of this guy. This goes beyond a simple dislike, and at this point, I refuse to believe this is still about Gillian. I don’t know what his deal is, but he needs to get over it and soon.
“Just ignore him. I’ve been waiting for you all night.
Let’s get a drink before I have to head out,” Tessa pleads, tugging on my arm to keep me moving.
Logically, I know I should walk away. Nothing good will come from giving this asshole the time of day.
But my feet refuse to move, and I can’t stop looking at his smug face.
His eyes are daring me to do something and damn if I’m not in the mood to indulge him.
“You’re really fishing for my attention, aren’t you, Cooper? Are you upset that I’ve been ignoring you? ’Cause if that’s the case, I have to tell you, I don’t swing that way.”
A half snort, half laugh explodes from his nose before he replies, “Even if I was into dudes, you’d be the last guy I’d go for.
You’re bad news, Nelson. I mean, take your parents, for instance.
Isn’t it ironic that your mom was hit by a drunk driver, and then your daddy turns to the very thing that got his wife killed for solace?
You know, I almost respect you for showing your face at school every day.
Must be hard when you know everyone’s talking about your dead-beat father behind your back. ”
I take a threatening step toward Shane, but Tessa’s grip on my arm tightens, as the toes of her feet dig into the dirt to hold me back.
“He’s not worth it, Jake. Please,” she whispers, giving me a beseeching look from those caramel eyes.
“Don’t let him get to you.” I can’t help but notice the apprehension tightening her features, and for once, I want to do right by her.
I want to be someone she can be proud of.
Taking a deep breath, I will myself to unclench my fists and give her a tight smile.
“You’re right, baby. You’re right. Let’s go find Megan and Carter.”
“That’s it, Jake. You listen to the little lady.
She sure has you by the balls, doesn’t she?
Must have a hell of a pussy, if all she has to do is bat her lashes to get you to do her bidding.
” And that does it. He can talk shit about me and my dick of a father all day long, but I’ll be damned if I stand here and do nothing while he insults my girl.
Before my brain has a chance to catch up to the rest of me, my fist has already reared back and collided with his face.
Tessa gives a startled shout, and a couple of people hoot and holler at the commotion, but it’s all background noise now.
Cooper’s head snaps to the side, and he goes down like a sack of potatoes.
I don’t give him time to recover. Following him to the ground, I rain down a series of punches that have him curling in on himself.
He catches me off guard when he twists his hips, bucking me off and catching me with a fist to the temple.
He swiftly rolls on top of me and lands a double jab to my ribs that sucks the air from my lungs.
Growling like a rabid animal, I retaliate, lifting my upper body off the ground and head-butting him so hard I almost knock myself out.
“Fuck,” he yelps, clutching at his nose to stench the blood gushing from his nostrils.
His voice sounds strangled when he accuses me of breaking it like I’m supposed to give a shit.
Does he expect me to apologize? He practically begged for this, and now he has the audacity to act slighted?
I give him a hard push to the chest that causes him to topple sideways before I jump to my feet and dust myself off.
Shane surprises me yet again when he sweeps his leg across the floor and takes my feet out from under me.
I land on my back with a grunt. Determined to finish this once and for all, I roll, ready to reclaim the upper hand, when two bands of steel wrap around my midsection and roughly pull me back.
I snarl at Shane, who blinks up at me like I’ve lost my mind while he cups his bleeding nose.
“He’s crazy, officers. I bumped into him by accident, and I tried telling him that, but he didn’t even give me a chance. ”
Officers? How the fuck have the police gotten here so fast?
“He just lunged at me and started beating the snot out of me for no good reason.” That lying, manipulative sack of shit. How dare he sit there and play the victim?
“You fucker. You started this, and you know it.” The whooshing sound in my head slowly recedes as the world snaps back into focus.
People are standing in a circle around us, staring with a mix of concern and excitement.
The music stops, Tessa sobs, and Carter and Megan come running across the clearing, demanding to know what happened.
“He’s lying. Clearly, he’s on something. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. He’s an addict, just like his old man, and he tried to kill me.”
“What the fuck?” I gape, unable to hide the shock of just how far he’s willing to go.
I always knew he was a snake, but he’s really showing his true colors now.
Before I can defend myself, Sheriff Payton begins patting me down while his partner kicks my legs apart and pushes my arms further up my back.
I hiss and bare my teeth at Payton, who shoves his hand into the back pocket of my jeans and pulls out a clear, square package.
My eyes fly open when I realize what the contents hold.
I shake my head in a daze, staring at the white powder dangling from between Payton’s fingers.
“That’s not mine,” I blurt, craning my neck to throw Shane an accusing glare. “He set me up.”
“That’s what they all say,” Payton chuckles while he pockets the evidence and turns to his officer. “Carl, let’s take Mr. Nelson in. ”
“What for?” I ask, throwing myself forward in an attempt to break Carl’s hold.
“Settle down before you hurt yourself,” Payton barks.
I comply because I’m not a complete moron.
Also, my shoulder is literally screaming at me, so there’s that.
I know resisting will only make things worse, but I refuse to go anywhere until I know what I’m being arrested for.
“Let’s see,” Payton drawls, holding up a finger for each offense listed.
“Battery. Disturbing the peace and possession of controlled substances. Not to mention underage drinking. You’ve really done it this time, kid. ”
“I haven’t even been drinking,” I argue. Payton arches a bushy brow. “The smell of stale beer on your person suggests otherwise.”
“He spilled his drink all over me when I got here. I haven’t even been here ten minutes.”