Chapter 11 #2
“It’s took late since I kinda said this before, and it’s probably uncouth to say it like this anyway, but seriously, after everything…I really am glad you’re alive,” he said.
That got a real smile out of her.
“Thanks. You, too,” she said.
His smile dropped, his blue eyes darkening as he lowered his lids.
“I should have said that before but didn’t have the chance last time—”
“You mean when you almost got her killed?”
My voice was like a knife through the awkwardness, and Christopher looked up at me, his eyes wide. They flashed with rage. It was familiar, the kind of rage that fueled petty tyrants like Christopher. The kind men like him were forced to swallow.
He did just that, all signs of his anger gone in the blink of an eye.
But I’d seen it, knew that I’d also gotten a glimpse of the real Christopher. The one he hid from Asia—from everyone else.
Knew that Christopher wasn’t just weak.
He was dangerous.
I shifted to stand in front of Asia.
Christopher didn’t like that.
The little twitch in his fingers gave him away. But he recovered seamlessly and then laser focused on Asia. “Yeah, sorry about that, too.” He cleared his throat, shifting, his face flaming red with what I was sure he would say was embarrassment.
It wasn’t.
He was pissed.
I quirked a half smile.
“Anyway,” Christopher said, “I was really sorry about Kathleen. She was a good woman.”
“She was,” Asia whispered.
“I was surprised you didn’t make it back for the funeral.” Christopher watched her, weighing the impact of his words.
Asia gave away nothing.
I couldn’t stop myself. I trailed my fingers down her arm then looped them around her wrist. Kept my gaze glued to Christopher and made him watch me touch Asia like she was mine.
Prayed he would try to do something about it.
Christopher stared at Asia, and I waited, wondering if she’d try to pull away. On instinct, I tightened my grip.
Asia didn’t move. Christopher cleared his throat and then continued. “But Levi seems to be holding up all right.”
Christopher was clearly prying and trying to get a reaction out of her.
I watched as she processed his words, and saw when she slipped her mask into place. The counselor was here, and not my counselor. This was professional, distant Asia.
“I heard you had moved out West,” she said.
Christopher shook his head, then shrugged.
“I did. Was going to try my hand at a ranch. But you know, the siren call of home and all that,” he said.
“Yeah,” Asia responded, that fake smile on her face setting me on edge.
That, and the fact that I was playing third fucking wheel.
Fuck that.
I tightened my grip on her wrist, and Christopher looked at me.
“Glad to see you again, Thorne,” he stuck his hand out.
I glared at him.
He bristled but recovered. “And I should thank you again for getting Asia home.”
“I was unaware this is her home,” I responded.
Christopher, determined to be unbothered, shrugged.
“Guess not. But glad she’s back with family. That’s where she should be,” he said.
Family.
I looked at Christopher as he looked between Asia and me.
“Did you know each other…before?”
“What do you think?” I responded before Asia could speak.
Christopher just smiled, and wisely changed the subject.
But not before I put my arm around Asia’s shoulder and pulled her close to me, her breast and hip pressed against my side.
“My dad’s got some… ideas about what’s going on, but it would be great to get some new perspectives. Would you mind having a meeting over at the sheriff’s office?”
“Oh, I don’t think we could—”
“My dad insists.” Christopher’s voice was flat.
Asia looked at me, her eyes framed with worry.
“We really should get back,” I said.
“Y’all coming over to the sheriff’s office?” the sheriff called.
He approached, Caitlin next to him holding a bottle of that fancy water she hadn’t shut up about.
Asia smiled.
“You got your mineral water?”
“I felt terrible, because I think it’s the last bottle, but it was cold,” Caitlin said.
“Oh, don’t feel terrible, darling. Just hospitality,” the sheriff said.
“Well, thank you, Sheriff. These days, especially, it’s hard to run across hospitality,” Asia said.
“Anyway, I think Junior was asking you about having a little debrief,” the sheriff said.
“Yeah, Dad, I was just talking to them about it.”
“And we explained that we have to go,” I said to the sheriff.
“Well, I want to take some feed over to Levi’s anyway. So why don’t me and Asia talk while Christopher here drives Caitlin back. We can drop her off, get Levi’s feed, and get the most important thing there is these days.”
“And what’s that?” Asia asked.
“Well, I think a hot shot like you would know. Information, of course.”
“Of course,” Asia said drily.
“Caitlin, you okay with that?” I asked.
“Of course. And besides, this will give me a chance to talk to…” She smiled at the sheriff’s son. “Christopher? That’s your name, right?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said.
“Ma’am?” She laughed heartily. “Can’t get past that Southern hospitality. I only came down to Atlanta for school. Anyway, it’d be great to get to know more people. Looks like we might be here for a while,” she said, her expression dropping.
“Then it’s settled. Be back before dark, son.”
Christopher walked away, but paused to look back at us, his expression unreadable.
The sheriff turned to me. “Why don’t you take a walk with my deputies? Let me and Asia here catch up.”