Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
GAGE
The drive up Big Ridge Creek Road is distinctly different today.
The trees are shedding their last autumn leaves, carpeting the winding asphalt in shades of rust and gold.
Excitement stirs inside me. I love winter, and I can’t wait to curl up by the fire with Lily.
I park the work truck behind the job trailer at the Woodsword remodel.
Before I can even unbuckle, Carl’s heading straight for my driver’s door, his face tight with stress.
I climb out with the tumbler of coffee Lily prepared for me in hand. “Morning, Carl. What happened?”
He runs a hand through his graying hair. “We have a problem.”
My gut drops. “The plumbing again?” Two weeks ago, we hit a snag when we discovered the original pipes were older than dirt and needed complete replacement. Cost us days of work and a shitload of money but that’s construction for you.
Carl shakes his head. “Worse. Come see.”
What the hell could be worse than that?
Lines digging into my forehead, I follow him inside, work boots crunching on sawdust and debris. The familiar sounds of hammers, drills, the occasional curse word echo through the house. That’s a good sign, I think. At least there’s some progress.
As we round the corner into what’s supposed to be the open concept living room, kitchen and dining room, I’m greeted by new framing for a wall right in the middle of the room. The crew’s working hard getting the framing up, and there, directing them like he owns the damn place, is Matt.
My blood pressure spikes. “What the hell are you doing?”
He doesn’t even look at me, just keeps watching the crew work. “It seemed like the space needed some privacy. Clear division between the rooms.”
“It’s an open concept,” I counter, barely keeping myself from shouting. What does he think he’s doing?
“Plans changed,” Matt says with a shrug.
“The hell they did.” This motherfucker knows damn well they didn’t.
This is some type of messed up payback for having Lily at our house.
I step closer, noting how the guys all shift nervously.
They know I’m higher up in the company, set to become partial owner once Hudson’s dad hands over the reins.
They also know Matt’s a crew lead from time to time and that he’s been my friend since we were kids.
Matt’s always done what’s right for the company and client.
They’d do what he asked without question, assuming he had the best intentions.
That was before he lost his damn mind.
“Who ordered the change?” I raise my voice a little so the crew can hear.
Matt finally turns, and there’s something wild in his eyes. The same look he had when he stormed into our house. “I did. This layout’s better.”
“You did.” I keep my voice level even though I want to grab him by the throat. “Based on what authority? Carl’s in charge of this job.” I’m only here to supervise.
Matt shrugs like it’s no big deal, like he didn’t waste hours of labor and materials. The asshole knows exactly what he’s done. “I figured you’d want it done right.”
The crew exchanges glances, tools dangling at their sides, probably wondering if their jobs are on the line. These are good guys. They work hard, show up on time, and take pride in their craft. They don’t deserve to get caught in the crossfire of whatever breakdown Matt’s having.
“Take it down,” I tell them. Relief floods their faces and they quickly get to work. “Matt. Outside. Now.”
He crosses his arms, a stubborn set to his jaw that I remember from when we were twelve and he didn’t want to admit he broke a window. “We’re not done here.”
“Yeah, we are.” I take a deep breath. “Outside.”
“Fuck you. I don’t take orders from—”
“Should I call Robert? Bring him down here and explain exactly what you did?” The words come out hard. He knows as well as I do that Hudson’s dad would’ve already tossed him out on his ass. “Last chance, Matt. Walk outside with me, or I’ll drag your ass out there.”
He stares at me for a long moment, features twisted and ugly. He spits on the floor before storming out the door. I follow, Carl trailing behind us like he’s afraid someone’s about to throw punches, and I might.
Matt whirls around once we’re outside. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?”
“Do you even realize what you’ve done?”
“This is about her, isn’t it? You’re practically salivating at taking my girl. My life. You’ve always wanted everything I have, trailer trash piece of shit.”
I ignore the obvious insult and focus on the one that matters. “This isn’t about Lily—”
“Bullshit!” His voice cracks. “My own best friends chose a slut over me!”
Something snaps inside my chest. Before I can think it through, I’m in his face, using every inch of height I have on him. I fist the collar of his shirt. “Call her that again and see what happens.”
Carl puts his hands on our chests and shoves with the strength of a man who’s been building for three decades. “Not in front of the crew,” he snaps.
Fuck, he’s right, but my fingers curl into a fist, ready to bury themselves in Matt’s face.
“Look at you! Look at what she’s done. This is what she does, Gage. She ruins things. She was always a nagging bitch—”
“Don’t!” I shout.
“Fuck you! Why are you protecting her?”
“Because she’s a good person who doesn’t deserve your shit.
” I shake my head, jaw working. With how much he’s been calling in, the guys and I worried we might have to get rid of him at some point.
We covered for him. Shielding him from Robert.
Honestly, I held out hope that he’d be smart enough not to ruin his whole life but I guess not.
I’m done trying to save his ass. “You’re fired, Matt. ”
The color drains from his face, that rage waning. “You can’t fire me.”
“You know as well as I do I have that authority. You have five minutes to collect your shit and go before I call the cops.” The words taste like ash, but they need saying.
For a second, I think he might take a swing at me. His fists ball up, shoulders tensing like he’s getting ready to throw down right here in the client’s driveway. Part of me almost wants him to try. I’ve been itching to kick his ass after everything he’s said to Lily.
Instead, he looks past me to Carl, desperation creeping into his voice. “Carl, come on. Tell him this is crazy.”
Carl shifts uncomfortably, work-worn hands twisting his baseball cap. “You know you can’t change plans without approval, son.”
Matt’s face flashes with pain. For a split second, he looks like the kid I grew up with—lost, hurt, looking for someone to tell him it’s all going to be okay. Then the mask slams back into place, uglier than before.
“Fuck all of you,” he snarls. “And fuck that worthless whore you’re all so desperate to fuck.”
He storms to his car, yanking the door open so hard I’m surprised it doesn’t come off the hinges.
The engine roars to life. He reverses out of his spot next to the trailer like a teenager throwing a tantrum.
The screech of metal scraping against metal chases his exit.
Matt is already tearing down the road by the time Carl and I round the trailer.
“Shit,” Carl mutters as we examine the fresh gouges Matt’s bumper left in the side. “Yeah, he got it good.”
I pull out my phone, snapping pictures of the damage from multiple angles. The scratches aren’t deep, but they’ll need touch-up paint and probably some body work. I fire off a text to the group chat with Hudson and Cole, attaching the photos.
GAGE
I fired Matt.
That combined with the picture says everything. Hudson will probably want to drive over and check on things. Cole will make some jokes about anger management classes. Both of them will be thinking the same thing I am—how the hell did we get here?
“You okay?” Carl’s studying me. He’s seen plenty of workplace drama, but it hits differently when it’s personal.
I pocket my phone and look back at the trailer damage. “Yeah. Mostly disappointed.”
“He said some nasty things about Lily.”
The protective instinct that’s been growing stronger every day since she moved in flares hot in my chest. “Yeah, he did.”
“You’re not a terrible person for dating her, you know.”
I glance at Carl in surprise.
He adjusts his cap, weathered face serious.
“I see you beating yourself up about it. That kid has been treating her wrong for years. We all saw it. Maybe when he cools off, y’all can sit down man to man and hash it out.
But being upset is one thing. Calling his ex-girlfriend names like that?
” Carl shakes his head. “Our mamas taught us better than that.”
I nod, swallowing the bitter truth that my mama never taught me shit except how to fend for myself and stay out of the way when the adults were fighting.
“Come on,” I tell him, heading back toward the house. “Let’s get this mess cleaned up and back on schedule.”
The crew has already made good progress tearing down Matt’s unauthorized framing.
They work with the focused intensity of guys who want to prove they’re worth keeping around, even after getting caught in the middle of someone else’s drama.
I grab my tool belt and join them, letting the familiar rhythm of hard work settle my nerves.
As Carl and I wrestle the kitchen cabinets into place, my mind keeps drifting back to Lily. To the way devastation flashed over her face when Matt called her worthless. To the protective rage that consumed me watching someone tear down the woman I’m falling for.
Because that’s what’s happening here, isn’t it?
I’m falling. Hell, I’ve fallen. Hard and fast and completely out of control.
I want to believe that Carl’s right. That maybe I’m not a terrible person, but Matt’s angry words echo in my head anyway, mixing with older voices, meaner ones that taught me early that guys like me don’t get to keep good things.
I pull into Reggie’s Gas ’n Go and park, hopping out and paying for the gas.
I’ve just started the pump when I glance toward the building and immediately regret it.
My gut clenches as I watch my mom approach another customer with her hand outstretched, an all too familiar look painted across her face.
Desperate and pleading. Dad’s slouched against the gas station wall, picking at something on his shirt, completely checked out from reality.
Fucking hell.
Mom frowns at the customer who waves her off and looks around for her next victim. I quickly duck my head, hoping I can get the hell out of here without her noticing me. I refuse to turn around even though I can feel her approach like ants crawling on my skin.
“Gage?”
My eyes flutter closed. “Goddammit,” I whisper before turning around, bracing for what’s to come.
She rushes over, her movements a little uncoordinated. The clothes hanging off her are wrinkled and stained, but it’s her pupils that kill me. They’re so dilated I can barely see her irises. Whatever she’s on today has her wired tight.
“Baby, thank God.” She reaches for me.
I take a step back. The hurt that flashes across her face almost breaks me, but I’ve learned not to let her touch me when she’s like this.
“We’ve been staying on the streets. We need a little help to get back on our feet.”
No how are you? How are things? All those pleasantries and any semblance of care discarded in her need to get high. Or, higher.
My chest tightens. “I can’t.” Boundaries. I have to keep them up.
“Please.” The word comes out as more of a sob. “Twenty dollars. That’s all. We haven’t eaten since yesterday morning, we’re doing good, real good. Sober for twenty days.”
I fight off a scoff. When I was little, she could lie to me, but now I see through it all. “You’re high right now.”
Her face twists, anger replacing the pleading so fast I get whiplash. “After everything I sacrificed for you, this is how you treat your own mother?” She shouts the question.
The gas pump clicks off behind me. Heat crawls up my neck as I notice some locals looking at us, pity written all over their faces. I need to get out of here.
“I can’t help you. I need you to leave me alone.” I yank the pump handle out and slam it back into place. “I’m not giving you money anymore. You two are old enough to fend for yourselves.”
“Gage, please—” she begins, but I’m already climbing into my truck. I slam the door on her angry face, déjà vu crashing into me. How many times have I done this? I leave her in my dust as I head to the office on autopilot.
I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t realize the music is turned down until I pull into a parking spot. I cut the engine and sit in the truck, staring out of the windshield with dark thoughts consuming me.
As if sensing my distress, Cole and Hudson come out to greet me, and as soon as they catch sight of me, they trade knowing looks. We’ve been friends for so long they know the one thing that’ll send me into this numb-like state.
Exhaling hard, I force myself to get out of the truck, to keep moving before my self-pity consumes me.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Hudson asks.
“No, but we all know that’s not the right approach.” According to all the online therapists on social media, I can’t keep bottling it up.
Cole claps a hand on my shoulder. “We’re here for you, whatever you need. We may not get to pick our blood relations, but we’re family.”
I nod. “They were high again.”
“Shit.” Hudson shoves his hands in his pockets. “Did they ask you for money?”
“Of course they did,” I say with a hollow laugh. “Why else would they talk to me? All I’m good for is cash.”
“That’s a lie and you know it,” Cole says quickly. “Your parents are fucked up, man. You may not believe it right now, but you have so much to be proud of.”
Swallowing, I nod. “Yeah, I know,” I rasp. “It hurts to see them like that.”
“What can we do to help?” Hudson searches my face. “Anything at all.”
Honestly? “I kind of want to go home and see Lily.” When I’m with her, I forget about all the bullshit and the world feels lighter.
Hudson nods in understanding.
Cole gives me a crooked smile. “Maybe we should give you a night to yourselves?”
I nearly fall over. “Did I hear that right? This coming from the same guy who went full melodrama over the fact that Hudson didn’t share with us at the Halloween party.”
“That was different,” Cole protests, crossing his arms.
“How?” Hudson asks.
“Because it was you.” Cole shrugs. “Besides, good things come to those who wait.” He looks away dreamily. “The more I fantasize about my time with Lily, the better it’ll be.”
“Bro, are you seriously hard right now?” Hudson jumps away in mock horror.
Cole drops his hands over his crotch. “No, fuck you!”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “God, why do you hate me?”
He huffs. “Now who’s dramatic?”
A laugh bursts out of me at his antics. He smiles proudly, and I realize he did all that on purpose to help pull me out of my funk. That’s why these two are like brothers to me. They mean the world to me and if I have it my way, Lily will be part of our unit permanently.