41. Josie
CHAPTER 41
Josie
Caden is driving well over the speed limit. It’s not like him. Having to live in the aftermath of both of our parents being crushed to death by a truck has resulted in him driving at a snail's pace whenever I’m in the passenger seat. He treats me like I’m some sort of fragile package, seconds from disaster whenever there’s any element of risk. That’s how it’s always been with us – he tries to wrap me up in cotton wool and I do whatever I can to shake free of his hold, rebelling at every turn.
He’s not worried about driving slow today though, which makes me think there’s something at the end of this drive making him throw caution to the wind and put his foot down.
“Try the lodge again,” he demands, pointing at the phone in my hand.
We’ve found ourselves in a tricky situation. He’s from the eighteen hundreds and the type of person who doesn’t carry a phone charger with him, and I’m the type of person who lives in chaos and has never saved a contact to my phone in my life.
Which is why I’m now being ordered to call the lodge using the number posted on the website, for what feels like the 700th time.
Nobody is picking up.
If yesterday’s fall didn’t give me a headache, this shrill ongoing ringing definitely will.
Dr Rogers gave me the all clear to go home an hour ago, which is when I found out that going ‘home’ meant returning to Braggan Valley for the first time in two years.
Turns out my psychotic big brother packed up all of my belongings for me and decided to dump my boyfriend on my behalf.
I should thank him really. I was starting to get tired of cleaning up after Garrett and pretending to believe all of his dumb ass excuses.
“Try again!” Caden barks, interrupting my thoughts.
I do as I’m told.
I know better than anyone that trying to reason with Caden when he has his mind set on something is a bad idea.
The line rings out once more.
“Leave a voicemail,” Caden grunts. I hold the phone up towards him. “Whichever one of you shitheads doesn’t know how to answer the damn phone is getting fired as soon as I make it back to the lodge.” He hits the red phone icon to end the call.
“You know only Maura can fire people, right?” I laugh.
“I’ll do what I want.” He taps his thumbs against the steering wheel.
“Who’s the girl? ”
“What are you talking about?” He pulls at his collar, a telltale sign that he’s nervous.
This is new.
“I’ve not seen you this wound up since Daisy Felter dumped you for Chad Vickson in eleventh grade.” I chuckle at the memory. It was the talk of the town in Aspen Ridge for at least a week and Caden faked sick the entire time.
“Were you put on this earth just to mock me?”
“Yes.” I take pride in the role. “So, who is she?”
He chews at the corner of his lip. “Millie.” He sighs. “Her name is Millie.”
I’m taken aback by the ease of his admission. I’ve not known Caden to admit to having feelings for a girl in almost twenty years. I’ve heard enough around town to know that my brother hasn’t ever been the type to stick around when feelings get involved, let alone admit to his feelings so easily.
“Sorry, hold up…” I clear my throat for dramatic effect. “Are you telling me you like someone?”
“I…” he pauses on the word, “yeah, I like her.”
We pull into Braggan Valley and it’s like I’ve never left. There’s something comforting about coming back to the place you grew up where nothing ever changes. Even when there’s so much going on in your own world, there’s a place in the background that stays your constant.
I wince as Caden helps me down from the truck, pulling me into a bear hug and planting a kiss on my forehead .
“I’m so glad you’re okay, Jose.” He ruffles my hair before jogging into the house.
I hobble behind him, noting that he makes no effort to wait for his invalid sister who he insisted come home to Braggan Valley.
He’s inside, cranking up the heat on the shower, before I even make it across the threshold.
“Thanks for helping me in, some nurse you are!”
“Make yourself at home,” he shouts back at me, grabbing a towel from the linen cupboard. “I can’t stick around right now, I’ve got to get washed and then I’m off to grovel. I left Millie halfway to fucked yesterday to come to your rescue. She’s no doubt tied herself in knots overthinking what that means.”
“This is still my home, dipshit,” I point out, limping towards the back bedroom. “And I don’t need to know anything about where you’re sticking your micro dick.”
I drop onto the single bed in my childhood bedroom, wrapping myself up in the comfort of my old quilted blanket.
Staring at the popcorn ceiling, I trail my eyes over the intricate patterns, wondering how many phases of my life have wound up just like this one. Lying here, not knowing what comes next. I didn’t think this is where I would be at this age, back here in Braggan Valley – no further forward with my life, making worse decisions than I ever have before.
Yet, here I am.
Dating Garret Fernwood might have been way closer to hell than I realized, and it’s about time I dig myself up and out of it .
“ Motherfucker !” The words come from just outside my window.
I inch open the curtains, hoping to catch some guest drama.
I’ve missed spectating on the quarrels of married men and their mistresses, or rich families who’ve realized that a weekend without the nanny is too much of a burden to carry. People come to Braggan Valley for the fantasy of the wilderness, but more often than not, their realities follow them here with a vengeance.
It’s not a guest though, it’s Millie.
I don’t even have to ask. Her pear-shaped figure is an exact match for the half-naked models Caden plastered his walls with in his early teens. He must have instantly known he was fucked when he first laid eyes on her.
She’s adjusting the watch on her wrist, smashing her finger into the screen with pure frustration. There’s a sass radiating through her, and I like it. Caden needs a girl with that sort of fire in her.
She starts off jogging again, her high pony swooshing in perfect rhythm with each jiggle of her ass.
Fuck me.
I hate to pre-empt the downfall of my brother’s love life, but if things don’t work out with Caden, then I’m definitely putting myself next on the list.