Chapter 17 Davis
DAVIS
Watching Raelyn Jackson was like looking at the most beautiful piece of art, and yeah, that was cheesy as fuck, but it was also true.
She was stunning, with the way the sun hit her dark hair, and the way her head flew back when she laughed…
that laugh…it was like a song created just for me.
Something that could rival the serene sounds of nature, of my mountain.
I had yet to find anyone who had the ability to sway me from the mountain.
Yet, here I was, watching Rae while she was at lunch with some girl who had chocolate brown corkscrew curls, and the two guys sitting next to them. I was probably overreacting, but it almost looked like they were on a double date or some shit.
Sitting in my truck with my window down, sunglasses perched on my nose, allowed me to watch her from the street without being noticed.
However, this feeling coming alive inside my chest was like a fire, burning hotter than anything I had ever felt.
It burned for me to walk over to their table and pluck her away from everyone at it.
She’d scream and shriek, and then I’d have to throw her over my shoulder and explain that she was mine, and no one else would ever be able to hear that laugh or see those plump, pink lips wrap around a straw, or get near that silky soft skin.
What the fuck was wrong with me?
I had never felt this way for anyone. Ever.
My mountain had been enough for me, all these years. Yet, now, I craved more. I wanted more. But only with her.
I watched as the guy nearest to Rae leaned over, whispering something in her ear.
He had to be a stranger—someone she’d just met tonight—because she kept leaning closer to her friend after the fuckface crowded her.
He had nicely styled hair, swept to one side, and he wore tailored peach-colored pants with a white collared shirt.
He looked exactly like the kind of guy I assumed she’d be with.
The rage that simmered in my veins was deadly, especially as this idiot draped his arm across the back of her chair.
It would be so easy to open my door and be up and out of my truck within seconds, crossing the space without a thought of what I was about to do.
But, it wasn’t like Rae would choose to go with me.
In any given scenario, she would side with the stranger and tell people I was harassing her.
I’d go to jail because I’d not only punch the asshole who touched her, but I’d end up kidnapping Rae, or kissing her until she listened.
She was mine.
Blinking, I focused on my steering wheel and the hand gripping it. Obviously, she didn’t belong to me in any capacity if she was on a date with someone. The realization sunk into place, like a brick in mud. She’d made her choice, made it clear to the world—and that choice wasn’t me.
Delivering pieces to the smaller town of Hope, Oregon, was always a mixture of happiness and heartbreak.
I had been delivering pieces to this little shop for the past five years, and while I had actually turned down about three other stores around Oregon, this was one place I’d keep delivering to no matter what, and it was all because of who lived here.
“These pieces are beautiful!” Matt, the owner of the shop, beamed as he helped me unload the new fire pit and chandelier fixtures.
“Yeah, they came together nicely.”
Matt didn’t talk too much, which made working with him easy enough. With practically no time passing at all, everything was unloaded and a hefty chunk of money was delivered to my bank account.
Getting back into my truck, I headed toward the small grocery store and loaded up on clam chowder, saltine crackers, pepper, and a fresh bouquet of daisies. I tried as usual to keep my expectations lowered as I drove to the senior citizen home.
I only came this way about once a month, but I’d been enough for the staff to know who I was, especially seeing that I had donated thousands of dollars’ worth of accent lighting to this place. Gwen, the head nurse, greeted me with a smile that turned watery within seconds.
“Davis, so nice to see you, honey.”
I nodded at the older woman; her chocolate eyes always went soft when she saw me. I noticed her hair had started turning gray at her temples, but her ebony skin was still wrinkle free and youthful.
Handing her the flowers, I gave her a genuine smile.
“Nice to see you, Gwen. How’s he doing today?”
Her dainty fingers wrapped around the plastic covering the stems as she considered my question.
“He’s doing pretty good today, actually.”
“Good.” I knocked on her desk in farewell and walked around the corner.
Down the hall and through another set of doors was my grandfather’s suite.
A nurse was exiting, right as I was about to knock.
“Go ahead and head on in; he’s expecting a game of cards with Theo.”
Theo would be grateful I stepped in; poor guy hated playing against my pop.
“Theo, you’re here!” my grandfather crowed, holding a brand-new deck of cards in his left hand. His lack of recognition didn’t hurt; in fact, it did the opposite. I only came to see him because he didn’t remember me. If he did… Well, I’d be fucked.
“Hey, old man, ready for a game of cards?”
His toothless smile was wide as he shuffled the deck, and I took a seat across from him.
“Get ready to lose.”
This was how it always went. My grandfather’s shit talking was on point. We’d joke for a few rounds and then he’d start to remember my brother. It made me wonder if Mom and them ever came back to visit him.
“Did you know I had a grandson?” he asked, eyeing his hand closely. I tried to let the comment slide, because he in fact had two grandsons. I just wasn’t considered one anymore.
Even still, I acted surprised. “You don’t say? Well, tell me about him.”
“He’s real smart, book smart. Always reading. But inside, I think he’s sad.”
My chest pinched tight as I laid down a pair of twos.
“Why’s he sad?”
My grandfather’s bushy, unkempt eyebrows crowded his forehead as he tried to remember. This was where things usually got hazy for him.
“Maybe it’s because his older brother is like the sun, and he’s like a rain cloud. The two don’t mix well.”
My breath nearly caught because he never mentioned me. Not ever.
“Thought you said you had just the one grandson?”
Gramps shook his head like he was confused. “I do…but after the accident, I only have one.”
I was walking too close to the fire; I knew this. I knew I was about to get burned, and yet I couldn’t stop myself.
“Did something happen to one of them?”
A small sigh escaped his mouth as he focused on his hand, laying down a set of cards that didn’t follow suit. I let it slide, like all his other hands.
“Well, the bright one…he wanted to shine so bright, the cloud was driven away. But, we decided to keep the cloud and asked the sun to shine somewhere else.”
The talking in metaphors was new. Usually, he just came right out and said what happened. I’d sit and listen, as a form of penance. I’d hear what I’d done through my grandfather’s memory, and then I’d want to go back in time and change it all.
Like I usually did.
“You have any brothers?” Watery blue eyes met mine, and for the smallest second, I worried he’d remembered me. But his eyes searched mine, no expression on his face. No memory whatsoever.
I cleared my throat and answered how I always did.
“Not anymore.”