Chapter 29
29
“ T hank you, Foster.” I end the call with him and stroll into the kitchen where Essie fusses with her espresso machine.
She’s dressed in a loose tank top and shorts that barely cover her ass.
Shorts that are officially my favorite pair in the world.
I could sit here for hours and watch her ass jiggle in them.
Biting into my lip, I feel on top of the world from last night.
I’m fucking in love with this woman.
I told her in college, but that feels like centuries ago.
Even though I think the feeling is mutual, I’m afraid of scaring her off.
It could be too much, too soon.
Turning around, she picks up a mug shaped like a cowboy boot. “How’s our boy?”
“He’s recovering well.” I drop my phone on the table and walk toward her, wearing only my unbuttoned slacks. “Foster wants to keep him one more night.”
My shoulders slump in disappointment. I hoped to have him back today.
“We’ll have to throw him a welcome home party.” She takes a sip of her latte .
I grin, loving that she cares about Tucker enough to do that. “Now, I know you gave me plenty of favors last night, but can I ask for one more?” I form my hands into a pleading motion. “I need a ride to the auto repair shop to pick up my car.”
She dramatically squishes her face. “I guess it’s the least I can do after last night.”
I wrap my arms around her waist and draw her closer. “If you still need convincing, I have another hour until I need to go.”
“Unfortunately, I must take a rain check on that. I have a busy day today.”
“What’s on your agenda, Ms. Lane?”
“I have an interview with a paralegal candidate in an hour. And tonight, Mia is throwing Callie a surprise birthday party. Want to come?”
Even though I want to jump for joy at her invite, I keep my cool.
Essie has gone from repeatedly telling me to get my ass out of town to inviting me to parties.
I like this version much better.
“I’d love to come.” I push a strand of her hair behind her ear. “And thank you for showing me all of you last night.”
“I’m sorry for taking so long.” Her gaze drops to the floor, avoiding eye contact with me.
I place a finger under her chin, lifting it until our eyes meet. “Don’t apologize. You needed time, and I respect that.”
She clears her throat, slowly walks to the table, and sits. “My burn scars are from a car accident when I was in high school.” She holds up a hand. “It wasn’t an accident. My friend and I were purposely hit. My friend died. I survived, but that didn’t mean I got out untouched.”
“What do you mean, purposely hit?”
“He meant to hit us.”
“Why would someone do that?”
“It was our school custodian who’d been fired. He blamed his firing on the students and decided to take it out on us. He started with me and Ethan, a friend I tutored. We were in his Jeep when a truck came toward us in the wrong lane with its bright lights on. Ethan kept trying to swerve out of the way, but the truck kept following us.”
Her lip trembles, and she covers her mouth as a sob leaves her.
I grab her hand, giving it a squeeze, and massage my thumb along her skin.
She clears her throat and sniffles before going on, “He finally hit us. Ethan was killed on impact. The Jeep caught on fire, and as I crawled out of the car, debris hit my stomach, going through my shirt. I rolled on the grass, trying to get rid of the burns and put them out. But I still suffered third-degree burns and these … scars.” She sighs. “The man is in prison now.” A tear slips down her cheek. “But he might be free soon.”
Free because of my mother’s organization.
My breathing slows.
Tell her, Adrian.
Tell her, goddamn it .
I’m such a chickenshit.
Instead of confessing I know the story, I decide to console her.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” I whisper, stretching across the table to wipe away her tear, hating myself for not saying more.
“Have you ever heard of the Prison Exoneration Program?”
A tightness forms in my chest as I nod, hating myself for not saying more.
“They took his case. That’s why River was so upset the day you were here.”
I scratch the back of my neck, positive that every person who cares about Essie will want to kick my ass if they find out I talked to Earl.
Tell her, Adrian.
Fucking tell her .
Essie and I are finally in a good place.
I don’t want to fuck this up, but I’m damned if I do, damned if I don’t.
If I tell her now, I’ll fuck it up.
If I tell her later, I’ll fuck it up.
But right now, I’m going to give myself time.
Time before everything blows up in my face.
I’ll tell my mother I don’t want to be involved in Earl’s case and to give it to another attorney. I refuse to betray Essie and cross that line even further.
I lost her once.
I won’t survive losing her again.
“Top of the morning to ya,” a shirtless River greets me with a grin when I step out of Essie’s cottage.
He sprawls back in a patio chair and takes a long drag off his joint. Smoke curls around his face.
“Morning.” I run a hand through my hair and look back at the door.
Essie was right behind me but suddenly stopped. She said she had forgotten something and would meet me outside. Considering she somewhat lives at home, I should’ve known there was a chance of running into someone. Better River than her parents seeing me.
River snubs his joint out in the ashtray. “Don’t worry; I won’t give you a hard time about your walk of shame. I love my sister and want her to be happy, and you seem to help with that. She’s going through some shit right now, so don’t you dare fucking hurt her—you hear me?”
“I care about your sister.” I slip my hands into my pockets. “I’d never hurt her. ”
He nods, as if accepting my response. “You coming to Callie’s party tonight?”
“I’ll be there.”
He salutes me. “See you tonight then.”
Ava walks out of River’s cottage, interrupting us, and I raise a brow.
She’s wearing baggy sweatpants and a sweatshirt that nearly hits her knees. I’m positive both belong to River.
She gathers her tangled hair into a messy ponytail and smiles at me. “Oh, hi, Adrian. I came by to visit Essie but needed a bathroom break. I couldn’t hold it, so I stopped by River’s to pee.”
“Oh, come on,” River says, wearing the widest smirk I’ve ever seen. “Do you expect him to believe that?”
She flips him off.
River laughs and gives her a playful smack on the ass as she turns to leave. “Shouldn’t you go that way if you’re visiting my sister?” He points in the opposite direction.
“I changed my mind.” Ava rolls her eyes at him before checking her nonexistent watch. “I have a few errands to run. See you tonight.”
Everyone turns when Essie’s door opens, and she steps out.
“Good morning, sis,” River says. “Can you please tell your friend to stop breaking into my place and stealing my clothes?” He cocks his head toward an annoyed Ava. “I’m officially hiring you as my attorney to stop this sweatshirt thief.”
“Don’t worry,” Ava says, flicking her hand in the air. “I’ll burn the evidence when I get home.”
River scoffs. “I have countless pics of you wearing my clothes. I’ll definitely win the case.”
“Then, I’ll destroy all said clothes and pics for funsies.” Ava pulls at the hoodie’s drawstrings.
“Don’t forget, I have a key to your place,” River warns.
Ava rolls her eyes. “I told you, I want that back. ”
River shakes his head. “Nah, I like having access to you at all times.”
“Oh my God,” Essie cries, covering her eyes, as if blocking out the sun. “I’m not even going to bother questioning what’s going on between you two right now.”
Ava shrugs. “That makes you a better person than me because I’m about to ask all the questions about your little sleepover date.”
There’s no hiding my smile when all eyes turn to Essie.
“Tough shit,” she says, grabbing my hand and pulling me away from them. “People who make poor choices with my brother don’t get any tea this morning.”
River stands and looks at Ava. “Trust me, babe, bad decisions with me are much better than gossip.” He grabs Ava around the waist and throws her over his shoulder. “Question her later tonight. I’ll make you breakfast in exchange for my hoodie.”
“I’ll be asking all the questions tonight, Essie!” Ava shouts, kicking her feet and doing a poor job of pretending to break out of River’s hold. “And you, mister! You’re making me breakfast in exchange for me not stabbing you in your sleep.”
River laughs. “We can play doctor, and you can stitch me up after. I keep begging you to role-play with me.”
“Swear to God, I’m poisoning your eggs,” Ava mutters.
They continue arguing, but their words are drowned out as we get farther away. Seconds later, I hear River’s door slam shut.
The morning air is chilly, and birds are splashing in the birdbath next to the gate that leads to the driveway where cars are parked. A few gardeners are pulling weeds, and Essie waves at them.
“Ava and River are a thing?” I ask when we get into her car.
I noticed sexual tension between the two at the brewery opening, but I thought maybe they were just two friends who bickered.
“No one knows what River and Ava are.” She buckles her seat belt. “They’re two people with busy careers who don’t have time for relationships. I guess that’s something they bond over.”
“That’s what they do? Bond ?”
She whacks me in the head with her bag while putting it in the back seat. “I don’t say anything to him about who comes and goes from his place, and he gives me the same respect.”
River did say something, but it could’ve been worse.
He could’ve tried to fight me or some shit.
A situation like that happened to my old roommate in Cali. He’d hooked up with a girl, and her older brother came home early. He snatched my friend by the neck and threw him out the window, naked, which resulted in two broken bones. After that, he was strictly a you come over guy.
“Wait,” I say, blinking. “Who comes and goes from your place ?”
“You.” She starts counting out her answers on her fingers. “Yummy Arrangements delivery person. Amazon. While my brother’s visitors are of the opposite sex—” She stops and holds up her hand. “Well, actually, his opposite-sex visitor always goes by the name of Ava. Mine tend to arrive in USPS or FedEx uniforms.”
“Yummy Arrangements?” I ask.
She nods. “Blue Beech’s version of Edible Arrangements.”
“I’m learning this town has quite a lot of their own versions of things.”
“All things are better when they come with a small-town flair.” She smiles and ruffles her hand through my hair. “You’ll never want to go back once you’re comfortable here.”
“Trust me,” I mutter under my breath, “that’s my plan.”