Chapter 12 #2
Flinging his arms around my neck, he pulled me to him and whispered in my ear, “You’re welcome, and we will go back.” He kissed the side of my head.
The door swung open, and Wes stood there. “Dudes, are you ever coming inside? It’s fucking hot out here.”
With a sniffle, I swiped at my eyes. Shit, I couldn’t let Wes see me like this. “Yeah, whatever.” I strolled into the main room and scanned it. Everything was in its place. Wes had picked up. “What did you take out for dinner?”
“Chicken and enough for Casey to eat with us.” Lifting his chin, he threw me a wry grin.
Of course, he did. Had they been secretly texting all day? “Okay, I guess Casey is staying for dinner.” I grabbed Casey’s hand and kissed the back of it, my gaze meeting his. “Unless you have to go home?”
“Hell no. I’m staying as long as you’ll let me.” He patted my shoulder and ruffled Wes’s hair.
A few weeks later, it was the Fourth of July and a Saturday, and I hurried home from the shop in my truck.
I was supposed to have dinner at the Desert Dog house with Casey for a barbecue and meet all his football-playing friends.
Wes planned to watch the fireworks with friends at a local park, while I’d see what Casey had in store for the evening with fireworks of our own.
We’d spent as much time together as possible, and our relationship was easy.
The more Casey worked with Wes, the more I’d noticed a change in him as well. He’d grown confident, ate healthily and with the time spent in the gym, Wes had noticeable gains in muscle mass.
I parked my truck in my covered spot and hopped out. I hadn’t checked the mail for a few days. As I strolled toward the bank of mailboxes outside the office, I glanced at the sky. A few clouds hovered overhead, but we still hadn’t had rain, and it was hot as hell.
I opened my mailbox with my key and pulled a stack of advertisements and envelopes out. Fucking bills, no doubt. But everything was up to date.
Tucking the papers under my arm, I strode to the apartment and stepped inside. No sign of Wes. “Wes?” I made my way to the kitchen island and went through the mail, tossing the advertisements into our recycle bin.
“Yeah?” Wes poked his head out from the hallway.
“When are you leaving with your friends?” I stopped at a white envelope addressed to Mom with a man’s handwriting. Fuck…it couldn’t be. I turned it upside down. Wes didn’t need to see this.
“Not until around six. The park has a band and food trucks starting then.” He stepped toward me.
“Do you need some money?” He’d been working in the shop cleaning but still made little. I folded the envelope and stuffed it in the back pocket of my work jeans.
“Naw, I’m okay.” He ticked his head at me. “What was that?”
With a shrug, I said, “Just a bill. Nothing to worry about.” Shit, I needed to get it out of here. I should’ve discarded it before coming inside.
“Yeah?” He stopped and knitted his brows. “Okay, I’m going back to my game then.” With a twist, he headed for his room and stopped. “Hey, are you staying the night at Casey’s?” He threw me a smirk.
As my lips tugged at the corners, I said, “I wasn’t planning on it.” Especially tonight. I didn’t need Wes out all night with his buddies lighting off fireworks. “I’ll be home by midnight, and I expect you to be too.”
“Midnight?” He scoffed and ambled away. Under his breath, he said, “I’m not fucking Cinderella.”
“Okay, eleven then.” I snickered. That would fix him.
He called from his room. “Midnight is fine.”
Shaking my head, I strode into my room. It was time to shower and dress for the barbecue. After locking my door, I slipped the letter from my jeans and opened it. “Goddamn it,” I said as I read the letter.
My Dearest Linda,
It’s been over a year since the incident, and I want you to know my love for you is still as strong as ever.
I hope now you can look back and see I only wanted to do right by you.
Perhaps I planned my methods poorly, but I figured I could get some money to help you pay your debt, which would ease the immense stress on you.
I hope you can forgive me now. I never meant to hurt anyone.
Please come visit me or at least write me back.
I have to know that my actions were not in vain.
All My Love,
Carl
With heat swarming my chest, I said, “That son of a bitch.” I crumpled the letter as I jogged into the bathroom and hurled it into the trash bin.
The fucking letter should never be seen again.
The manipulative bastard deserved to die in prison.
Trying to say he committed the burglary to help her…
I growled and pointed at the letter. “Fuck you, Carl. Go to fucking hell.”
Shit, maybe I should take it to the trash containers outside?
I didn’t need Wes finding the fucking thing.
Or hell, maybe I should burn it? With my teeth clenching I plucked it from the garbage bin and stomped out of the house with it crushed in my hand.
This fucking letter would be gone from our lives. Just like Carl.
An hour later, I’d parked my truck in front of the address Casey had given me. I had to compose myself and pretend I never saw the fucking letter. I hopped out of the truck and strolled to the front door, a bungalow with white painted brick. As I stepped onto the small portico, the door swung open.
“Babe, you look fantastic.” He ushered me inside, threw his arms around my neck and planted a hard kiss on my mouth.
“Oh, hey, Casey’s boyfriend is here.” Eli lumbered toward us, his hand outstretched. “Nice to see you again, man.”
I shook his hand and gave him a side hug. “Yeah, thanks for letting me hang out with you all.” Shit, I didn’t know what to say.
“Of course.” Eli’s smile reached his twinkling brown eyes. “I’ll be cooking the burgers on the grill soon. How do you want yours?”
“Uh, medium.” My pulse raced as I scanned the room with a blue sectional and black tables, probably IKEA from the looks of them. A few more guys were there to meet.
Another even larger man with blond hair and blue eyes approached behind Eli. “Hey, Ryker, right? I’m Tex. Well, Travis really. But they all call me Tex since I’m from Austin.” He grabbed my hand between both of his and shook it. “Do you play Madden?”
A paused video game was showing on the screen when I glanced at the television across from the sectional. “Uh, sure. I mean, I haven’t, but I can try.” It had been years since I’d had time to play video games.
“Tex, get him a drink. The man’s probably thirsty.
” A smaller man, but still large by my standards, stepped to me.
“Hi, my name’s Malik.” He shook my hand.
“What’s your poison, Ryker? We’ve got beer or these mixed cocktails in a can called Cutwaters.
I’ll just warn you about the Cutwaters. They pack a punch. ”
“Yeah?” I peeked at Casey. I should go easy since I’m just meeting these guys. I shouldn’t get drunk and give them the wrong impression of me. “I’ll take a beer, please.”
“Coming right up.” Tex whooped, spinning his hand by his head and sauntered into their kitchen of black appliances and white cabinets. The place wasn’t too messy for a bunch of college guys.
Placing his hand on my lower back, Casey said, “Join me on the couch.”
I followed him and sank beside him at one end of the sectional, watching the guys chatting and moving around in the kitchen. Everyone seemed comfortable with each other. “So, this is all of them?”
“Yeah, except JJ, our wide receiver last year. He left for the Cardinals training camp up in Flag. He’ll be moving out once he comes back.” Casey dipped his gaze and then focused on me. “He was one of my best friends.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. But I guess you’re happy for him?” Dylan had never been my roommate, but if he moved away, it would be difficult. Fuck, I’d have to find another guy I could trust to work in the shop if that happened.
Tex presented one beer to me and another to Casey. After sipping a Cutwater, he said, “So, tell me about yourself, Ryker.” He dropped in next to me.
How much did he already know? “I grew up here in Mesa, and my brother’s a quarterback in high school.” I didn’t want to go over my mom’s jail status. Fuck the letter. Should I talk to Casey about it? No, it didn’t matter. It was gone now.
“Yes, and Casey says he’s got quite an arm.” Tex lifted a brow at Casey.
“He does, and he’s improved a lot over the summer. I can’t wait to see where they place him when practice starts at his school.” Casey sipped his beer and looked Tex over. “Tell him about the fireworks.”
“Fireworks?” My attention swung to Tex. “Can you see the Tempe Lake’s fireworks from here?” I’d thought we were too far from downtown for it.
“No, but my brother drove out here to see me a week ago, and he brought some excellent fireworks from Texas. Proper fireworks, not those baby ones you get from the grocery store around here.” A smirk curled his lips. “We’ll shoot them off in the driveway later.”
“The driveway?” Shit, these guys might set something on fire. “Is that legal?” I drank my beer.
“Yeah…” Tex slid his lips to the side. “Shit, I don’t know. Does it matter? We’ll make sure it’s safe.”
“You'd better stop drinking Cutwaters then. We don’t need you losing a finger tonight.” Casey scoffed. “I’m not setting anything off. Can you imagine me hurting my hand?”
“Don’t need fingers to block.” With a cackle, Tex stood and stretched. “Anyway, it’ll be fun. I’m glad you’re here, Ryker.” He squeezed my shoulder.
“Thanks, looking forward to it.” As I set my beer to my lips, my phone buzzed in the pocket of my shorts. Was it Wes? Was he okay? I’d just left him. After a sip of beer, I fished my phone out. The jail’s number scrolled across the screen. “Damn it, it’s my mother.”
Casey’s brows dipped. “Want to take it into my room?” Grabbing my hand, he hefted me from the couch.