Chapter 37
Liam
All Your’n – Tyler Childers
As I turned off the main road and onto the private drive that wound its way up to Nate's place, I couldn't help but shake my head at the difference between our homes, yet he was still the same Nate who’d been my best friend since we were babies.
The same Nate who used to fart on my head and then almost wet his pants laughing.
He still liked to do that, even though he was a millionaire.
The gravel crunched under my truck tires as I navigated the gentle curves that climbed through stands of aspen and pine. The trees opened up to reveal glimpses of the sprawling valley below.
Nate's house came into view as I crested the hill, a stunning modern structure that somehow managed to look like it belonged nestled into the mountainside.
Six bedrooms and four acres of pristine Colorado landscape, all of it designed with the kind of environmental consciousness that only someone with serious money could afford.
Geothermal heating, solar panels discretely integrated into the roofline, and a design that took advantage of every spectacular view the mountains had to offer.
I pulled into the circular drive, my dusty work truck looking distinctly out of place next to the three-car garage that probably cost more than most people's houses.
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, I could see straight through to the back deck where Nate liked to enjoy a coffee while watching mule deer graze on his perfectly maintained acreage.
It struck me again how different our worlds were. Me living in my modest farmhouse, him in this mountain valley paradise. But that was Nate. He'd made his money and done it responsibly, creating a home that was as much about respecting the land as it was about luxury.
I killed the engine and sat for a moment, gathering my thoughts about what I needed to tell him about Whitfield. Some conversations were easier to have in places like this, where the mountains made your problems seem smaller, and the clean air helped you think clearly.
I hadn’t even got out of my truck before the huge oak front door was opened, and my best friend stood waiting. He was wearing sweats and a t-shirt, a stark contrast to his usual well-tailored suit, shirt and tie.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, “someone raid your closet for all your suits?”
“Funny.” He rolled his eyes and stepped to one side. “I have an entirely free day so thought I’d kick back. Not a crime is it?”
He looked away, clearing his throat. There was most definitely something going on with him. The man had been born in a fucking suit, I was sure of it.
“I’m in the den, want a beer?”
I stepped through the front door and into the kind of space that made you want to whistle low under your breath.
The ceiling soared above me, vaulted beams drawing the eye upward toward a mezzanine level overlooking the main living area.
At the heart of it all stood a massive two-story stone fireplace, its chimney disappearing into the cathedral ceiling.
Nate pushed the door closed behind me and led me further inside.
The whole place was open plan - kitchen, dining, living areas all part of one grand space.
Rich oak furniture anchored the room, pieces that looked handcrafted rather than factory-made.
It was the kind of place that said money, but money spent by someone with actual taste rather than just a big check book.
While Nate got my beer, I went to the den, the only room in the lower part of the house that had walls.
It was nestled in the corner of the living space accessed down three steps, and had a picture window that looked out over the small copse of woods that Nate owned as part of his property.
One wall was taken up with a small movie theater size screen, while the rest was built-in bookshelves in rich oak with every damn book you could think of.
Dropping down onto the huge leather sectional, I looked up to the ceiling and sighed. I was not looking forward to the conversation that I was about to have.
“Here.” Nate nudged me with a bottle of beer. “Romance over already?”
“No,” I snapped, grabbing the drink from him. “Why would you think that?”
He pointed at my face. “That.” He sat down, kicking his legs up. “Doesn’t look much like the face of a man who’s getting everything he needs.”
“Do not say another word,” I warned. “I won’t have her disrespected like that.”
Nate grinned, his bottle pausing at his mouth. “You took my advice then?”
“What advice did you give me?”
“I think I told you to go for it and you have.” He shrugged. “So, I’m kind of a whiz about being a relationship therapist then.”
“If that’s what you want to think.” I watched him as he took a drink, wondering how he would take the news I was about to give him. He hated Whitfield for what he’d done to Nellie, and I was sure if his morals were the darker side of gray he’d have had him offed by now.
“How’s the site? Have you heard any more about the dead body?”
“Nope. I called Joe this morning, nothing has come up in missing persons and there’s no DNA on record.” I scrubbed a hand down my face. “He’s thinking that maybe they were homeless.”
“Sad.” Nate narrowed an accusatory gaze on me. “There’s something bothering you. What is it?”
My chest felt hollow knowing how hurt he was going to be. I needed to rip off the band-aid. “Whitfield is sponsoring the cooperative dinner.”
“No. Not a fucking chance. Not happening. Whatever he’s paying I’ll triple it.” He slammed down his bottle of beer and sprung to his feet. “You know what he did to my sister. He’s a fucking psychopath.”
“I know it’s not ideal, but we think we’ve got a solution.”
“Not ideal! It’s fucking disgraceful that’s what it is. And the only solution I can think of is to shoot his fucking kneecaps off.”
“Much as I’d like to agree with that option, we can’t.”
“Don’t see why not,” Nate snapped. “And why the fuck are we even in this predicament? He should never be allowed in our town, never mind investing in it. Tell him to fuck back to Denver where he fucking came from.”
I groaned, wondering whether I should have just kept it from him, but he was my best friend and that wasn’t what we did. “I’m truly sorry, Nate, but Charity didn’t know when she agreed to it with him.”
Nate rounded on me, hands on hips. “Charity organized it?”
He blinked slowly and leaned forward, and I stood to face him. We were the same height and build. Mine from construction work, his from regular gym sessions. We’d always been supportive of each other with a little side of competitiveness, and we were both fiercely protective of those we loved.
“You say one word about her, and I swear, Nate, I will lay you out on this floor with one punch.”
He laughed, although it was a little hollow. “Wow, you really do like her.”
“Yeah, and this is not her fault. And like I said, we have it covered.”
“Covered in what way?” He threw his hands in the air. “How do you cover the fact that he’s a bastard who controls women, who alienates them from their family and their friends, from their lives?”
I placed a hand on his shoulder, looking directly into his eyes. “I know and I’m sorry, but we can’t undo what has been done with regards to the dinner.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Both,” I told him truthfully. “It wouldn’t be professional.”
“And who the fuck says?” The look in his eyes was belligerent, like it didn’t matter what I said, he would argue until he had no breath left in his body.
“Me. I say. I’m the host and it doesn’t matter that he’s a cunt, we have to be the bigger people and be professional. I know this isn’t what you want. It’s not what any of us want, but unfortunately it is what it is.”
Nate’s face looked tortured. He had to deal with Whitfield from time to time as they were both in the land development business, so he had to understand the need to be professional.
I didn’t like it any more than he did, but I needed to have Charity’s back as the host. And because I wanted to.
She was my girl and what sort of guy would I be if I didn’t?
“We’re going to use his sponsorship for good,” I told Nate as he prowled in front of me. “We’re going to donate it to a women’s charity for women who have suffered domestic abuse. And I’ll make sure he damn well knows why, I promise.”
“The Sundance Women’s Aid,” Nate snapped.
“That’s who you donate it to. Nellie is the President and Madeline is a trustee.
” Madeline was Nate’s step-mom and had been since he was four years old, and he adored her.
“And you make damn sure he knows exactly where it’s going and why.
” He pressed a finger against my breastbone. “I fucking insist on it.”
He stormed over to the wet bar at the back of the den, slammed a bottle of Dalmore Single Malt down, grabbed two glasses, and poured at least two fingers into each.
“I have to drive back down the mountain.”
“You can stay the night.” He raised an eyebrow. “Unless you have plans.”
“Nope, no plans.” Charity was spending the evening with Rose, so a phone call would have to do.
“Good, because we, my friend, are getting drunk.”
“Hey, Sunshine.”
The sight of her beautiful smile made me feel all sorts of things. Warm. Happy. Content. The relaxation, though, that was definitely because of the booze.
“Hi, you. What are you up to?” She tucked her hair behind her ear, today it was straight, not coaxed into waves. “We’re just waiting for pizza to be delivered from The Tap.”
“I’m waiting for Nate to finish cooking steaks on the grill.” I looked over to where Nate was standing at the biggest home grill I’d ever seen. You’d think he was taking part in that TV show BBQ Pitmasters or something. I turned the phone toward him. “Look at him, he takes it so seriously.”
Her giggle was soft and sent a message around my whole body. When she did a little sigh, that message transferred to my dick.
“He does look very serious.” She moved her phone a little closer so that I got a closer view of her lips. “How did he take the news,” she whispered.
Holding up a finger, I stood and walked toward the pool, away from Nate. “Not good,” I said once I was out of his earshot. “Not at first, but he eventually calmed down and cracked open the vintage single malt. Hence why you look a little fuzzy and I’m scared that Nate may set himself alight.”
“Liam, you need to make sure he’s okay.” She laughed again even though there was deep concern etched on her beautiful features. “You’re not driving back down the mountain, are you? I can come get you if you like.”
God, yes, I would like, but she needed time with her friend. I needed time with my friend to work through whatever was going on in my head. Because if I was going to move forward with her, I needed to kick the ass of the demons that grief left behind.
“No, I’m staying overnight. No need to worry about me.”
She chewed on her bottom lip. “And you’re sure Nate is okay? I know he’ll be mad, but he’s not mad at you is he?”
“Sunshine, he’s fine. He strongly suggested a charity that we should donate Whitfield’s money to.” She frowned. “It’s a women’s charity, just as we agreed and the kicker for Whitfield is that Nellie is the President and his step-mom is a trustee. Nellie set it up because of what happened to her.”
“That sounds like a great idea.” She bounced in her seat, before glancing over her shoulder. “Looks like our pizza is here.” Someone shouted in the background and Charity rolled her eyes. “Rose said hi.”
I had a feeling she might have said something a little dirtier than hi. “Okay, go eat and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Sure, and you enjoy your steaks and make sure Nate is safe with the flames.”
“I will.” Then like the pussy I’d become over the last few weeks I blew her a damn kiss.
“Wow, you’ve changed.”
I looked over to see Nate walking over to the table with a plate of meat that looked enough for half a dozen people.
“You expecting visitors?”
He chuckled. “I figured we needed to soak up the booze.”
We both sat down and helped ourselves to meat and potatoes, eating hungrily in a companionable silence. Until Nate sighed heavily.
“What?” I asked.
“Just Whitfield. I hate that he’s even breathing, never mind being involved in the dinner.” When I opened my mouth to speak he held up a hand to silence me. “I get it, and I don’t blame Charity, she wasn’t to know. Doesn’t mean I like it, though.”
“I just explained to her about the trust Nellie set up, and she thought it was a great idea.”
Nate smiled. “Glad to see you got out of your head about her.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t have concerns about it all.
” Pleased to see he’d put a jug of water on the table, I poured a large glass and looked across Nate’s land.
The sun was a half hour away from setting, shadowing the sky in hues of purple and pink.
The temperature had dropped a little but was comfortable enough that we were still both without jackets.
“Are you still thinking about Mallory and Ezra? Because I thought we’d cleared that up.”
“Seems like I'm dragging a thousand different kinds of baggage around with me, not just the grief kind.”
“And the other kind is?” Nate raised a brow.
“How quick this is all happening. How hard I’m falling after such a short time.
” I kicked my feet up onto the chair next to me, leaning back to look up at the golden sunset.
“I’ve known her since we were kids, always knew she was cute, but never gave her more than a passing look and now…
” I looked Nate directly in the eye, wanting him to know my truth.
“And now?” He tipped his head on one side, scrutinizing me.
“And now I can’t get her out of my fucking head. And now I’m worried that I can’t give her what she needs. And now I’m worried that I’m too broken to be who she deserves.”
“Oh boy.” Nate picked up his fork and speared a piece of meat. “Seems like you have some serious thinking to do.”
“And what do you suggest, oh great, wise relationship therapist?”
Leaning forward he patted my forearm. “I suggest you give yourself a break my friend. You’re a great man who deserves to be happy and don’t ever think you’re not good enough because you are.
And if she doesn’t think you are then I have no idea what kind of man she’s looking for.
” He slammed a hand on the table. “Now, fucking eat because I’ve cooked enough steak to feed a bus tour. ”
As I watched Nate put another steak onto my plate I couldn’t help but laugh, deep from my chest. He might not have the certificates to prove it, but he was a great relationship therapist. Even if he cooked too much food while doing it.