Chapter 11 #3
She assesses me, chewing her lip, then seems to decide on something. “Where’s Jayden? Why haven’t I seen him yet? Thought he would be taking after daddy as well and, you know, ruling over the town and shit.”
Her question sends goosebumps over my arms. “Maybe you should ask K about him.”
“Ha. Yeah, you will help me only if it doesn’t interfere with business or give away some secret I’m not supposed to know about. I’m not a naive kid anymore, I know you lot are all involved in shady shit. But don’t pretend you’re going to help me then tell me to ask K.”
My heart sinks knowing she’s right. “I don’t know where he is. I have been away a lot over the last few years. One time I came home and he was just gone. K and Bodhi didn’t want to talk about it, so I didn’t push.”
“He was your best mate, and you didn’t push for answers?
Shit, River, how bad is the stuff you’re all involved in?
” She looks me over differently this time, I think puzzled by my answer, but I just told her the truth.
If I knew, I would go find him. He was my closest mate.
Life’s not the same without him in it, but I get why he left.
This life isn’t for everyone. I have seen things I can’t forget, Keller made sure of that.
Every new job for him ate away at my soul more, until I became what I am now.
But Jay was different, he was an overthinker, and that made him push back.
He gave Keller shit over every new job presented to us.
The two of them butted heads over every little detail, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Keller sent him away so he didn’t have to deal with the pushback anymore.
“It’s not that bad, really. Jay had his own personal stuff going on. I guess it was worse than even I knew.”
Her eyes narrow. “Do you work for Kasen like Slater does? All living in that stupid big mansion together like some frat boys? You know it’s weird, right.”
“Sometimes I stay with them, if I’m not too tired to drive home after I finish up at the bar and don’t use the apartment I have upstairs. It’s not weird, Dove, those boys are my family, yours as well.”
Her lips purse together. “Do you work for him, River?” she snips, and I know I’m pissing her off avoiding that part of her question.
“I do the occasional odd jobs when he needs me to. It’s not so much work as stuff that needs to be done to keep us in the position we currently hold.”
Her gaze intensifies as her eyes narrow to slits.
“See, this is the cryptic stuff I’m talking about.
You never used to keep anything from me.
Now you talk in riddles so it looks like you’re being truthful but you’re not actually telling me shit.
And you’re the worst because at least I can see what the other two are made of, but you come in this pretty, charming package, making me want to trust you when I know I shouldn’t.
” She pushes onto her back and closes her eyes, floating as her body moves over small ripples.
Her way of blocking me out, great. But I guess at least she thinks I’m pretty and charming.
Maybe she’s right, maybe I am the worst, but the disappointment is not something I’m keen to see in her eyes.
I push onto my back, floating, and close my eyes, bobbing over the small waves beside her, the summer sun streaming down on my skin.
It would have to be above average summer temperature today.
It’s perfection. This is the stuff that makes me feel alive, the ocean surrounding me, the warmth of the sun tanning my skin.
My girl at my side. If only life was this simple.
When I was riding the waves round the world, it felt as if it could be.
I could forget this life back here and my responsibilities and just live for every day.
I didn’t grow up spoilt like Dove was. My family was dirt poor, my dead-beat dad having taken off on me and my mum when I was only a kid.
She was a good mum, doing everything she could to support me and make sure I didn’t feel like I was going without, even if it was obvious she was.
So, when that call came to tell me they wanted me on the circuit, I didn’t look back.
Life was there for living, and I was going to take it by both hands and give it all I had. Even if my contract was conditional.
And that’s what I did.
Until I couldn’t anymore.
Now I’m just drifting with no direction.
Working for Throne helps to make me feel like I’m a part of something.
And I know she might not get it, but those boys are my family.
We have been in this together for so long I don’t see a way out.
I don’t think I even want one. This life might not be perfect, but it does give us more than we could have ever hoped for as kids.
And now that she’s back, things can only get better.
When I get bored floating, I peek over to Dove. She’s still drifting, her face so peaceful when her sassy mouth isn’t trying to fight me. Could she be what I’m missing? What we are all missing? Man, I hope so.