Chapter 6
Verge
As I shut the door to the truck, my mind races.
I know she was just talking shit considering I’ve been fucking with her all day trying to piss her off in more ways than one, but fuck .
I tried to hide my irritation and shove it down deep, but that hit me like a slap to the fucking face, that’s for sure.
No one has mentioned my mother in passing that way before.
Sure, when she was alive there were always the shit-talking your mamma jokes, but it sure as shit hits different when she is dead.
I didn’t expect it to hit me like it did either.
I tried to hide it. Walk it off with a lift of my lips and the wink of an eye, but the fact that I had no smart ass remark to come back with I’m sure told my new crew all they needed to know.
That and the fact that when I glanced back to see if Beau was coming, Cross was kissing her head and rubbing her shoulders.
The look on her face was utter defeat. White-hot jealousy coursed through me when his lips brushed her head, not helping my temper, but I assume Beau is now filling them in so I’ll have a few minutes to cool down.
She feels bad.
It wasn’t my intention to make her feel bad, but I have quite a temper and popping off at her for an innocent joke, that I probably deserved given the shit I’ve given her today, wasn’t a reason to release the kraken.
I have been trying to pick at her because, well, I like her, and getting a rise out of her is fun. She’s cute when she's annoyed.
I take my Stetson off, placing it upside down in the back seat, and run my hand down my face when I hear the driver door open and Beau hops in. He glances over at me with remorse in his eyes when he says, “Sorry, she didn’t know.”
I nod, grinding my teeth before I say, “I know.”
He looks at me, then cranks up the truck, driving, and we sit in a comfortable silence for a while before he says, “Really was a hell of a ride tonight, man. She'd be proud.”
I glance over, grabbing his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze before I say, “Thanks, man.”
Beau knows how close I was with my mom, how she never missed a ride even when she was in the thick of her cancer.
She was my biggest cheerleader, and she loved to watch me.
Did it scare her at times? I’m sure, but she never let on that it did.
Even when I got hooked on my jaw, she never acted as if I should quit.
“He got ya good, didn’t he?”is all she said when I was laid up in the hospital.
They made me stay overnight for observation considering the blood loss, and I’m not making light of it, it was in fact pretty painful and brutal, but she believed in me and never made me feel guilty for this sport I love.
I’ve obviously had other close calls. This sport will hurt you at times, if not fucking kill you.
But I’m good at it, and I enjoy it, and she knew that.
I can’t thank her enough for the support she always showed me, and I fucking miss her, so Beau saying she’d be proud of me stirs something in my gut that does make me feel better and forget the accidental comment.
I then decide to quit being mad and speak up. “So Shiloh and Cross? Are they a thing?” I ask because it’s been eating at me and honestly, I prefer to steer the subject away from my mother so I don’t get caught up in my emotions.
Beau smirks, looking at me, then back to the road, one hand on the wheel and the other leaning on the door covering his mouth before he says, “I knew that was coming.”
“What?” I ask, chuckling before I continue. “I mean she’s cute.”
He laughs again, rolling his eyes before he says, “They are not together. They have been close since they were kids, but they are just best friends.”
Mulling it over, I look at him and say, “He’s always got his arm around her or on her, what’s up with that?”
“That’s just Cross. He doesn't mean anything by it. He’s just comfortable with her since they have been friends since they were born, but I assure you there is nothing there,” he replies as he pulls on to the interstate headed home.
I nod before I reach to the back of the truck, grabbing my hat and leaning my seat back to cover my eyes and catch some shut-eye before we get back to the house, my mind lingering back to Shiloh before I fall asleep.
“Up and at ‘em, we are leaving in about twenty to head to Cash’s,” Beau says from the bedroom door.
I put a thumbs up over my head while holding my forehead with the other.
I went to a bull ride last night trying to make some extra cash.
I did win, but my hand got caught in the rope and once I finally got it lose and jumped off I landed flat on my back, so not only is my back fucking killing me, I also have a raging headache, which in turn will probably make me a raging asshole today.
I roll over groaning, reaching for my phone to look at the time.
5:00 A.M.
“Fuck,” I mutter. I see now why Cash was groaning at Shiloh’s bright and early remark.
It’s Friday now and this week has been pretty long, to say the least. Beau went to Cash’s a few times this week to practice, and as much as I wanted to see Shiloh I kept my distance doing my own thing for the week.
As much as I did want to see her, I didn’t want to seem as if I was interested.
Although, spending the whole weekend with her, there may be no hiding my attraction, but we will see.
Throwing the covers off, I put my feet to the floor stretching, and damn my back is sore.
I stand grabbing my jeans, a t- shirt, and my ball cap, then snag a hoodie from the closet and my boots.
Beau and I made sure all our shit was packed and in the trailer last night so we didn’t have to do anything but load his horse and hit the road.
As I make my way out of the room, Aria is sipping coffee at the bar. She gets up way too early for school, but to each their own I suppose. She smiles and offers me a travel mug. “Rough night, Verge?” she asks.
“I mean if you count winning as rough, sure.” I wink while taking the coffee.
She laughs, rolling her eyes before she slides a bottle of painkillers my way and says, “I was there with a few of my girlfriends last night. I saw how you landed and I know your back has got to be killing you.”
I look at the bottle seeing the side says Oxycodone and look at her with pitched brows saying, “Where did you get these?”
She shrugs. “Pierce Drake.”
“Why are you taking shit from Pierce Drake, Aria?” I say through gritted teeth. Aria is 18 and very much a follow-the-crowd kind of girl, and she’s gonna get herself in fucking trouble with that crew if she doesn’t get her head out of her ass.
“He said you’d need it after that fall. I didn't take any,” she says defensively.
“Let’s go, Verge,” Beau says walking in the door, but then stops looking at the exchange between Aria and I, then down at my hand with the oxy in it before he says, “What’s going on?”
Looking back at Aria, her eyes grow wide before she says, “Nothing, Beau, it’s fine.”
Beau looks at me confused and I hand him the bottle. “Whose is this?” He says, reading the bottle.
“Pierce gave them to her at the bull ride last night,” I reply and Aria groans.
“Thanks, Verge,” Aria snaps.
“Anytime, cuz,” I say, winking.
“Aria what the fuck? Didn’t I tell you to steer clear of him, he's not a good guy,” Beau scolds, pursing his lips, then starts again. “Wait ‘till Mom and Dad find out.”
“Beau, no, they will take my car. I won't do it again. I didn't take any,” Aria whines.
“And that’s my cue. I’ll meet you in the truck,” I say glancing back at a very pissed off Aria and walk past Beau to let them figure this shit out on their own.
Aunt Kate and Uncle Clark left yesterday for their anniversary trip thinking Aria could look after herself for a few days and now I’m not so sure that’s the smartest option.
However, at least we know Pierce will in fact be in San Antonio this weekend.
When I tell you that guy is bad fucking news I mean it.
Who the fuck gives an 18-year-old oxy. Joking about me needing them or not, he knew what he was doing and it’s fucked up.
As I walk out of the door the screen door slams behind me and I walk to the trailer to sift through my bag for my smokes so I can get one in before we go.
Lighting up and taking a pull I hear yelling coming from the house and chuckle. Fuck, way to start the morning, Verge. I don’t regret it though, Aria needs good tongue lashing for taking drugs from that piece of shit. It’s then I remember Shiloh saying he hit on her and my stomach sours.
I’m not a take-the-high-road kind of guy. If I ever find him anywhere near her, or Aria again for that matter, I wont think twice about knocking his fucking ass out.
“Jesus,” Beau says as he walks out of the door.
He looks up to me and I drop the cigarette, exhaling the last pull before I say, “You good?”
He shakes his head walking past me, “If I see that mother fucker I’m gonna lay his ass out.”
I chuckle, “I’ll help.”
“Seriously though, thanks for looking out, man. She’s too much of a follower, damn she needs to grow up,” Beau says looking at me and I nod.
He then runs his hand down his face looking back at the house then to me before he says, “Don’t tell Mom or Dad. She didn’t take any. I’m giving her one chance to never pull that shit again or I will be telling our parents.”
I smile, grabbing his shoulder. “You’re a good brother. Let's go or Shiloh may kick our asses for being late.”
At this he laughs. “I’m always late, but you are correct, she will throw a fit.”
We part ways heading to the truck and I bite my lip putting my hand on the door and laugh at the thought of her already riled up at 5:30 in the morning. I can’t fucking wait.