Chapter 4
F uck my life. That’s what’s repeating in my head as mom prattles on about the plans for the property tour this winter.
You mean to tell me that the woman I knocked over—yes, I can admit I knocked her over—is my shadow for the next six months?
Why is this the first time I'm hearing about it?
I have way too much work to be fucking babysitting.
They should know by now I want to be left alone.
I crack my neck and roll my head. As usual, my anger bursts to the surface and I open my damn mouth. “Stop for just a second. You’re telling me that I’m stuck with a Tate all season? No, I’m too busy for her.”
“Reid Andersen!” Mom shrieks as she backhands my chest. “You apologize right now to poor Isabelle!” I don’t bother to cover the huff of irony that puffs out of my nose.
“Poor Isabelle is right! What, are we just hiring anyone now? Didn’t know we were so hard up for candidates that we’d hire?—”
“Hire what?” Isabelle cuts in with a saccharine smile. “Trailer trash? Is that what you were going to say?” She lets out a sharp, humorless laugh, folding her arms across her chest as if shielding herself from me.
“Well, congrats. You figured me out. But don’t worry, I’m not here to impress you.
I’m here to work. And unfortunately for you, that means you’re stuck with me.
” Her face is bright red. Looking around at the crowd surrounding us, frozen in rapt shock, Isabelle shuts her mouth in horror and turns to my parents.
“Oh my god. I'm so sorry, Mrs. Andersen, I mean, Cecelia. I—it just came out.” Isabelle’s voice wobbles.
Shame floods through me as countless pairs of eyes drive daggers through me. Me and my fucking mouth.
“Reid, you apologize this instant!” Mom hisses. Dad, rare to ever get involved, pins me with a heated look filled with disappointment.
Before I can process what just happened, Isabelle turns to my mom and whispers, “I need to go. Thank you so much for the lovely dinner. I'll keep an eye out for the email from HR.” And with that, she turns and disappears into the crowd. Fuck.
My dad grabs me by the bicep and doesn’t let go until he’s led me and the rest of the family out onto the outdoor patio of the ballroom.
“Reid for the love of—What the hell was that? How dare you speak to one of our employees that way! Let alone a brand-new hire your mother is thrilled about. You mortified that lovely young woman.”
I'm not in any frame of mind to be having this, or any, conversation. My already fucked mood, compounded by my skin burning, and however many drinks I’ve had, means my filter is nonexistent and my temper is lit.
Unable to hold my stupid, idiot tongue, I retort, “Lovely young lady? Everyone knows the Tate’s reputation.
Daddy Tate bolted after his drinking and gambling caught up to him and left Mommy Tate to drink herself stupid.
Both of those girls are just like their parents.
The apples didn't fall far from the tree. I don’t want to be hauling my ass all over the western slope with that girl. She’s nothing but trouble.”
Too bad my accident took away my “good side” and not my asshole side.
My dad gets up in my face. “Now you listen good, boy. I don’t care if she's the ticket taker or the president, you were raised to treat people with respect. That girl is a victim of her circumstances, not a bad byproduct. I happen to know that those Tate girls work damn hard and have never been anything but kind to everyone in this town. Despite what the rumors say, I don’t believe for a second that she’s a bad apple.
And even if the rumors were true, you'll trust your mother’s good judgment in hiring Isabelle. ”
It’s right about now that I realize my four—wait—five drinks have bitten me in the ass. I get loose lipped when I drink, and I was in a foul mood to begin with. I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to a staff member the way I did to Isabelle. I’m not one to hold back, but damn—I royally fucked up.
Mom’s holding back tears, Dad’s seething mad, and James is shaking his head in derisive amusement. Fucker. My teeth are clenched so hard my jaw is screaming in pain. I don’t know what they want me to say or what I’m supposed to do. So, I do what I always do when I can’t handle my emotions. I bolt.