47. Tyler
FORTY-SEVEN
TYLER
“Tyler Davis.”
I’m walking down Main Street to the general store to grab a few staples before I head home for the night. I’ve been buried in my phone, responding to a cheeky text from Becca. I look up with a dazed smile, only to have it wiped right off my face.
Carver Denton, the Denton who Becca claimed is “harmless.” I assume she said that because he wasn’t among his brothers when they were trying to jump her all those years ago.
I don’t care what she says. I can’t trust any of them. I’d be willing to put money on the lumberyard still being a front for their drug operation. I know for a fact that Carver was dealing to CJ in the days before she left.
I want to punch his friendly smile into oblivion.
“Tell your wife to call me.”
My muscles tense, ready to spring into action. “Why would she need to talk to you?”
His face falls and he looks stricken. Did he expect a positive response out of me?
“About her order. I know she needs it soon, but we hit a snag. Our connection fell through, plus we’ve got a raccoon infestation at the yard that’s messing everything else up.
Some idiots showed up in ski masks and dropped off cages full of ‘em.”
I’d laugh about the fact that I was one of the idiots in a ski mask, but I’m too busy feeling sick about whatever order she placed. Why is she dealing with them at all? What kind of connection?
“My wife has no reason to talk to you.”
Carver crosses his arms. “One of those kinds of husbands, huh? Controlling who she can talk to?”
I lean in. “Considering what you did to my last girl—”
“What I did?” he squeals.
“Yes, you.”
“I heard it was you!” he retorts.
My teeth might crack with how tight I’m clenching my jaw. My eyes burn and everything in my body is pulsating.
“I know what really happened, and you do too,” I say pointedly. “It was y’all that fucked her up. You left my child without a mother, and I’m not letting you get to her stepmom too. I’m drawing the line for Becca’s safety.”
Carver looks uneasy and blows out a breath. “Look, man, I’m real sorry about what happened with CJ—”
“You don’t even know the half of it,” I bite out. “You never had to revive her. You aren’t still paying her rehab bills.”
He puts his hands out to placate me. No such thing will be happening. “All I’m saying is I know you have every reason to hate my family.”
“Correct.”
“And I’m trying to do better. I know that doesn’t change the past—”
“You’re right. It doesn’t.”
He sighs. “Can you just tell Becca to call me? I’ve got a few other options.”
I get in his face. “I don’t know what you think my wife is up to these days, but she’s busy. She’s busy being a good mom, and doing wholesome shit that makes people happy, and she sure as hell isn’t getting dragged back into that life that you people lead.”
He shakes his head and scoffs. “Whatever, man.”
Rage pounds through me as he walks away. I’m not sure who I’m more mad at. Carver and his family of degenerates. Becca for dealing with them. How Carver brought up the rumors that went around about me and CJ.
That he had the gall to try and apologize after everything.
He never found CJ on the floor. He never had to save her life. He never came home shaking because he was afraid of what he’d find. He’s not dealing with the fact that people still talk about us.
Everything is too loud. The chime of some kid’s bike bell. The laughter pouring out of the post office when the door opens. Some fucking bird yapping.
I text Dad to tell him to lock up and stomp my way to the Legion Hall. Then I do what I think people with normal friendships do: I phone a friend and head for the bar.
“Sorry I’m late,” Jake says with a chuckle, sliding onto the barstool next to mine.
“It’s tough trying to stay on top of getting the wife pregnant.
She’s all ‘it’s ovulation time, Jake,’ and I’m all ‘I gotta meet up with Tyler,’ and she’s all ‘now, Daddy’ with the fuck-me eyes and well, you know how it goes. ”
I shake my head and thank god I’ve had a couple drinks or that would be enough to have my pants in an embarrassing arrangement. “I wouldn’t know about that. Mine just showed up out of nowhere.”
Jake looks uncomfortable. “Right. Yeah. That’s tough too. The accident. I mean, not that Ellie’s an accident, she’s adorable.”
“It’s okay, I know what you mean,” I say. “Sorry you guys are having to work at it. I hear that sucks too.”
“Thanks, man. It kinda does. I mean, sex is great. But it’s been under pressure, and that makes it different. Hey, also, sorry you walked in on us that one time—”
I hold up a hand. “Don’t mention it.”
He clears his throat. “Well, I’m here now. What’s buggin’ ya? Have to say, I was surprised to see you calling.”
Jake and I sit at the place I’ve avoided my entire life, but it’s basically the only option in town for drowning your sorrows: the Legion Hall.
I’m already a few beers deep. I decide not to look too hard at the fact that I got pissed off and went to drink.
I haven’t drank much at all since Ellie was born, but I wouldn’t call myself strictly sober. Just highly avoidant.
It’s not like drinking helps anything.
Everywhere I look in this place, I’m reminded of her. Of all the places I held her and kissed her. Of the doorway I walked through with her on my shoulder, making sure she didn’t get hit anywhere. Of what we did after that and how ready I was to give her just about anything she asked for.
I’m a sucker.
“Girl trouble?” Stone asks, laying a beer mat out in front of Jake before reaching into the well for a cold bottle.
“Fuck off—” I start and Jake holds out his hand.
“He’s not feeling good. Would you mind giving us a little privacy?” Jake says instead, which is significantly more rational than what I said. “Easy, killer.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
Jake waits until Stone is farther down the bar. “Okay, so?”
“I guess this comes with some backstory. My ex . . .”
“The one who was Becca’s best friend? Ellie’s mom?”
I tip my head. “How’d you know?”
“Becca and Darcy are close. Darcy tells me everything.”
I blow out some air. “I wish Becca would tell me more.”
Jake shakes his head. “Okay, so, backstory. What happened?”
I explain who the Dentons are, their drug trade, how they almost hurt Becca.
Jake takes a pensive sip of his beer. “Okay. That’s all pretty shady, but we’re not all exactly who we were a few years ago. People grow and change.”
“Maybe,” I scoff. “But why is she dealing with him?”
“I don’t know. She’s opening a Christmas tree lot soon. Trees, lumber? It’s all related. Have you asked her about it yet?”
“Don’t be so practical,” I say, and he laughs.
“Don’t be a goober who builds a whole case against the woman you love before you’ve even heard her side,” he counters.
“I’m afraid to bring it up. What if she’s doing drugs? Being a drug mule? Doing something illegal on the side? I wouldn’t want to know in that case because it would make me guilty by—”
Jake’s hand lands on my shoulder, giving a firm squeeze. “I’m going to stop you right there. You’re spiraling.”
“It’s like I don’t even know the woman I married.”
A beat of silence falls between us as Jake considers that.
“Darcy and I have only known each other a few years and I still trust her. You’ve known Becca your whole life. I think you know her. But do you trust her?”
I scowl and finish my beer, waving to Stone for another. I wish I could get it for myself so I didn’t have to interact with the loser.
“You sure about that, big dog?” Jake cocks a brow at me and looks pointedly at my empty bottle.
I shrug him off. “It’s just a beer.”
“I want to make sure you don’t make everything worse.”
A fresh one appears in front of me before Stone leaves us alone again. I track a bead of condensation running down the bottle, pouting because I can think how pretty a bead of moisture like that would look running down Becca’s body.
I scowl deeper. My Reba. She’s been the sunshine of my days, but what if I was just a mindless moth, slamming myself into her light without thought of the consequences?
“Let’s say she is involved in all the bad stuff. That the worst case scenario is true. What’s your move?”
I shake my head. “I can’t do it again. Things were really tough with Ellie’s mom. I have a lot of empathy for addiction, but it’s really tough to deal with. It’s hard to trust them even when they’re on their best behavior.”
Jake winces and bobs his head. “Sorry, man. That must have been awful. I know Becca was a party girl, but she’s pretty tame now, right?”
I lift a shoulder. “She could have slipped. She and CJ—Ellie’s mom—they were in it together.”
Jake twists his lips and chews on the corner. “You really need to talk to her, man. I know it’s scary.”
“What if she lies?” I ask.
“How will you know she’s lying?” Jake counters.
“I guess I won’t,” I mumble.
Jake sits back and turns his knees more my way.
“I’ll put it this way. This is more of a personal thing, but I’d risk trusting her knowing maybe I’ll get disappointed.
But she might surprise you. I’ve tried living to stop pain, but hard stuff is inevitable.
Life’s going to hurt no matter what. But I’d rather live with an open heart and get it broken every once in a while than chance missing out on the good stuff. ”
I hate how good he is at this, but part of me wonders if he’s going to side with Becca no matter what. That’s why I didn’t call Dusty. He’ll always be most faithful to family.
A hand claps on my shoulder from behind.
“Yep, I found him.”
I turn to find Dusty putting a phone in my face with “Becca” on the screen.