Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Oliver
For the first time in months, I have a day off. I don’t even know what to do with myself. My daily routine has always been whatever repair jobs I have, getting a morning surf or swim in, and then I find myself getting ready for my shift at the Water's Edge.
It wasn’t even my choice to have today off. My boss is making me because the last four days have been one disaster after the other. I got orders wrong, dropped plates, and spilled water on a customer. Even my morning repair jobs didn’t go well. I ended up doing more harm than good.
I didn’t lose my job, thankfully, but I don’t need a day off. I need the money for both bills and my ‘Running Away’ jar.
Feels childish to call it that, but it’s the name Simon came up with.
With a day off and no plans, I could have stayed in the shack, but the electricity has been acting up lately.
Some places have lost air conditioning altogether down here on the riverfront, but not the little thrift shop I’m currently in.
The flow of cold air caresses my skin and chills the sweat beading my forehead. Having longish hair is nice as a surfer, but the mop of hair also conducts a lot of heat.
“Are you ready?” Piper’s voice sounds from behind a curtain.
She and Casey decided, since today was my first day off in a while, they wanted to drag me on one of their shopping trips. I told them I wouldn’t go to the lakefront, but if they had any places around me, then I’d be game.
Sure enough, they decided on the store we’re in right now—Daily Thrift. There’s a few franchises and boutiques around town, but this store is our favorite store to shop at. They accept donations and have the best deals around.
I’m not stupid, so I could tell this is a way for them to make sure I’m doing okay. The girls don’t know much about what happened last weekend, but they know this week has been really shitty for me, and wanted to check-in.
The only person who knows the reason is Jaxon, and that’s because Sally’s sister told him.
The thought of Sally causes a bitter taste to coat my mouth. I’m equally confused and frustrated about the whole thing, but she made it perfectly clear that she didn’t want me around. I haven’t even seen her since.
“Sure,” I say halfheartedly.
I wish I could say I was paying attention as Piper and Casey walk out wearing an assortment of random clothes. But now I’m just thinking of how cute Sally would be trying on these clothes.
She loves crop tops and skirts. There’s an entire rack of pastel-colored skirts. I remember the blush that would creep on her cheeks any time I would buy her anything.
She doesn’t want you, dude. Stop thinking about her.
“Ollie,” Casey snaps, which brings my attention to them. “You’re gonna bruise our hot-girl egos by not paying attention.”
Casey is going for more of a biker look, and Piper seems to be going for a prep look, maybe. She has a jean skirt and a white button-up blouse.
“Sorry, ladies.” I give my best smile, but Casey continues to frown at me. “You both look great.”
“No one’s forcing you to be here, Ollie,” Piper brings up.
“I know.” I try again to smile. “I want to hang out with you guys. It’s just been a rough week already.”
Piper and Casey exchange a look before plopping down on both sides of me on the couch.
Casey speaks first. “Unfortunately, we’re only halfway through the week.”
“That sounds like the kind of negativity I don’t need,” I quip back with a sarcastic smirk.
Piper is about to chime in when my phone rings and I see the same unknown number that says it’s my mom.
“Gotta take this.” I don’t wait for their replies before walking out of the store and accepting the call. “Can I help—”
“Oliver.” My heart stills.
She sounds the same as she did ten years ago despite the edge that coats my name. I hear her calling my name, saying dinner is ready or to stop tracking mud into the shack.
“How did you get my number?” I didn’t have a phone when she left.
A defeated sigh comes through the line. “Your father gave me your info.”
That causes a laugh to come out. So, he had the time to tell my mom about me but didn’t have time to call at all. He really doesn’t care anymore. I’m not his legal issue anymore.
I’m not her issue anymore, either.
“How are you?” She can’t be asking me that after ten years of silence. I don’t even think I got a card from her. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you.”
“Oh, really,” I bite out.
“Oliver, I’m sorry,” she says with genuine regret.
“Why are you calling now?” I say a bit too loudly as an older lady gives me a glare. I fight the urge to glare back, but I make my way over to my Jeep and get in.
Silence rolls over the conversation. “I wanted to see if you were open to meeting.”
“You’re in Alliance?” I ask, my voice strained with accusation. After all this time, she’s here.
“Actually, I’m in Lansing.”
Another laugh comes out. This one tastes of acid. She wants me to make the effort to see her after ten years, and she can’t even come here.
“I know it’s asking a lot, but there’s someone I want you to meet,” Mom says quickly because she can probably tell I’m a second from hanging up on her.
“I’m not meeting a new boyfriend—”
“I want you to meet your brother.”
My what?
I halt for a second. All my blood turns to ice and freezes my body despite the heat.
“Oliver, are you there?” she pleads desperately. “I know this is a lot, but now that you’re a legal adult and don’t need your father, I figured now was as good a time as any.”
If she was waiting for me to be eighteen, she could have told me this eight months ago, but now she’s bombarding me with all of this during a really shitty week.
“I can’t.”
“Ollie—”
“Don’t you dare!” I growl. She doesn’t get to call me that again.
“Please take some time to think about it, okay?”
“Fine,” I say, mostly to end this conversation. “I have to go.”
“Okay, honey. Good—”
Her voice cuts when I end the call. I lean forward, resting my head on the car steering wheel.
A brother.
I have a brother that I had no idea about.
Why now? Why this week? Why do I want to call Sally right now and vent to her about this when the girl doesn’t even want me?
I wish I could run away. Alliance runs in my veins, so I know I will come back.
My friends will come back and settle down here. Karena and Daisy are here. The ladies at the pet shelter always stock the fridge with breakfast food because they’re worried I won’t eat enough to get bigger and stronger. The library that nurtured my love for the ocean is here.
This city is also full of memories of Simon.
I could take that leap of faith and buy the van I’ve been eyeing for the past eight months. That’s why I’ve been saving up half of my income each month.
If my end goal is to travel, which is risky in its own right, shouldn’t I take that step? But something is holding me back.
Regrets maybe. I don’t want to go on this journey with any doubt in my mind, and I hate to admit it, but some of that doubt stems from my mom. I always had this childish thought that she would just show up. Now she's giving me a chance to see her again.
Without a second thought, I take out my phone and text her that I’ll be there in a couple of hours. Not even five seconds later, she sends me her location with a thank you.
I send a quick text to the girls before throwing the car in drive and driving off.
Or at least I would if the sudden flash of blonde hair hadn’t come into view right in front of my car.
Slamming on the brakes, my Jeep stops just short of running her over. Her head swipes to the side, laced with shock before our gaze meets.
Sally fills my eyes. I should ask if she’s okay, but my head races with too many thoughts to count. This already bad day is now worse.
“Oliver, are you okay?” A knock comes at my driver’s side window.
When the fudge did Sally move? I don’t even move when she asks me again, and before I can actually react, my car door is pulled open, revealing her whole body.
“Hey.” She sounds concerned. “Are you okay?”
Why is she asking if I’m okay? I nearly ran her over because I was spending too much time thinking and not enough time watching where I was driving.
It isn’t until her eyes drag over my body and land on the steering wheel that I realize the death grip I have on my poor car.
I give her a quick once over, seeing no hint of damage. Instant relief filters through my blood.
“Hey,” my voice is gravelly. “Sorry about that. I have a lot on my mind.”
She looks like she’s lost in thought for a second before meeting my eyes again. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Yes.
No.
Why is this damn girl so hot and cold? How can she look at me with such concern but toss me aside like I no longer exist?
“I got a call from my mom. She wants to meet up,” I say, trying to choke down the acid that comes up with the thought. “Apparently, I have a brother.”
Her mouth falls open after that. She has the same expression as I did when I first heard the news.
“I should get going,” I say.
“Are you sure you shouldn’t breathe a little?”
“What do you mean?” She points to my still-white knuckles around the steering wheel.
Almost subconsciously, I let out a breath. The world stops spinning for a second, and it’s just me and her.
“Will you come with me?” The question comes out before I can think.
Sally’s eyes go wide. “Umm…”
“Shit,” I mutter. “Sorry, that came out wrong. Never mind.”
Why the eff would I ask her that?
Because you were spiraling a second ago, and now, because of her, you aren’t.
Suddenly, the door on my driver’s side opens, and Sally pulls herself inside and clicks her seatbelt.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Well, I can’t let you drive like this because you might actually hit someone.” She gives me a soft smile.
Regret washes over me, “Sorry about that.”
“So, while we drive, you can talk my ear off. Ella tells me I’m a superb listener.”
I raise my brow at her. “You are really wanting to come with me to meet my mom.”