Chapter 8
Wesley
I’m sitting around our kitchen table with my parents, my sister, Blake, Sierra, and Caden, having just finished a late dinner.
We started working as soon as we got home from church.
We usually try to take it easy on Sundays, just do what we absolutely have to, but I didn’t today.
I kept myself busy; working helps clear my head.
The smell of warm chocolate chip cookies swirls in from the kitchen and Mom sets the tray down on the table in front of us. “They’re hot yet. Be careful,” she warns.
Just as I reach for one, my phone rings.
The screen lights up with a picture of Addison, one she set as her profile three years ago. It’s a picture of her sitting with one of our calves in the barn, trying to give it a kiss but it had licked her face instead. I don’t think I’ll ever change it.
I get a lump in my throat, and my hands are a little clammy. She never calls, especially out of the blue like this. I hold my breath, it’s gotta be about what I told Cody. If I know him well enough, I know he didn’t waste a second bringing it up to her.
“Hey.” I keep my voice as casual as I can.
“Wesley Robert Stettler!” she shouts.
Yikes, she full-named me? I’m toast.
The legs of my chair scrape quickly across the floor, turning a few heads. I flash everyone a light smile in an attempt to act as though everything’s fine. But really, my stomach is churning.
“Addison Claire,” I say playfully. “What’s going on, my dear?”
“Oh, don’t play games! Why are you tattletaling to my brothers?!” she hollers.
Escaping out to the front porch, in my socks, the screen door slams behind me.
“It was just Cody. If he told the rest, that’s not my fault.”
“But why?! Why are you—”
“Addison,” I say as I feel my nerves tighten.
“You don’t deserve a guy like that. He has zero respect for you, he doesn’t care, and he doesn’t know you like—” I bite my tongue.
Because what’s on the end of that sentence is a can of worms I am not opening.
I can’t bring myself and my feelings for her into this.
“Like what?”
“Nothing,” I lie.
I want to tell her. I want to point out so badly that he doesn’t know her like I do. I want to tell her he never will either. But…I can’t. I won’t put her in that situation, I won’t make her feel like she has to choose. I’ve carried this secret this long, I can deal.
“Nobody is perfect, Wes. I’m not just going to give up on a relationship because things get hard. He wants to work on things and so do I. And I need to work on things too…it’s not just him.”
“Okay. Well, then good. Great,” I force out.
“Don’t treat me like some immature little girl again,” she snaps and hangs up.
I’m dumbfounded, to say the least. I stare out across the field for a second, replaying the conversation we just had and how harshly it ended.
The muffled sound of Caden laughing pulls me from my thoughts.
I didn’t realize the windows were open. There’s a good chance everyone just heard everything I said to her.
I slip my phone back in my pocket and walk back inside.
Sierra is the first to look my way. “She okay?” she asks, bouncing Caden on her knee. Everyone else looks now too, waiting.
I nod my head and sit back down. “Yeah, she’s fine.
Just…having a day.” I let out a lighthearted laugh, knowing I’m not lying.
I can’t tell if they actually buy it or not.
As the conversations resume, I pick up a cookie that’s still warm, taking a bite like it’s going to fix the unsettled pit in my stomach.
I’m upset that she’s upset with me. Friends don’t get into fights like this.
At least, I didn’t think they were supposed to.
If she wasn’t in a relationship with this guy, everything between us would be fine.
But lately it’s felt strained, as if there’s something standing in the way.
Like a stupid boyfriend. I don’t even want to know what it would be like if roles were reversed. Addison would hate her, I know that.
* * *
Stepping outside into the fifty-degree air, it’s still for a moment.
The sun is just beginning to peek over the hill as I start towards the barn, my phone buzzing before I even reach the door.
My gut says it’s Blake, because I don’t know who else it would be at this hour.
I glance across the way; his house lights are on but that doesn’t exactly tell me anything.
Seeing it’s Leonard, Addison’s dad, I answer quickly. Him calling is not usually a good sign.
“Hello?”
“You got a heifer out.”
“What? Where?”
“Standing in my front yard.” He chuckles.
“Are you kidding me?” I huff. “I bet it’s Sutton. That heifer, she’s a pain in my ass.”
Leonard’s laugh builds. “I can help if you need a hand.”
“Nah, we’ll be good. Thanks though.”
Shoving my phone in my pocket, I move quickly, grabbing pliers, extra wire, wire connectors, and a fence crimper.
I toss them in the back of the Gator. The side door screeches open, and when I glance over my shoulder, I see Blake.
“We got a heifer out,” I tell him.
“Where at?” he asks, matching my speed now. He grabs a bucket of feed and sets that in the back with the rest of the stuff.
“Up in the Jennings’ front yard,” I grumble.
“Oh damn. Sorry, I’m running behind today. Caden was up last night with a fever; Sierra was all worked up.”
“He good now?” I ask as I ram open the garage door to get out.
“Yeah, she got it down to 101. Kid was taking a bath at 2 a.m.” Blake laughs, climbing up on a four-wheeler. I can tell he didn’t sleep much last night; his eyes are sunken in and dark underneath.
“Least it worked.” I shrug.
We get up the Jennings’ lane, the main house barely lit, but there’s no sign of Sutton. Blake drives up along one side of the house and I take the other.
Then I see Addison out back, wearing her pajama pants with muck boots pulled over top, a Carhartt sweatshirt, and her hair thrown up in a ponytail, coaxing Sutton back towards our property with a large bowl of who-knows-what, and I can’t help but smile for a second.
“Addie, just be care—”
“I got her, Wes,” she insists, with a little snark in her tone. She’s still not very happy with me, I guess.
It’s been a few days since our little argument, or whatever you want to call it.
I really don’t think I did anything wrong.
I voiced my concern to Cody because I felt like he’d have a better chance at getting through to her than I would.
I’m starting to think maybe I am too far into her business.
Maybe I need to give them some space, let them figure out problems on their own rather than get in the way of it all.
Because after trying to help and getting nowhere but digging myself into a bigger hole, I’m scared I won’t be able to get out of it.
“Keep going,” Addie tells her.
Blake walks around the right side of them and I take the left. We’re closing in on the fence line now.
“Wonder how long she’s been out,” Blake says.
“Hard to say.”
In another ten yards, we reach the fence, and Sutton crosses through willingly and doesn’t look back.
“That sucker really busted it up though. Good Lord,” Blake says.
Addison looks at Blake. “Think you guys got it from here?” she jokes.
“We’ll let you know.” He laughs.
She looks over at me, and I give her a soft smile and thank her. Without another word, she heads back towards her house. I watch her ponytail swing back and forth with every step.
“She’s not like most girls,” Blake points out.
I sigh. “Don’t I know it…” I mutter.
Blake has yet to ask about me and Addison, if there’s anything going on.
I mean, he knows she’s with Brantley, but I often wonder if he picks up on anything when he sees us interact.
Or if Sierra ever mentions anything. She and Addison are well acquainted, with Addison babysitting Caden and all.
I wonder if Sierra’s asked her about us.