Chapter Twenty-Four #2
I know Hollie is mad at me, but there is no way I’m breaking things off with her. ‘And what if I love her? What if she’s it for me?’
He doesn’t answer straight away. ‘Then, like I said. I’ll back you. One hundred per cent.’
We sit in silence for another moment. My bloodied knuckles throb.
‘How do I know if I love her?’ I ask quietly.
Echo shakes his head, rolls his eyes. He thinks about it for a moment. ‘You really don’t know nothin’ about women, do you?’
I stare at him, then shrug in response.
Echo blows out his cheeks. ‘Imagine you’re at a crossroads.
On the one side, you see a custom-built hog, a dragster, one hundred ten horsepower, twelve fifty cc, aluminium body panels, twenty-three-inch wheels with Vegas cut rims, low suspension, black as night.
Sweetest ride you ever saw. On the other side is Hollie Palmer. Which road do you go down?’
‘The one where Hollie is,’ I say, and I don’t drop a beat.
Echo stares at me, as though wondering if I’m being serious. Then he bursts into laughter that gurgles up from his chest. ‘Who am I kidding? You’d prolly choose some Japanese superbike anyways.’
I picture my ideal ride. ‘Nah. Still Hollie. I just might pause to check out the superbike first, then go get my girl.’
A smile tugs at his lips. He hammers a fist into his bent knee. ‘Congratulations, AJ You finally became a man. Sounds to me like you have your answer.’
My face falls. Does this mean I’m in love? Is this why I hate it when I’m not with her?
‘Does she love you?’ Echo asks, looking weirdly relaxed compared to a couple minutes ago.
Fear grips me. My knuckles straight up hurt. What if the answer is no?
‘I mean… we didn’t say so yet. Maybe. I dunno, I didn’t ask.’
‘Then maybe you try telling her first.’
This conversation is making my gut churn. I don’t catch feelings. This wasn’t supposed to happen.
‘Me and Hollie being a thing. Is that really gonna mess things up for you?’ I ask.
He sobers, then offers me a shrug. ‘Won’t change our respective positions. But it’s gonna piss the mayor off to high heaven when she finds out about the two of you.’
‘So, she don’t have to find out.’
He snorts. ‘And how long’s that gonna last, Romeo?’
‘We’ll be careful. Keep it on the DL.’
Echo sighs heavily. Massages the back of his neck with one hand.
‘I wasn’t nice to her,’ I say. ‘In high school. We used to call her Jenny English to her face. We used to prank her all the time. Chase, mainly, but I sat back and I let it happen. Tonight, she found out from Chase that I was there when he locked her inside this supply closet alone one time. It was hours before anyone came to her rescue. I think that’s why she went home. ’
I feel my cheeks warm when Echo goes back to eyeballing me.
‘Do you blame her?’ he asks.
I lift the ice pack from my knuckles and glance underneath. They’re swollen and turning purple. I can’t move my fingers. And I’m mad at myself for my past behavior.
I raise my eyes to Echo. He’s more of a father figure to me than my deadbeat dad ever was. He’s given me discipline and a better outlook on life, plus a roof over my head. And he’s right. I gotta take responsibility for my actions.
‘You say I know nothing about women. So… what’s your advice… for how I should fix things with Hollie?’
Echo leans forward in his chair and rests his elbows on his knees. Then he strokes his mustache with big fingers. ‘If you love her, and you want her forgiveness… well then, boy, you’d best get on your knees and beg for a second chance.’ He looks me up and down. ‘But maybe clean yourself up first.’
Without warning, the door bursts open. Lester comes into the room.
‘What’s goin’ on?’ Echo asks.
‘Saint Luke is here.’
‘What’s that piece of shit want now?’ Echo says.
‘’Nother eviction notice, looks like.’
Echo gets to his feet. ‘Jesus Christ.’
I get up when Echo does, following him to the outside porch.
I think I might have broken a rib too. The air is thick like soup, the cicadas so loud it’s almost deafening.
Sure enough, there’re three black and white patrol cars outside, all from the county sheriff’s office.
Three uniformed men stand at the bottom of the steps, holding up flashlights, sweat dripping down their temples.
‘Mr Salinger,’ Luke Saint greets Echo when he sees him. He’s wearing black body armor with the word Sheriff printed on it in big, white letters, the sheriff’s star pinned to his front.
‘Do I need to call my lawyer, Sheriff?’ Echo shoots back, remaining on the porch.
I squint into the beam of light. I see the sheriff holding up a piece of paper.
On it reads the words: TEXAS EVICTION NOTICE.
NOTICE TO QUIT. In smaller letters reads the words Legal document, together with the image of the Lone Star State flag, like the real life one hanging above our heads.
‘Latest Forcible Entry and Detainer for you,’ the sheriff says. ‘This time it’s serious, Mr Salinger.’
‘You’re starting to sound like a broken record, Sheriff. I believe you said that to me last time you were here, few months back, and look at us now.’
‘Judge signed it off today, Echo. We’ve been granted permission to clear the land if you refuse to leave.
Game’s up. You are on this land illegally.
You will be forcibly removed. You, and anybody else left in Rapture, have fourteen days to get off this property before my officers move in and remove you, with or without your consent. ’
I look toward Echo. Nobody ever talked about us being moved without our consent before.
‘Guess I’ll be calling my lawyer then,’ Echo says.
‘It’s done, Echo. I’m sorry. The decision is final. You lost.’
The sheriff hands the paper to one of his men, who climbs the steps, walks up to Echo and holds out the notice. Echo snatches it from his hands.
The flashlight is shined in my face as Saint Luke studies my bruised face and bloody knuckles with undisguised contempt.
‘Gentleman, please do not ignore this notice,’ the sheriff says plainly. ‘If you do, you will regret it. Accept your fate, and we can all move on.’
A few moments later, they leave.