Chapter Forty-Two – Rory
“Can you watch the food for me, Matt?”
Turning away from the stove and setting the spoon aside, Mattie frowned at Rory. “We’re not halfway done.”
True, but nearly an hour had passed since he’d gotten DeLuca’s call. He wasn’t even sure if Bash was still at the meeting. He hoped Mom kept Bash entertained and found the answers to all her questions. But Rory needed to talk to Bash himself. He needed to find out about Molly once and for all.
“I have something to do.”
Mattie glanced around the messy kitchen.
The sink overflowed with cutting boards, knives, mixing bowls, vegetable peelings and meat scraps.
Rory had chosen rarely used plates and glasses and brought them from the dish closet.
They were on the island, waiting for Mattie to wash them.
She’d refused. Rory left them there, hoping she’d change her mind.
“Yeah, help me with the cooking and cleaning. This was your menu.”
Spinach stuffed pork tenderloin, basmati rice with mushroom chutney, grilled broccolini and charred lemon, a big salad, and huckleberries with fresh cream.
Luckily, Mom had gone shopping Friday so they had all kinds of food to choose from.
After talking to DeLuca last week, Rory had come up with the plan that he and Mattie cook today so Mom wouldn’t have to, finding the perfect recipes and making sure she bought what he needed.
It was as easy as going with her and pointing out what he craved.
She’d given the go-ahead for Rory and Mattie to cook though she had no idea it would be so extravagant.
“I wanted to prepare a simpler meal.”
“Since when is Mom simple?” Rory scoffed, frustrated that he wasted time arguing with his little sister.
She sniffed but didn’t dispute him. “Where are you going?”
“I have an errand to run,” he said, refusing to draw her into the drama, especially if Bash was there. He didn’t want him setting eyes on her. “I’ll be as quick as possible. I promise.”
“Fine. Just hurry back.”
He hugged her, kissing her cheek when she hugged him back. “Call Harley. She might enjoy helping you.”
“Her play is Friday. She had to go to school for a final run-through or fitting. I can’t remember which, since this coming week will be insane for her.”
“How is she?”
“Different.”
“I won’t be long, Matt,” he promised again, kissed her cheek, and headed to the clubhouse to ask one of the guys for a ride.
As he walked through the forest, Rory thought Harley’s problems superseded Uncle Mort’s marital issues. He didn’t blame Mattie for the lapse in judgment. Dad had made her so self-conscious. She second-guessed everything. But Grant? That fuckhead was twenty-two.
CJ had tried to make contact with Harley. She rejected his calls or didn’t answer his texts. Somehow, she avoided Rory and the Triplets at school. Ryan and Devon had reached a turning point with Ryan not talking and Devon backing him up.
Rory had been on edge about the meeting and whether Bash returned Molly. He hadn’t been able to focus on much else these past days, but today was Eureka! Soon, he’d know if his shot in the dark worked.
Then, he could focus on what Mattie said about Harley.
As he passed the log cabin, the door opened, and Ryan walked out. Rory lowkey liked the peacoat and knit hat he wore. He’d have to look the pieces up online and purchase them for himself.
“Where are you off to so early, cuckhead?” Ryan smiled at his own stupid play on words.
Rory flipped him off and continued walking.
“Wait!”
“Fuck off, Ryan.”
“I’m sorry, okay?”
Rory slowed down but didn’t completely halt. Ryan caught up to him, though.
“Where are you going?”
“Somewhere,” Rory said, having zero intentions of sharing. At least not until he knew which way the wind was blowing. “Where are you going?”
“For a walk.” He stopped and pointed in the direction they’d come. “That way.”
Rory paused and shook his head. “I’d say not. Unless you’re directionally challenged, fuckface.”
“Is that even a thing?”
“Fuck, probably. Who knows? It doesn’t matter.”
“What’s the matter?” Rory asked suspiciously.
Ryan looked…off. He sounded off.
“In a few days, it’ll be three months that she’s gone.”
“Who? Molly?”
“Yeah,” Ryan said, sighing. “I-I miss her. I wish things were different.”
“You wish you’d been different?”
Ryan shrugged. “Something like that.”
“I understand.”
Bowing his head, Ryan shoved his hands in his pockets and kicked at small branches, laying on the forest floor. “I’ve been thinking about talking to Outlaw.”
“About?”
“Everything. Anything. Nothing. I don’t know.”
“Molly?”
“I know Bash is in town,” Ryan said. “Who doesn’t? The entire club knows Aunt Kendall is meeting with him today. My dad, your dad, and Harley’s dad rode out a couple of hours ago.”
Fuck!
“I was thinking about trying to talk to Bash. See if he’s changed his mind about anything—”
“I have to go, Ryan.”
Rory hated to be an asshole, but he didn’t have the fucking time to listen.
“Right,” Ryan said. “Go. I didn’t mean to hold you up. We can talk later.”
“Yeah. Later.” Turning, Rory sprinted away, praying he wasn’t too late.
If Dad was at Mom’s office, disaster was heading their way.