Finally, Jace stuck his fingers into mouth and whistled to end the thing.
He wiped blood off his mouth and pointed at Nero. “We aren’t done.”
“I’m still standing,” Nero said. “You’re backing away.”
I lunged for Joey and got his shirt. “I’ll keep this one to myself.”
Two of the other guys came running toward me.
Paxton and Turner joined me.
“That’s it,” Nero ordered to keep the fighting from starting up again.
I let Joey go and backed away with Turner’s arm across my chest.
“You’re fucking crazy today,” Turner said to me.
“I’m just getting started,” I said to Turner.
“Let them go,” Nero said. “And we are far from done.”
The two groups broke apart for good.
Joey had gotten a couple shots at me but nothing worth writing home about. My right cheek stung but pain would always go away. Or get replaced by a different version of pain.
“Should I ask?” I asked Nero.
“Old bones getting dug up,” Nero said.
“Spooky shit,” Paxton said.
“Next time, bring one of your socks,” I said. “Just swing that fucker at them and they’ll run.”
Paxton fake laughed and waved his middle finger at me.
“Jace is a pussy,” Lars said.
“He’s a big boy,” I said.
“I’m bigger,” Lars growled.
“His cousin is the one we want to get to,” Nero said. “But we’re trying to keep it cool for HCH. I’ve got respect for Ryder. We go way back.”
“Nero used to be a jock,” Turner said.
“Get the fuck out of here,” I said. “Yeah?”
“Who do you think taught Ryder how to play?” Nero said. “That was a different life though.”
“What did Jace do? Sleep with your girlfriend?”
“That’s exactly what that fucker did,” Nero said.
“Oh, shit, man. I was just kidding. Damn.”
“Long time ago,” Paxton said.
“The heart never forgets,” Nero said.
“Even though she’s run through three different football teams now,” Turner said.
Nero shrugged his shoulders. “Show me a good girl and I’m like ice… show me something filthy and sleeping around and I’m in love. It’s a curse.”
I laughed. “It’s something.”
“Thanks for helping out,” Nero said.
“I needed it,” I said.
Nero and I hugged. “Everything good?”
“Not really,” I said.
“Your boys giving you problems?” Nero asked.
“Those are my two targets,” Lars said.
“Simon and Darius?” I asked. I laughed. “They’re gone. No worries about them.”
“Okay,” Nero said. “That’s good. You coming back our way to raise a little more hell?”
“Not tonight,” I said. “Have something else going on.”
“Family time,” Paxton said. “Put the baby to bed and take the baby mama to bed. Fuck, that’s sweet.”
“Right,” I said.
I walked back to my car and left.
I needed to go home. I also needed to get to Nova. I needed Rory to leave again. For good. And leave Cecily behind. So I could take her to Cherry’s and live the life I wanted.
As I cruised down one of the many back roads that made Hidden so… hidden… I saw a SUV pulled to the side of the road. With the driver’s door open. And then I saw something that really made me go humph out loud.
Two guys were beating the hell out of Wes.
* * *
There was a second or two that I considered driving up to the beat down and rolling down my window and saying something to Wes. Maybe offer him some well wishes.
Get better soon, motherfucker!
And then just take off.
But I wasn’t done fighting yet.
That little spat with Joey only got me more pissed off.
I pulled my car right over and got out and ran along the side of the road.
The two guys were dressed all in black, with their hoodies pulled up. They did everything they could to cover themselves, their heads and faces.
It could have been anyone but I didn’t care.
When I started to run toward them, there was no stopping me.
With just a few steps to go, I called out HEY! as loud as I could.
They both looked at me.
They were wearing sunglasses and had something silver looking on their face. Paint or makeup or something.
I dove through the air, my arms out, screaming as loud as I could as I tackled them both down to the ground.
I started swinging without a care in the world.
“Let’s go!” I yelled as I punched one of them in the face.
The other one kicked me in the ribs and I lost my breath for a second.
I had given Wes enough time to get back to his feet and he took care of that guy.
In a matter of a couple seconds, Wes and I had taken control of the fight.
When the two guys realized it, the managed to break away from us and ran across the road and kept going.
I took two steps and Wes grabbed my shoulder to stop me.
I spun around and put my fist to his chin. “I wasn’t done.”
“That was Nick and Dean,” Wes said. He turned his head and spit blood. “Fuckers.”
“What?” I asked. I looked back but they were gone. I then heard the sound of the street ride engines coming to life and speeding away.
“They still blame me for Ryland,” Wes said. “They got me this time.”
“Are you kidding me?” I asked. “They said they were gone. Keeping their distance.”
“Guess not,” Wes said.
“How’d they set this up?”
“They were in the road,” Wes said. “Nick pretended to be hurt. So I stopped. I got out and Dean came after me. Only lasted a couple minutes until you showed up.” Wes looked me in the eyes. “Thanks by the way.”
“Yeah,” I said. “I’m not going to lie to you, man. I had every intention of driving by. Yelling something to you. But I was in the mood to fight.”
“I get it,” Wes said. “I deserve it.”
“We all deserve what we get,” I said.
Wes took a deep breath. He wiped blood off his face. “Need a smoke?”
“Yeah, sure,” I said.
Wes lit up one of his cigarettes and I lit up one of mine.
We both leaned against Wes’s SUV and smoked together.
“Those two hate you, huh?” I asked.
“Yeah,” Wes said. “That war went deep. Your brother… and his parents…”
“I know,” I said. “All about money and land.”
“What about you? You in on the family trade?”
“I don’t give a shit about you or your family, Wes,” I said. “I don’t give a shit about the garage. Your grandfather. Whatever the fuck Jett is. And I certainly don’t care about the land.”
“Then what are you still doing around here?” Wes asked. “I mean, be real, Elijah. You showed up to figure something out about Ryland and you never did. Because there is no answer. He was an asshole who got what he had coming. And now you’ve got another girl here and a baby.”
“Hey, if it’s driving you that crazy, it’s worth staying then,” I said.
“Prick.”
“Does Aira know you’re out here getting your ass beat?” I asked. “I’d love to see the look on her face when she hears it was me who saved you.”
“I’ll stretch the truth,” Wes said.
I laughed. “That’s good. I like that.”
“So what the fuck are you doing?” Wes asked. “Because every time I turn around, Aira’s helping Nova.”
“Am I cock blocking you?” I asked.
“Maybe.”
I laughed again. “You know why I’m here. Wh
y I’m not leaving.”
“With another girl and a baby.”
“You don’t know a thing about it.”
Wes looked at me. “You really didn’t know?”
“No fucking clue, Wes,” I said.
“Shit,” he said. “And she’s all over it, huh?”
“All over it,” I said. “Rory thinks we’re going to be this happy family. And the worst fucking part is that Nova understands it. She’s okay with it.”
“She’s not okay at all,” Wes said. “Are you fucking stupid?”
“Call me stupid again and I’ll put you back in the middle of the road. I meant that she is willing to let herself be hurt for the sake of the baby. A baby that’s not even hers.”
“Sounds like one worth fighting for,” Wes said. He flicked his cigarette into the road.
“Which is why I haven’t left,” I said. “Which is why I can’t leave, Wes. No matter what happens here. If I leave every bridge burning and this town in nothing but rubble, as long as I get to see Nova, it’s worth it.”
“That’s pussy talk,” Wes said. “Don’t give me that poetic bullshit. I don’t wear panties.”
“You sure about that?” I asked.
“Fuck off, Elijah,” he said.
I finished my cigarette and pushed away from his SUV.
“Hey,” I said. “I don’t want to know more than I should… but that other surfer guy… Dex, right? Is he good for her?”
Wes grinned ear to ear. “He’s amazing. Tall. Good looking. Great family. Lots of money. Makes her laugh. Pushes her to the edge but never over it. When he texts, she answers really fast too. Anything she wants in life, it’s hers because of him. And we’re best friends. Dex and I? Fuck. I’d defend him in a fight anytime.”
Wes tried to climb into his SUV and I grabbed the door.
He was halfway on his seat and he stared at me.
“You’re a fucking prick, Wes,” I said.
“But I know how to hit you harder than I ever could with a fist,” he said.
I swallowed hard. “I’m not asking for the sake of my feelings or even hers. I’m asking because of everything she’s been through. And, yeah, everything I’ve done to her. All I care about is Nova being happy.”
“Tell you what, Elijah, ask her yourself.”
“I will,” I said.
I backed away and Wes climbed back out of the SUV.
I curled my hands into fists.
When I heard the sound of a horn beeping, I turned my head.
Aira and Nova were here.
Chapter 14
Nova
Aira started to freak out when Wes didn’t show up. She didn’t like that he got some kind of text message and he acted weird about needing to leave for a few minutes. Part of me wondered if Aira was worried that Wes was fooling around behind her back. Which seemed impossible to imagine. But whatever Aira was thinking, it was enough that we ended up in her car, trying to find Wes.
When he finally texted her to tell her where he was and that he was okay, that only seemed to get her more irritated. Because it was some random back road in Hidden.
I didn’t say it but all I could think about was Ryland.
Yeah, he had gotten shot inside his house, but he had taken his last breath on a back road.
And if I was thinking about Ryland, then I was thinking about-
“Elijah.”
I gasped. “What?”
Aira pointed. “Elijah’s here. Fuck. Look at them. They fought again!”
I wasn’t focused on much of anything, which was dangerous because I was the one driving.
At least not until I saw Wes and Elijah standing next to one another in the middle of the road. Wes’s face looked much worse than Elijah’s. But it was pretty obvious they had been fighting. Again.
My heart pounded inside my chest.
What fucking caused it now?
There was a million reasons why.
Over me. Over Ryland. Over Dex.
Elijah wanting answers that Wes would never give him. Partly because Wes liked me (and obviously loved Aira) but more so to just fuck with Elijah. Wes could say anything he wanted about me or Dex or whatever.
To be fair, I had spent more time with Wes than Elijah thanks to everything turning to shit around me.
I stopped the car in the middle of the road and Aira jumped out.
I had no choice really but to follow her.
Half my body demanded I stay in the car and just play with my phone. Keep that cold shoulder to Elijah nice and icy. The other half of my body just needed to be near him.
Aira ran up to Wes and shoved him back.
Then she set her sights on Elijah and pointed.
Elijah showed his hands. “We didn’t do this to each other.”
“Bullshit,” Aira yelled.
“Darling, I swear on it,” Wes said. “I got jumped by Nick and Dean.”
“You… what?” Aira asked.
“They set it up,” Wes said. “They were, uh, getting me pretty good too. Then Elijah drove by and helped me out.”
“Why were you driving by?” Aira asked. “You really think I’m supposed to believe you were a concerned citizen here? Those two were your brother’s best friends. And they just suddenly show up to beat up Wes? And you just suddenly show up to help?”
“What do you think he did then?” I asked.
Aira set her sights on me. “Oh, no. Don’t do that, Nova. Don’t just start sticking up for him.”
“I’m not,” I said.
“Nobody needs to stick up for anyone,” Wes said. “When Elijah showed up, he was already a little roughed up himself.”
“And you trust him?” Aira asked.
Wes looked at Elijah. “No. I don’t think I’ll ever trust him. But in this situation, it is what it is.”
“Aren’t you going to say anything?” Aira yelled at Elijah.
He kept his mouth shut and slapped a cocky grin on his face.
That pissed Aira off even more.
Elijah knew it too.
Giving her the silent treatment.
Kind of like what he did to me at the beach when he saw me with Dex.
Except he did eventually talk. Right before leaving.
“I’m good here,” Wes said. “I’ll deal with Nick and Dean on my own. I’ll talk to Leo, Flynn, and the others. They still blame me for Ryland. That’s what they kept saying. So something is still lingering there.”
“Yeah, there is something lingering,” Aira said. She looked at Elijah. “And he won’t fucking leave.”
Elijah folded his arms and still refused to say a word.
He was acting like a baby.
But that was Elijah.
“I was worried about you,” Aira said to Wes.
He wrapped his arms around her. “I love when you worry about me, darling.”
“I don’t. Jerk.”
“Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
Aira looked back at me.
“Go,” I said to her. “I drove here. I can drive back.”
“Let us follow you,” Wes offered.
My eyes moved from Wes to Elijah. Back to Wes.
“Just do your thing,” I said. “I’m fine.”
“Oh, good,” Wes said. “We can go have some worried, angry fool around time.”
Aira slapped her hand to Wes’s face. “Use your hand for that.”
Aira walked around Wes’s SUV and when Wes got into the driver’s seat, he hung halfway out of the window.
I looked at him again. “I’m sure.”
He nodded.
He looked back at Elijah. “I could have handled that on my own. If I needed help, I would have asked for it.”
I shook my head at Wes as he laughed and drove away. He swerved around my car that was still sitting in the middle of the road and took off.
“I guess I’ll go too then,” I said to Elijah.
“Why?” Elijah asked.
“So you do
know how to talk.”
“Nothing to say to them,” he said.
“But yet you helped Wes?”
“Nope. I set it all up. Remember?”
“Elijah…”
“Do what you need to do, babe,” he said. “I’ll follow you so you get home safe. Or to the beach. Or to Dex’s place. Whatever the plan is.”
Elijah turned and walked away.
I rolled my eyes and knew I was going to chase after him. Which was the pathetic move to make.
But I did it anyway.
“Are you jealous?” I asked, laughing.
That was the reason I chased him down. To see the jealous look on his face. To see this big, tough bad boy ready to crumble because I had surfed with someone else.
Elijah stopped fast and spun around.
I crashed into him and jumped back.
“What?” he asked. “What do you want me to say, babe? Jealous? You were with someone else. We didn’t even break up, Nova. I don’t know what we are, but I didn’t break up with you. I know everything is fucked up, but you know where my heart is. You were all right with everything. What happened with Rory. That was wrong. But before you took off on me, I wanted to explain it. Not that explaining it makes it right, but the situation, babe. I had no idea a baby girl was going to show up. My head is trying to grasp the fact that my brother was murdered. And I thought I was next. Then I found you and fell right back in love with you. Which only goddamn proved I never fell out of love with you. And the story just continues from there. You know it. You’re living it. And so am I.”
“So what? You just give up? You had a chance to beat the hell out of Dex on the beach and you let him walk away. And now you’re helping Wes? And now you’re jealous? Who are you?”
“The same as always, babe,” Elijah said. “I know what I want. And I know what you’ve been through and how it all looks. There’s no one word answer to fix everything.”
“And that’s it?” I asked. “We’re done?”
“I never broke up with you, babe.”
“I never broke up with you, babe,” I threw back at him.
“So that means we’re still together, babe,” he said.
“I guess it does, babe,” I said, anger rising up from the pit of my stomach.
“So that means I do this, babe,” Elijah said as he brought his hands to my face.
HIDDEN CREEK CRY: a hidden creek high noval Page 16
