by Green, Megan
“Benton Brooks!” I scream as I walk down each hallway on the manhunt for my best friend.
His eyes go wide when I finally find him bent over hammering away at who knows what. Placing the tool into his belt, he stands up and turns toward me. “What’s going on?”
My face feels hot and my tongue is in a worse state. Our pranks prior to this have been harmless and juvenile. But this? He’s gone too far. All I can see is red and my heart is pounding when I spit out, “Where the fuck is your brother right now? I’m going to kill him.”
I clench my hands into fists at my sides, but I know that isn’t going to be enough. I grab a screwdriver from one of my pockets and stare at Benton. My anger falling off of me in waves.
He runs up to me and wraps his hands around the one wielding my weapon and gently pulls it from my death grip. “Chill Monroe. What the hell is going on?”
I clench my teeth and tell him, “Your brother filled my croissant with wasabi.”
“What the fuck?”
Nodding my head, I continue ranting, “Did you tell him about my love for pistachio croissants? Because he had to have known it would be the one I would automatically reach for. Even Smith was eating one of the donuts and do you see him dying right now?”
Benton sticks my screwdriver in his tool belt and asks, “Are you going to be okay?”
This isn’t something that has happened to me before, but the heat has worn off almost completely. It was fast punch-you-in-the-face kind of heat, but it’s gone away almost as quickly as it appeared. So, I nod my head to let him know I’m fine, not trusting myself to continue screaming at him. He’s not my enemy, his brother is.
He wraps his arms around me in a tight hug, he was probably waiting for me to calm down, and says, “Go. I’ll talk to Barrett, but go home.”
Going home is the last thing I want to do. I want to find the man responsible for the horrible taste in my mouth and beat him to a bloody pulp. But I know that isn’t going to do me any good. Besides, I really don’t feel like going to jail right now.
Instead, I tell Benton thank you for letting me leave and I walk right back out front. As I slide into my car, I know what I have to do. Getting the rest of the day off allows me to finally do something I’ve been dreading for years.
* * *
Grabbing the box from the dresser, I immediately turn back around, and hop in my car. This is something I’ve been avoiding ever since I got here, but it’s also something I need to do.
It’s been many years since I’ve been back in Winchester, but some things you never forget. I jog across the parking lot and street before going into the woods. The Park Motel is a ways out of town so not many people come out this way often.
Leaves crunch under my feet and I let the sounds of the forest relax me. The closer I get to the water the higher my anxiety ramps up. I don’t know why it’s affecting me so much, but I guess this is going to be harder than I originally thought. I just focus on the breeze blowing through the trees around me and the birds chirping.
The noise from the creek makes its way up to me before I finally break through the trees and see it. The water is still flowing although a lot has dried up over the years. I remember when Benton and I used to come swimming here. It was a lot bigger back then, or maybe that’s because we were smaller.
I place the small shoebox on a boulder and open the top. “Hi Mom,” I say, looking down at the plastic baggie inside.
We didn’t have a whole lot of money when my mom died, but after selling what we did have that was worth value and scrounging up some money, all I could afford to do was get her cremated and I’ve been carrying her around ever since.
Growing up, we never talked about the what ifs and I had no idea what kind of burial, or not, she wanted. But there is one thing I always knew for sure, she loved Winchester like no other. She was born here and grew up here. I didn’t find that out until after she dragged me back here, but she said it was always her home.
I think that’s one of the reasons why we always had issues. She met my dad when she was sixteen years old. He swept her off her feet, knocked her up, and took off before she could even tell him. The part she never focused on was that what happened wasn’t anyone’s fault. He had just gotten out of boot camp and was visiting with a friend who was from Winchester. They were here a very brief period of time before they were sent overseas to The Gulf War.
Neither one of them came home.
I pick the bag up out of the box. I wish things had gone so differently for her. But mostly I wish they had been different for me. I look down at her remains as I step toward the creek bed and say, “I miss you, Mom. Every single day. We didn’t have the greatest relationship, but I hope wherever you are, you’re in a better place.”
The wind picks up hard and turns direction just as I flip the bag upside down. And what happens next is quite literally a shit storm. Instead of floating out to sea and mixing into the river water, my mom gives me her one last fuck you and completely drenches my body in her ashes. It’s in my mouth, up my nose, and I start coughing on the debris floating through the air.
Looking toward the sky, I shout, “Thanks for the goodbye, Mom. I always knew you were a real bitch, I guess I just never realized how much.”
“Sounds intense, should I go?”
I scream as I jump around, finding one of my new bosses standing there watching me. My hand flies up to where my heart feels like it is pounding right out of my chest. “You scared me half to death. Don’t creep up on someone like that when you’re in the woods.”
“What the hell happened to you?”
I run my hands down the front of my shirt and pants in an attempt to shake some ash off. “My mother has jokes, that’s what happened to me. What are you doing out here? I figured nobody knew about this place.”
“I was driving by and saw you step through the trees. Figured I’d investigate, see what you were doing. How did you know about this place?”
“Benton and I used to come here back in high school all the time. It was kind of like our place.” Ash Stone bends at the waist and laughs.
I don’t know what’s so funny, but rather than interrupt his fit I wait it out.
He suddenly stops laughing and looks up at me wiping at the corners of his eyes. “You know Barrett and I have been trying to figure out why Ben hired you. But it all makes complete sense now. I don’t get why he didn’t come out and tell us.”
What? I don’t even get what he’s talking about. “Tell you what?”
“That you’re fucking.”
My mouth falls open and I really want to slap him, but even though Ash isn’t my direct boss he still is part owner of BrookStone Partners. To insinuate that the only reason why I would be hired for this job is because I have to spread my legs is insulting. I guess there’s a reason why Barrett and Ash are best friends.
Before I get the chance to say anything he adds, “Sorry, that was crass. Having sex. Because we both know Benton Brooks doesn’t know what love is.”
“I’m sorry, what gives you the idea that I’m sleeping with him?”
Ash’s eyes go wide, and he sputters. “This was his frequent hook up spot in high school. If you weren’t sleeping together, then what were you doing here?”
My brain goes on a tailspin wondering if everyone thought we were doing it back in high school. Or if he was bringing girls here when we weren’t here. Not that I’m jealous, but we did say this was our place.
Tamping down any thoughts headed toward memory lane, I tell him the truth. “Benton and I have always been friends. We didn’t then, nor are we now sleeping together. If he brought other girls here, that’s none of my business. But, I can assure you I am very qualified for the job. All I’ve ever known is construction, and trust me, I’m damn good at my job.”
He throws his hands in the air and says, “Hey, sorry if I hit a nerve. I didn’t mean it.”
It’s definitely not the first time I’ve heard that line. I nod
my head and simply tell him, “Yeah, nobody ever does.”
Changing the subject, I wave my hands down my body to my wonderful disaster of an appearance, and I add, “I was attempting to spread my mother’s ashes. But the wind picked up and it had other plans.”
I walk toward him and add, “I think I’m going to take a shower and throw out these clothes.”
He cringes and nods his head in understanding. Grabbing my arm before I can walk away he says, “Sorry for what I said. It was rude and insulting. For what it’s worth, I hope you blow us away with the City Hall project.”
Me too.
Chapter Eight
Barrett
“What’s up, bro?” my baby sister, Bryce, shouts into the phone when I answer.
I stretch my arm away from my face, moving the speaker as far away from my ear as I can get it. “Where the hell are you, Bryce?” I shout toward it.
I hear her chuckle on the other end of the line. “The dining hall. It is lunchtime, you know.”
My eyes drift over to the clock. Ah, so it is.
“I wasn’t aware you went to school with a bunch of zoo animals,” I say, bringing the phone back to my ear, my finger pressing the volume button down a notch or ten in the process.
“Careful, bro. You’re starting to sound your age. Soon you’ll be out there running kids off your lawn with your cane.”
“You call me for a reason, sis?”
She sighs. “Not really. Lindsey had to go talk to one of her professors, and she’s the only one of my friends not in class right now. I didn’t want to sit here like a total loser and eat lunch by myself. Benton didn’t answer, so I figured I’d try you.”
“Gee, thanks. Glad to know I’m your last resort.”
“Oh pfft,” she scoffs, and I know she’s waving her hand in front of her. “You’re one of my favorite brothers, and you know it.”
“Considering you only have two…”
“So, listen,” she says, completely ignoring my comment. “My design professor looked over my portfolio this morning. She says I have a lot of talent.”
I’d gone back to finishing the note I’d been making when she called, but with that, I pause, the pen stilling in my hand. “Okay…”
“And I know how busy you’ve been trying to stay on top of everything there. Being the only designer on the team.”
I sigh. “Get to the point, Bryce.”
“Now hear me out,” she starts, and I immediately know where this is going. “I’ll have this whole summer off. I’m on track to graduate after next semester, and the only class I need isn’t available during the summer session. That means I’ll just be sitting around for three months with nothing to do.”
“Bryce, we’ve talked about this.”
“I know. But I just want you to think about it. I could help out. And it would be great on-the-job training.”
“Which I’ll be happy to give you. After you graduate.”
When Benton, Ash, and I had started this company, we never had any intention of adding any other partners. But then our little sister decided to follow in my footsteps and enrolled in design school. I knew her end game. She wanted in. And while I was completely fine bringing her in as a junior designer, and knew Ben would have no qualms about it, I wasn’t sure how Ash would react to the idea of bringing Bryce on as a fourth partner.
“Just promise me you’ll think about it,” she pleads, knowing full well there’s nothing I can deny her when she uses that tone on me.
I let out a deep breath. “Fine. I’ll think about it.”
She squeals in response. “Eeek. Thank you, Barrett. You’re the best brother ever. Okay, I better go. Love you.” She hangs up before I can even begin to form a goodbye.
After tossing my phone down on the table, I rub my eyes. There’s no way I’m going to get out of this one. Even if I tell her no, that there’s no way we can swing an internship this summer, she’ll just show up anyway. There’s no stopping my little sister once she gets an idea in her head.
I pick up the phone and text Benton.
Me: Lunch?
He texts back almost immediately.
Benton: Can’t get away today. But if you want to come out here, I can probably manage to sneak away for a few minutes.
I don’t really have time to take a long lunch break either, but I need to let Benton know about my conversation with Bryce and see if he has any ideas.
The fact that Monroe is out there has nothing to do with my decision to drive out to the job site.
Me: BBQ?
Benton: You know it. Get me my usual. And grab one for Monroe too. She’s been working her ass off all morning, and I know she plans to work straight through lunch. The damn girl is gonna pass out from exhaustion.
An involuntary smile passes my lips at the knowledge that Monroe will be joining us for lunch.
Me: Be there in twenty.
Ash is out bidding a job, so I lock up the office and head out. Swinging by our favorite BBQ joint, I grab three pulled pork sandwiches, three sides of mac and cheese, and a massive order of fries for us to split. I pull up outside City Hall with three minutes to spare.
I carry the food inside, searching for my brother, offering short apologies to each guy I pass, eyes following the food in my hands like none of them have eaten in weeks. I’m surprised I don’t get jumped by the time I stumble upon Benton and Monroe in an office near the back.
Their backs are to me as Benton points to the wall, his hands moving excitedly as he explains the plans for this room to Monroe. As soon as the smell of the food hits his nostrils though, he stops, cutting off mid-sentence as he whirls around.
“Bro. You have no idea how good it is to see you.”
I hold up the box of food. “Me, or this?”
Benton shrugs, moving across the room and lifting the food out of my hands. “You really want me to answer that?”
He sets the box down on a table in the corner and immediately starts unpacking it. I use his distraction as a chance to steal a glance at Monroe. She watches me warily, not having moved an inch since I walked in the room.
I nod toward the food. “I got you one too.”
This seems to shock her, her eyes flashing over to where Benton is standing for a moment before returning to me, the whites narrowing into slits of suspicion. I can’t help but smirk. I can’t say I blame her for being wary.
I hold up my hands in innocence. “I promise, no funny business today. It’s just a pulled pork sandwich.”
She doesn’t seem convinced, her arms folding across her chest and she regards me. I roll my eyes and stride over to where Benton is already devouring one of the sandwiches. Grabbing the two remaining ones, I walk over to her.
“See. I’ll even let you choose which one you want. And I’ll even taste test it first, if you insist.”
Monroe eyes both sandwiches before grabbing the one in my left hand and striding over to the table. She takes a seat next to Benton, unwrapping her food and giving it a good once over before finally taking a bite.
I join them, taking the seat on the opposite side of the table and diving into my own food. After a few minutes, I finally get down to the reason for this impromptu lunch.
“So, Bryce called,” I tell Benton. Monroe’s eyes immediately snap to mine.
“Bryce? Like, your little sister Bryce?”
I shoot her a confused look. “You know our sister?”
Benton swallows his mouthful of food. “Of course, she does. Monroe and I were close in high school, remember? She was over at the house a lot during those few years.”
He’d said they were friends in high school, but I had no clue they were that close. “So, she knows Mom and Dad too?”
Benton gives me a blank look. “Duh. You think I brought a girl over to the house, even just as a friend, and Mom and Dad didn’t give us the third degree? Of course, she knows them. Pretty well, I’d say.”
“Well, not anymore. It’s been a while, Benton,”
Monroe pipes in.
He waves her off. “They’re still the same old Paul and Tracy. That reminds me. I told them you were back in town, and they want you to come over for dinner sometime.”
“Hold up,” I say, holding up a hand to halt their conversation. “How is it the whole family knows who she is, but I had no idea you even had a friend named Monroe until last week?”
Benton shrugs again. “You were already away at college by the time she moved to town. And it’s not like you came back a lot. Monroe was only here for a few years before she left to go live with her uncle. I guess you just never crossed paths.”
It might be stupid, but it feels a little strange that my entire family somehow knew this woman before I did. And how this whole situation could’ve been avoided had Benton introduced us, just once, on one of the few occasions I had been home from school. I certainly never would’ve approached her in that bar, that’s for damn sure.
“So, what did Bryce want?” Benton asks, bringing the subject back around to what originally brought me here.
“Oh, uh…” I stammer, still completely caught off guard that Monroe was such a huge part of my brother’s life while I had no idea she even existed. “She wants to come intern with us this summer.”
Benton takes another bite of his sandwich. “So? What’s the problem?” he asks, the words slurred around the mouthful of pork and bread.
“Because you know what she really wants, Ben. She wants us to take her on as our fourth partner.”
Again, he shrugs. “My question still stands. This has always been a family deal. What’s the big deal with bringing on our little sis?”
I give him a pointed look. “Ash isn’t family, Ben. There’s more to this company than just me and you.”
Benton shoots the same look right back at me. “You and Ash have been inseparable since grade school. You’re insane if you don’t think he’s a part of this family. And I guarantee he’d have no problem with Bryce coming on.”
