by Cathryn Fox
My mother stifles a yawn. “It’s been a long day. How about we pick this conversation up tomorrow?” She stands and kisses the top of my head. “Is there a room for us?”
“I’ll show you,” I say, wanting to get them settled so I can sneak next door and talk to Jay, but my cell phone rings. My heart leaps, hoping it’s the honey farmer next door, but I don’t recognize the number. “Just give me a second,” I say and slide my finger across the screen.
I answer the call. “Hello.”
“Alyson, is that you?”
“Tyler?” I say, pushing to my feet as panic grips my stomach. He sounds…off. “What’s going on?”
“Can you come get me?” he slurs. “I can’t drive, and Jay will kill me if I call him.”
“Yes, I can come.” I pace the kitchen and clutch my car keys. “Where are you?”
He gives me directions, and I end the call. I crinkle my nose, tossing my parents an apologetic look.
“Sorry, a friend needs a lift. I’ll be back soon. Go get yourselves settled. Second door on the left, you’ll find another spare bedroom. I haven’t cleaned Jack’s things from his room yet.”
“This friend must be very important to you,” Dad says, and I nod. Unlike my friends, I can count on the guys next door, just like they can count on me. But like Tyler once said, we’re more than friends. We’re family.
“They are,” I say, ready to run outside when I realize I’m in my robe. I rush upstairs to change. Mom is rinsing the mugs when I come back down. “I’ll see you both in the morning.”
I hop into my rental and head out into the dark. I’ve gotten to know my way around town, so I can easily find the house where he’s hanging. I ease into the driveway and gasp when I see that Jay is already there, standing beside Tyler as Tyler vomits into a bush. I unbuckle quickly and rush up the driveway, but when the guy turns around, I realize it’s not Jay. It’s a guy I’ve never met before.
“Tyler,” I say and bend to check on him. “You okay?”
“He’s fine,” the guy beside him says with a hearty laugh. “Kid can’t hold his liquor.” My face burns with anger at his flippant remark.
“Come on, Tyler. Let’s get you home.”
“Won’t be home for long,” someone else yells, and I have no idea what he’s talking about.
I get Tyler into the car, and he groans and leans his head back against the seat. Once he’s buckled in, I slide into the driver’s seat, and the pungent smell of vomit and rum hit like a punch to the face. Gag reflexes kicking in, I roll my window down and negotiate the long driveway.
“I’m sorry, Alyson,” he slurs.
“We can talk about this in the morning,” I say, feeling for the kid. I used to be a party girl, so I understand exactly how he feels. “You need to sleep it off.”
“Jay’s an asshole,” he murmurs and presses his arm to his forehead.
I chuckle. “You sound like Capone.”
“Capone is right.”
“You shouldn’t talk about your brother like that. He’s really good to you.”
He snorts, coughs, and mumbles something I can’t comprehend.
“Who was that guy you were with?”
“Derek?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“He’s Shay’s older brother. He’s bad news.”
“Then why are you with him?”
“I like Shay.”
“What did he mean when he said it won’t be your home for long?”
A wounded animal sound crawls from his throat. “You’re family. How could Jay have done this to you?”
My pulse jumps in my throat, and I swallow as I carefully maneuver the dark roads. “What did he do?”
Ty’s head flops to the side, and he looks like he’s about to cry when he says, “He bet the goddamn farm.”
My chest tightens. “Bet it on what?” I ask and touch his shoulder to sit him upright. But he’s too big and strong for me to shift him.
“He bet against you, Aly.”
Every nerve in my body jumps and my legs go weak, my foot a bit lighter on the gas pedal. “What are you talking about?”
“He wanted Charlie’s land. He blames himself for losing it, I think.”
I try to make sense of what he’s saying but can’t. “Jay wanted Charlie’s land?”
“It was our land. Dad and Charlie got into it over something Jay had done. Dad stood up for Jay, and the land was lost. No one talks about it. I was young, and I still don’t know everything. Just that Jay would do anything to get it back, even bet the farm.”
What the hell is he talking about?
“Jay bet your farm, against who…what?”
He snorts, and his head bobs forward. I’m pretty sure he’s asleep, but I need to know exactly what’s going on.
“Tyler, wake up.”
“Wha—”
“What did Jay do?”
He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “He bet you’d be gone in thirty days. I just found out, Alyson, or I would have stopped him.”
The road blurs before me, and I pinch my eyes shut to clear them, but there is nothing I can do to slow the racing of my heart.
“You can’t be serious?”
Jay bet against me? No way. I refuse to believe that. He’s been nothing but kind and helpful ever since I arrived, and no matter where I am, he’s always right there.
So he can watch you fail.
As old insecurities creep back in, I grip the steering wheel harder. “Who told you this?”
“Derek.”
“How does he know?”
“His old man told him.”
“Who’s his old man?”
“Steven Banks. You know him, right? He’s about this tall.” He holds an unstable hand up to his nose. “He overheard them at the Crow when they set the terms for the bet.”
With my throat tightening to the point of pain and my heart pounding behind my eyes, it’s all I can do to keep the car on the road. Tyler nods off again, and I let him sleep. A few minutes later, I pull into his driveway and open his passenger door.
“Tyler,” I say. “Wake up.”
“What’s the matter with him?” Beck asks, coming from around the corner.
“He had a little too much fun tonight. Can you help me get him to his room?”
Beck gives a low whistle. “Jay is going to kill him.”
“Jay’s an asshole,” Tyler mumbles, and Beck’s brow bunches.
“Never mind,” I say, not about to spread rumors, and holy hell, I hope this is nothing more than a nasty rumor, otherwise… Ugh, I don’t want to think about otherwise or how it will suck the wind out of my sails.
“I got him,” Beck says and lifts him from the car.
Once they’re inside, I drive my car to my place to leave it in my driveway for the night and cut through the path to Jay’s, desperate to talk to him. I’m sure there must be some explanation for all this. I pound on his door, but my knock goes unanswered. I turn and glance into the night and listen for sound, but all I hear are animals scurrying in the underbrush. Even Cluck seem to be avoiding me tonight. I walk up the hill, check the apiary and the new barn, but can’t find Jay anywhere. Perhaps he’s at my place, wanting to talk to me.
I hurry home, unlock the front door, and step inside, but Jay is nowhere to be found. Upstairs, I hear my parents talking quietly, and I knock on their door.
“I’m home,” I say. “Ah, was anyone by tonight while I was gone?”
“Were you expecting company?” my mom sings out.
“No, I was just wondering.”
“No one came by,” Dad says.
“Okay, see you guys in the morning.”
I walk to my room, my legs heavy, weighted down with worry. With the lights out, I stare out into my ba
ckyard, but all is quiet. My phone buzzes, and I pull it from my pants, only to see a text from Lucy telling me she’s back together with Nolan and won’t be coming after all. Not that I’m surprised. I run my fingers over the screen and text Jay, asking if he can come over to talk.
Minutes pass with no response, so I go to the bathroom and get myself ready for bed. Perhaps he’s out with the guys tonight. I mean, it is Saturday night, after all. They’re probably at the Shore Club dance. A strange sort of jealousy rises in me. What if he’s there dancing with someone else? Why didn’t he ask me to go?
Because your parents are here, dumbass.
I work to calm myself. He’s out with his friends, leaving me to visit with my folks, and Tyler is so drunk I’m sure he has no idea what he’s talking about. After giving myself a good hard lecture and reassuring myself that Jay and I will work everything out come morning, I flop down onto bed and only check my phone one more time.
Sleep pulls at me after a long day, and I’m a second from drifting off when a loud bang wakes me. I jackknife up and rub my eyes. “What the hell?” I hurry to my window and catch sight of a man sneaking into the woods. Jay? I peer into the darkness when the floodlight comes on, but he’s too far gone for me to see him.
I bolt down the stairs, the sound of rushing water reaching my ears.
“Alyson, what’s going on?” Dad asks as he leans over the railing.
“I’m sure everything is fine. Go back to sleep. I’ll take care of things.”
He hesitates for a second, and I’m about to tell him I have everything under control when his door clicks shut. I hurry around the main level, happy to find the taps off and nothing out of the ordinary. I relax but only for a second. Gurgling noises rise up from the basement, and I open the door, flick on the light, and dash down the stairs. I hit the cement floor and step into a big puddle of hot water. I yelp and back up. I scan the basement and spot a river running from the hot water tank. Oh no!
I hurry back upstairs and tug on my boots. I quickly make my way back to the basement but have no idea how to fix a hot water tank. I’m sure my father doesn’t, either. I need to call Jay. He’s out with friends, or at least I think he is, but he can hopefully talk me through this. I tiptoe across the floor, and something hits my leg. Please don’t let it be a snake. Please don’t let it be a snake. Getting friendly with Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner was one thing, but no way can I handle a snake. I glance down and spot Jay’s watch floating by. I quickly pull it from the hot water. What is his watch doing down here?”
“Alyson?” a familiar voice says from the top of the stairs. I glance up to see Jay, his brow furrowed with concern.
“Jay, my hot water tank.”
He rushes down the steps. “Go higher where it’s dry.”
I stand on the third step as he pushes through the water and reaches the tank. He messes with some valves, and the water stops gushing.
“What…what are you doing here?” I ask, still breathless.
“I heard a noise and came running.” He stands with me on the stairs and glances at the damage. “That water tank was replaced two years ago. This never should have happened, unless…”
“I thought you were out with friends.”
He shakes his head. “What made you think that?” He nudges me to climb the stairs, and he follows behind. “Jack has a shop vac in the barn. We need to get this cleaned up.”
“I went to your cottage; you weren’t there.” Without even realizing what I’m doing, I flatten my palm and show him the watch.
“Oh, you found it,” he says.
“It was downstairs.” I pause, alarm bells jingling as the vision of the man running into the woods flutters in the forefront of my brain. “Where were you?”
“I told you I was in the field. I thought I heard a noise out there, then I heard a bang from in here.” I stare at him, tension taking up space between us. The muscles in his jaw stiffen. “Where do you think I was?”
“I don’t know. I just… I saw someone running from here.”
He shakes his head. “Holy shit, you actually think…”
His voice trails off as I stare at the ground, trying to wrap my brain around what Tyler had said.
“I didn’t do this,” he says.
“No,” I say and mean it. I don’t think Jay would purposely try to hurt me. “But did you bet against me?”
His body goes so straight, his jaw so tense, I’m sure his teeth are going to crack. In an instant, I know Tyler was right. Jay bet against me. He was so goddamn sure I was going to fail, he put his farm up.
Over the last three weeks, my confidence flourished under his care; he made me feel important, like I could do anything, and all the while he was betting against me. What kind of man does something like that?
What kind of fool does it make me?
“I thought, you…me…us…”
“Alyson, I didn’t do this.”
“Do you think so little of me, Jay?”
“Me, think little of you.” He snorts. “No, actually, I don’t.”
“Then why?”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I made a mistake.”
“Yeah, you did. I guess my father was right. There is a dumbass born every minute,” I say, unable to keep the hurt from my voice.
“Your father said that. You mean the same guy who dismissed me and insulted me and my home, and you said nothing. Not a goddamn word. Hell, you wanted me to sneak out the back door. Maybe you’re the one who thinks so little of me.”
“I wanted to say something.”
“But you didn’t.”
He’s right. I didn’t, and I should have stood up to my father, never should have asked Jay to sneak out. “I was trying to make myself look better…at your expense. I shouldn’t have done that. Just like you shouldn’t have bet against me.” I fold my arms across my stomach and hug myself as bile punches into my throat. I fight back the tears. “You’re not at all who I thought you were.”
“Alyson, I didn’t mean to hurt you, I just…” he begins, but I’m too upset to hear what he has to say.
“Whether you meant it or not, doesn’t change the fact that you bet against me.” A garbled laugh catches in my throat. “Honestly,” I say, pushing my words past the rawness in my throat, “I want you to leave.”
I take a step backward, and he reaches for me. “You need to listen to me.”
“I don’t need to listen to anything you have to say. Leave.”
He makes a move to come closer but stops when Dad steps into the kitchen. “I believe she asked you to leave.”
Chapter Twenty
Jay
It’s been one week since Alyson left, one whole miserable week with me staring at the For Sale sign on her yard. Yeah, I get it. She’s completely pissed after learning I bet against her, and I can’t blame her. I made the stupid bet; it was before I really knew her. Still, I judged her, expected the worst from her—like everyone else in her life. Even when all signs pointed that I’d sabotaged her property, she believed in me— She never once expected the worst. God, I am such a dumbass.
“You still moping, asshole?” Tyler asks.
I lift my head and take in the scowl on my kid brother’s face as he sits on the fence feeding Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. He rolls a strand of hay between his teeth and wipes his brow with the back of his hand.
“I’m not moping, and go ahead, call me asshole one more time, and I’ll give you the beatdown of your life.”
He snorts. “Asshole,” he says and jumps from the fence, squaring off against me. Ever since he found out what I’d done, he’s been itching for a fight, but I’m not going to give him what he wants. Even though I probably do deserve to have my ass kicked.
“She’s gone. It’s over,” I say and walk around him.
“You know that wa
s a pretty shitty thing to do, Jay.”
“Yeah, I know, and every chance you get, you tell me.” I step into the barn and grab a pitchfork to lay out fresh hay for the animals.
I guess Alyson just assumed we’d take care of the farm when she up and left in the middle of the night. She was right. At least she had that much faith in me. I wish I’d given her the same courtesy. Man, I really fucked up. When she first arrived, looking lost and vulnerable, I should have reassured her instead of jumping on a damn bet. Clearly, Charlie Miller was working with different information than I was when he tried, and succeeded, in convincing me he wanted to give me my land back. The bastard wanted my farm and used Alyson’s innocence to try to win it. I used her innocence, too, and she’s far too good for me.
Tyler pushes up the short sleeves on his T-shirt, exposing his farmer’s tan. “I didn’t want her to go,” Tyler grumbles.
Neither did I.
I shoo a few chickens from the barn and grab another bundle of hay. “I know,” I say, not at all proud of what I’d done. I caused so much damage, to everyone.
“You should go get her,” Tyler says, refusing to let this go.
With my patience thinning—the kid has been busting my balls all week—I say, “I am not going to get her.”
“Because she hates you?” he asks.
Yeah, because she hates me.
I shake my head. “Why don’t you tell me what you really think, little brother?”
“Fine, I will. You love her; she loves you. You were so sure she was going to fail at this, you bet the farm, but then she proved to be something more, and even though you needed her to fail, you’re still a good guy, so you helped her however you could.”
I exhale loudly and cut the rope on the new hay bundle. “Yeah, that pretty much sums it up, but I’m not a good guy.”
“Yes, you are, and she knows it.”
“She’s too good for me, bro.”
“Like hell. She needs you as much as you need her.”
