The Trouble With Scarecrows (The Trouble With Men Book 2)

by Dorlana Vann

“So what’s up?” Rocky tossed a beer to Neal and then opened his but didn’t take a drink. He gave his cousin his full attention.

  “Do you remember the woman from the other night? The scarecrow thing?”

  “Yeah, what was up with that? You do realize that for you to get the girl, you have to be there.”

  “I know. At the time, I was just trying to save my future. I didn’t realize . . .”

  “But it worked. I might have to consider actually doing scarecrow services for real.”

  “Yeah, I guess it did.”

  “I’m guessing you finally realized you want her all to yourself, huh?”

  Neal opened his beer and took a drink before saying, “But she chose someone else over me.”

  “That twerp at the bar?” Rocky yelled.

  “No, Larry.”

  “The guy you used to work for?”

  Neal nodded. “Yep, and I thought he was my friend. Anyway, I’ve lost everything, man. I was wondering if I could crash at your house for a few days until I get my shit together and figure out what I’m going to do.”

  “Oh man, talk about horrible timing.”

  Neal didn’t like the sound of that. “What?”

  “I got to be out by morning.”

  The boxes. Neal had been so wrapped up in his own problems he hadn’t even put two and two together.

  “I sold it.”

  “Oh.” Neal suddenly felt nostalgic. Rocky’s father had never been in the picture. After his aunt died, Rocky kept the place. So technically, he’d never moved away from home.

  “Mom is probably rolling over in her grave, but I’ve got to make a change. We aren’t getting any younger.”

  “Right. So where are you moving to? You got something lined up?”

  “I’m going to go stay with a friend until I get something. I really didn’t think this old place would sell so fast. Hey, why don’t I ask Nina if you can crash there too?”

  “No, no, that’s okay, really. No problem.”

  “It’s nice seeing you, though, man. We should get together after we both get settled.”

  “You bet,” Neal said. “Hey, I’m going to get going.”

  “You just got here. You don’t have to run off.”

  “I’d be horrible company right now. I think I’m going to go down the way and cry in my beer, and no one wants to see that. I’ll give you a call, man.”

  Chapter 28

  Brenda pulled up to the little green house and checked the map on her phone. She and Zadora had put their heads together and figured Neal might have gone home, and then Brenda had called Larry to get the address.

  Since Neal’s truck wasn’t in the driveway, she knew he wasn’t here, but it was the only lead she had. Maybe he’d already been by or was on his way.

  The leaves of the tall oak trees rustled in the wind as she walked up the sidewalk. Brenda wished she had a place like this to go home to. She had no family childhood home, no house with a fence in the backyard, a little flower garden, or a sidewalk out in front. She and her dad had moved from apartment to apartment, and all of them had been so much alike - same white walls, same beige carpet - she’d lost track of them individually.

  Another person swiftly passed through her mind as she walked up the steps to the front porch—her mom. She had no real memory of her; she had died when Brenda was a year old. Her dad would talk of her fondly until Brenda noticed the pain in his eyes and would change the subject. Although Brenda never complained to her dad and tried to tell herself it wasn’t his fault, that her dad had done the best he could, the truth was she did feel a little let down by her childhood. Maybe there was even a tiny bit of animosity coming to the surface.

  Funny, a few weeks ago, she’d thought her struggles growing up had made her a stronger person. But perhaps she was only good at hiding her lack of self-confidence. At least she recognized it now so she could make it her mission to work on it.

  She knocked on the door, and a few minutes later she heard “Who is it?” in a rather harsh voice.

  “Hi, Mrs. Parker? I’m trying to find Neal.”

  “He doesn’t live here.”

  “I know. I was hoping you could help me find him.”

  The door cracked open and was stopped by a chain. “I know my tree is dead but unless you are going to cut it down for free . . .”

  “I’m not here about the tree.”

  “You’re not one of those church people, are you? I told y’all I have my own relationship with God. I don’t need your doom and gloom.”

  “No, really, I’m a friend of Neal’s and was wondering if he’s been by today.”

  “Ha. He don’t ever come visit his mama.”

  “Right,” Brenda whispered, remembering the conversation she’d had with Neal about his problems with his mom. “Do you know where I could find him?”

  The door shut and Brenda exhaled, already trying to figure out what she should do next. Maybe she could sit in the car, like some cop on a stakeout.

  But then the door opened and a tiny woman with salt-and-pepper hair and dressed in a tank top and blue jeans said, “Come in. Sorry about that. You can’t be too careful these days. You said you’re a friend of Neal’s?”

  “That’s right.” Brenda stepped inside. The house was cozy and clean and probably had the same décor it had had in the eighties. Brenda was drawn to the wall of metal-framed pictures; she wanted to see if there were any pictures of Neal when he was little.

  “Have a seat. I’m Renée. Renée Parker.”

  Brenda nodded and sat on the faded plaid couch in front of a long window that faced the street.

  “You don’t look like the girls my son usually dates, but I haven’t been around him in a while, so . . .”

  “We live in the same building but in separate apartments. But I don’t really live there.” She was surprised by how nervous this little woman made her feel.

  Renée sat in a plastic chair, one that looked like it had been outside during a few harsh summers. “So if y’all live together, why are you here?”

  “He left and won’t answer my calls.”

  “Y’all had a fight.”

  “You could say that.” Brenda swallowed, trying to hold back the tears she’d been crying all day.

  Renée stared at Brenda, her eyes little slits, like Brenda was a suspicious character. Which Brenda supposed she was.

  After a few awkward seconds, and after Brenda had managed to find her voice without breaking down, she said, “I need to find him to apologize.”

  “What did you do? Did ya cheat on him?”

  “Neal thinks I betrayed him. Which I guess I did. But only for a second, if that makes sense.”

  “One second, a lifetime, it doesn’t matter in Neal’s eyes.” Renée voice was softer, and she lost that hardness in her face for a moment. What Brenda read into Renée’s face was remorse, easy to spot when you felt the same way.

  “I really want to talk to him before it’s too late.” Brenda put her hand on her chest. “I love your son very much, and I don’t want to lose him.”

  “Well that’s . . .” Renée shook her head and a frown appeared. “Wait. How do I know that you’re not some crazy stalker person?”

  Brenda shrugged. “I guess I’m being one right now, aren't I?”

  Renée frowned as her mouth gaped open.

  “But I’m not! Believe me, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think he had feelings for me too.”

  “I see.”

  “So do you know where I can find him?”

  “My guess would be at my nephew Rocky’s.”

  “I’ve met him.”

  “I’m sure you have. Quite the ladies’ man. Is that who came between you two?”

>   “Oh, hell no,” Brenda said too quickly and then grimaced. He was Renée’s nephew. “I’m sorry. I’m sure he’s the right man for someone.”

  “I like you.” Renée stood up. “I hope you and Neal set things straight. He deserves to be happy.”

  Taking the cue from Renée, Brenda also stood. “Would you mind telling me where Rocky lives or at least give me his number?”

  “No, I can’t do that. I can’t betray Neal’s trust. Not that I have it now, but I don’t want to make things worse. You see how he gets. If he wants to be alone, I should respect that. And so should you.”

  “What?” Brenda found herself ushered out to the front porch. “But I want to apologize to him. Please, Mrs. Parker—”

  Renée held up a hand for Brenda to stop talking and then moved her head and eyes in the direction of down the street as she said, “Yep, Neal and Rocky grew up on this street together. Always together. When there was one, there was the other. They lived so close that they could walk to each other’s houses. One green, one blue. That is, until Rocky got his driver’s license. He was always fond of the old cars . . . still is. And he still lives in his momma’s old house.”

  Brenda hugged Mrs. Parker. “I’m so sorry,” she said, releasing her. I’m not a hugger. I don’t know what got into me.”

  Renée laughed. “That’s okay. Do me one favor? When you do find that boy of mine, tell him that his sorry-ass mama is sorry.”

  Chapter 29

  Neal sat at the bar. He remembered this place, The Barn, from when he was a teen. He and Rocky would play pool and somehow Rocky had always managed to get whiskey in their soda. The bar had a new name now, Stella’s, and it looked a lot different—more modern, more girly, even. The only thing that had remained the same were the locations of the restroom and the bar. A dance floor had been built around the bar, so now you had to dance if you wanted a drink.

  It was early, 8:00 PM, and pretty much empty. He didn’t mind. The bartenders seemed to be busy though, getting things ready for the big crowd that was sure to be there in an hour or so. One couple stood on the dance floor, not really dancing to the country music, more like hugging and swaying. Neal felt a twinge of jealousy.

  He drank his beer and felt someone sit beside him. The scent of cotton candy caused him to turn his head.

  A pretty, very young-looking girl had sat beside him. She had long blond hair and a cute pugged-nosed profile. She didn’t call the bartender over or anything, just sat and stared down at the bar. Obviously, since she’d sat next to him when every other seat at the bar was available, she had already checked him out, maybe from a dark corner somewhere and wanted him to notice her.

  Why not? What the hell? “Can I buy you a drink?” he asked.

  “Sure,” she said quickly and quietly.

  Neal got the bartender’s attention. “Get the lady whatever she wants.”

  “I’ll take a . . .” She cleared her throat. “Sex on the Beach.”

  “Sex on the Beach, huh?” Neal asked after the bartender left.

  The girl glanced behind her. Neal turned to see a group of young women huddled together at a corner table. They had been laughing, but as soon as they noticed Neal had turned around, they all became quiet with huge eyes and uh-oh faces. He gave them a ‘what’s up’ nod, and they all began to giggle again.

  “Friends of yours?”

  “Yeah, I’m sorry. This was a dare. They all think I’m too timid when it comes to guys. This was really stupid. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I could use the company, and we’ll give them enough where they’ll leave you alone. Okay?”

  She smiled. “Okay.”

  The bartender set the drink in front of her, which she sipped and then made a face. .

  “You don’t even like Sex on the Beach, do you?”

  “What? Oh.” She laughed. “The drink. No, it’s too sweet. But it is better then what they wanted me to order . . . a Screaming Orgasm.”

  Neal laughed. “What would you really like to drink?”

  “A light beer.”

  “Done,” Neal said then called the bartender back over and ordered her the beer. “My name is Neal, by the way.”

  “I’m Mandi, with an I.”

  “Well, it’s nice to meet you.”

  They shook hands. Her hands were small, delicate, and as Neal studied Mandi’s features, the thought that she was just a kid came to mind. But he was a bad age guesser. A lot of women looked younger than their age. And she had to be at least 21 if the doorman had let her in the bar. “So what do you do Mandi, with an I?”

  “I’m a college student. Nursing.”

  He felt himself cringe, physically and mentally, and growled softly to himself. Why did the fact that she was in college bother him? A month ago, anyone in a bar had been fair game. Even though she was a bit on the sweet side, she was hot and had approached him. Two weeks ago he wouldn’t have cringed. He would’ve already been standing beside her, whispering in her ear with a game plan as to how he would get her home. “That’s a good profession,” he said into his beer.

  “It’s what I’ve always wanted to do ever since I was little. My mom’s a RN.”

  What did she mean? Since she was little? She was still little—a little girl, right around his sister’s age. And why did she have to bring up her mother? There was a possibility that said mother was closer to his age than Mandi.

  He cleared his throat and couldn’t believe what he was about to say. “Well, that should be enough to please your friends. I think if you take that drink back over there, they won’t hassle you anymore.” What the hell had happened to him? Why did he feel so much older than her? No, that wasn’t it—the girlfriends giggling in the corner, the dare, the games—No, not older, more mature. He wanted to spend time with a real woman, not a girl who had no life experiences and no heartbreak to compare to happiness. What could she bring to a relationship anyway?

  “Whoa,” he said and rubbed his head.

  “Are you okay?” She frowned. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “I’m sorry. It’s been one of those days.”

  “Oh okay,” she said with a shrug. “Well, there’s one more part to the bet. It’s stupid. They are so stupid. I know I shouldn’t let them pressure me.”

  “What is it?”

  “A kiss. I’m supposed to come over here, get you to buy me drink with a suggestive name and then kiss you. I wasn’t going to ask for the kiss. Not at first because, well, you’re a little intimidating.”

  He let out a breath. At least she hadn’t said old. Nevertheless, that’s how he felt, and so the whole thing made him nervous, made him feel weird.

  She arched an eyebrow and licked her pink lips. “But you know, now, I don’t think you’re scary at all.”

  “Is that so?” The thought that this girl might not be as innocent as she acted eased into his mind. After the whole ordeal with Zadora, he wasn’t about to take anyone at face value. As she flipped her hair and made eyes at him, he wondered if the kiss was the last part of the bet. She had a new expression on her face and a gleam in her eyes, which he translated as “Come and get me.”

  A week ago his answer would have been “Where’s the fucking door?”

  “But you don’t have to kiss me if you don’t want to.” She bit her bottom lip as she placed her elbow on the bar and eased closer.

  “He’s with me.”

  Neal twisted around to see Brenda standing there, staring directly at Mandi, an air of sophisticated woman oozing from her in contrast to the young college girl.

  Brenda placed a hand on her hip. “Now scram,” she said before turning to Neal.

  As Neal tried to process the situation, Mandi climbed off the barstool. He touched Mandi’s arm, stopping her before she wal
ked too far. “What the hell, Brenda? She’s not going anywhere.”

  “You seemed like you were in need of a scarecrow.”

  “I don’t need anything from you.”

  Mandi looked down at where Neal held her arm and gently pulled away. “I’m going to go back to my friends.”

  “Is it okay if I join you?” Neal asked.

  “Sure.” Mandi said, taking a quick peek at Brenda. “I guess.”

  Neal was about to get up when Brenda put her hand on his arm. “Please, wait. I really want to talk to you.”

  Neal’s heart pounded and his jaw tightened. He knew Brenda well enough to know that if she’d tracked him down, she wasn’t going to stop until he talked to her. Fine. “Give me a second. I have unfinished business.” He stood up and turned to Mandi, who he couldn’t deny looked very uncomfortable. However, he ignored it, put the fact that a second ago he wasn’t going to go near this young girl’s lips or anything else, out of his mind. He bent over and kissed her. She didn’t kiss him back at first, she was most likely stunned and rightly so. But after a second, she did. It was the best and worst kiss of his life.

  Neal looked Mandi in the eyes as he pulled away, hoping it served her purpose as much as it had served his. She gave him a slight nod, smiled, and then went back to her friends.

  He turned to Brenda.

  Brenda’s arms were crossed, and she had a scowl on her face, and Neal wasn’t sure if she was actually bothered by the kiss or if she was just getting impatient because he was taking up too much of her time. Larry might have been waiting for her in his fancy car. But then again, her expression kind of reminded him of that first day he’d met her when she’d found out that Larry and Haley were engaged. But he shook it off because he knew why she was here. To make herself feel better about dumping him.

  “How’d you find me?”