by Bijou Hunter
THE UNWANTED
Colt and Jodi talk about their family in a way that is confusing at first, but soon I’m able to keep track of everyone they mention. I learn about his sisters, his cousins living in Conroe, and then about another group of cousins set up in Pema.
“You ought to be their president,” Jodi says after our plates are gone. “They still don’t have a one.”
“They have Heidi,” Colt says and glances at me. “Gunnar’s sister. She runs things behind the scenes in Pema.”
Jodi shakes her head. “Pema needs a man to run stuff. You know how those idiots don’t listen to Heidi even if she’s scarier than any other president.”
“I heard she eats her enemies’ hearts.”
Jodi smirks. “A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.”
“I don’t like Pema.”
“That’s not it, and you know it.”
“Well, what is it then?” he asks, frowning.
“You want to run Ellsberg, but that’ll never happen, baby.”
Colt stares at his gram for long enough that Kori even starts to worry.
“Are you going to barf?” she asks him.
“No. I’m just coming to terms with life’s realities.”
“What?”
“I can’t be in charge in Ellsberg.”
“Why?”
“My pop’s in charge, and he doesn’t want to stop being in charge.”
“Is Pema that bad?” I ask and squeeze his hand in the way he did when I was freaking out earlier.
“I don’t know. It’s a Kentucky town. They’re all the same except Ellsberg which rocks and Shasta with its lack of pulled pork.”
“It’s a good town,” Jodi says, adding, “And you could help your cousins build something.”
“Have you discussed this with my pop?”
“Oh, no, but one of the Rogers is sniffing around the town. I heard he’s thinking of leaving Shasta and his brother’s club.”
“Maverick?” Colt asks and sighs. “You heard that, huh?”
“People keep getting him confused with River because of how they look exactly the same.”
“Do they, though?”
“Enough that people keep getting them confused.”
Colt leans back in his chair and squeezes my hand. “I’ve never considered leaving Ellsberg, and I don’t know if I’d feel good about starting over somewhere else.”
“I don’t know what Cooper wants,” Jodi says. “Or what you want, but there are other options besides staying here and living in your father’s shadow.”
I’m oddly nervous again. Talking about babies made me feel like Colt might see me as someone permanent. Now with him thinking about leaving Ellsberg, maybe he wants to start fresh. I can’t help feeling as if he just hasn’t met enough women to know I’m not the best he can do.
“I’ll consider driving out to Pema soon, just to see how it feels,” Colt says and smiles at me. “Want to go on a road trip?”
“I’ll go anywhere you go.”
My words sound pathetically desperate but what the fuck ever. There’s no point in faking independence if I lose the man I love.
Colt wraps his arm around my shoulders and smiles at Jodi. “Didn’t I tell you she was a keeper?”
“That you did.”
“I’m stuffed. Think I can show them the apartment tonight?”
“Why the hell not? I have nowhere else to be.”
“The apartment?” I ask as he pays the check and Jodi walks outside with Rae and Kori.
“Gram has an apartment over her garage. It’s not huge, and there’s only one bedroom, but she’ll rent it out cheap. Plus, it’s safe there. Quiet too.”
“Are you sure she’s okay with it?” I ask, startled by the sudden shift in the day’s direction.
“Of course.”
“Like you’re not using your grandson charms to guilt her, are you?”
“No, I tried that, but it didn’t work,” he says, grinning. “She’s a stubborn broad.”
Smiling, I’m torn between excitement over getting out of the motel and concern over messing up this opportunity.
“It’s short term,” he whispers as we hang back from the others in the parking lot. “For you, I mean. Rae and Kori need somewhere safe so you can stay with me.”
“Where?”
“Does it matter?”
Shaking my head, I smile. “I tried to do good with your gram, but I couldn’t settle down.”
“You did plenty good. Besides, in the end, it’s only my opinion that matters.”
Colt looks ready to say more, but Kori yells for him to catch up. I notice Jodi and Rae talking in a casual way my friend rarely does. Like she speaks to people, but she always looks put out, so they’ll hurry up and leave her alone. With Jodi, her expression is relaxed like when she talks to me.
“You’re amazing,” I whisper to Colt as we reach the SUV. “Whatever happens, you’re the best person I’ve ever met.”
“Shit, don’t cry,” he says, hugging me. “You’ll get me crying next, and then Kori will yell at me for being a wuss, and I’ll cry more. Then Gram will take a picture and send it to everyone, and I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“Why are you crying?” Kori asks him after she climbs in the back seat. “You don’t look like you’re crying.”
“I’m crying on the inside.”
Laughing at her confusion, I wish I could remain in Colt’s arms for the rest of the night, but he needs to let me go if he wants to drive. Jodi’s truck already idles near the parking lot entrance.
Colt grunts disapprovingly when he lets go of me, and I grunt back at him. His chocolate brown eyes brighten at our shared caveman speak. Colt needs so little to make him happy that I can’t help wondering why some lucky woman didn’t snap him up long ago.
Once on the road, we follow Jodi to her house while Colt tells us about the apartment.
“No one’s stayed in it for years, but Gram has a girl who dusts and vacuums the apartment every month or so.”
“How can an apartment be on top of a garage?” Kori asks, suspecting we’re tricking her.
“I don’t know really. I think it’s magic.”
Now Kori is convinced Colt is playing a trick on us. I hear her in the back seat whispering to Rae about how they can’t live on a garage because that’s not how things work.
“The only thing I worry about is how well your goofy car will do on these back roads,” Colt says, and Rae frowns in defense of her beloved Soul. “The gravel roads are easy to maneuver in good weather. Heavy rains or a little ice, though, might make your car give out.”
“Mom likes squares,” Kori says, and Rae nods in approval.
“Well, that explains why she drives one.”
Laughing at his tiff with Kori, I love how he always keeps her included. He tries the same tactic with Rae, but she prefers silently observing rather than engaging with others.
“This is beautiful,” I say when we leave the main road and head onto “Johansson Drive.” “I read a book about a road covered by a canopy of trees,” I say, proud of my knowledge of that word. It was the one book report I ever got an “A” on.
“Oh, Stella, don’t you know books are for nerds?”
“Hey!” Kori hollers, sending Colt into wild laughter. She realizes he’s messing with her again and laughs too. He’s probably the first man to ever strike up a conversation with Kori for non-weirdo reasons.
“I used to run through these woods when I was a kid.”
“With your dogs?” Kori asks.
“Yeah. They’d chase after me, keeping me safe. They only chewed on me a little when they were hungry. My sisters and I spent a lot of time lost in the woods, but we always found our way back. You know, thanks to the GPS in our phones.”
Grinning, I imagine Colt out here during long summer days. I’m less successful picturing his sisters since he says they look like his mom and I don’t know what she looks like. He talks
so much about them, and I really wish I could meet them without them meeting me. That way, I could enjoy their company without fouling up anything. I remind myself to ask to see pictures later.
“Okay, so there are two side roads along this one,” Colt says, slowing down. “This first one belongs to Gram. You take it up and keep going until you see her house. The other one is up a short bit, and that’ll take you to my parents’ house.”
“Why do you live in the woods?” Kori asks.
“Because it’s private, and my pop-pop wanted to be left alone.”
“I want to be left alone too,” the girl mutters. “I want to have a house in the woods and a car and a dog.”
“That right there is a solid plan, Red.”
“I’m not red.”
“Your hair is.”
“It’s orange.”
“Yeah, but calling you orange sounds mean. Red sounds friendly.”
Kori looks at Rae who shrugs. “People called me ‘Red’ when I was little.”
Smiling now, Kori nods. “I can be Red too.”
My hand instantly reaches for Colt as if to make sure he’s real. How can a man this gorgeous also be so kind and funny and smart and genuine? It feels like a lie I’m telling myself, and I’m afraid the truth will destroy me.
Colt squeezes my hand and then rests it on his upper thigh. My mood shifts from panic to amusement and his wink makes me laugh. Just like that, I’m free of my doubts again. Yes, Colt is really this great, and he really does want me.
THE HEIR
Kori proves to be a tough sell. She can’t wrap her little mind around the idea of living on a garage until we reach the top of the stairs and walk into the one-bedroom apartment. My, oh, my, do these chicks get excited over the sight of an actual kitchen.
“We can cook real food again,” Stella says, bouncing on her heels while Rae runs her fingers over the cooktop.
Kori looks around the apartment and returns to my side. “It costs too much.”
“Naw, Gram is going to rent it to you cheap.”
“Why?”
“Because I like you, and she likes me.”
“She doesn’t like me?”
“No, she hates kids.”
Kori smiles at me. “You’re tricking me.”
“Yeah, I am. Gram likes how your mom is quiet, and you’re well behaved. She doesn’t like being out here all alone, but she doesn’t want loud people around her house.”
“What about Stella?”
“I’m going to steal her away soon, remember?”
“For your crying baby.”
“Yeah. Want to come over and babysit?”
“No.”
Laughing at her dismissive frown, I notice Stella and Rae whispering to each other. I know they’re worried about money because poor people are obsessed with what things cost.
“Problem, ladies?” I ask.
“You say you want Stella to come with you eventually, right?” Rae asks in her monotone way. “I want to make sure I can keep up with the rent without her.”
“Gram said she’d rent it out for two hundred a month. I don’t know how much electric and water runs, but I can’t imagine you’d use so much that she’d feel the cost.”
Rae focuses on Stella who gets that little-girl-lost look on her face again. Man, I hate that fucking look. I plan to spend the rest of my life working to erase the fear living in Stella.
“I don’t know,” Stella mumbles. “It was my idea to come to Ellsberg, and I don’t know.”
“That was a fantastic idea too,” I say, wrapping an arm around her. “The elementary school is aces. I went there. My mom works there. Kori is going to be a superstar there. Then there’s this apartment. Sure, it’s small—”
“It’s beautiful,” Rae says, revealing more emotion than I’ve seen in her. “It has a real kitchen. It’s better than the trailer back in Prestonsburg.”
Kori stops staring out the window to announce, “And I can see the tops of trees from here.”
“So you like it, right?” I say, and Rae sighs. “It’s okay to get your hopes up. I mean I know shit’s gone sour for you three before, but I’m your good luck charm.”
Rae glances at Stella quickly and then stares right into my eyes. “What if you and Stella break up?”
“That’s not happening.”
“Everyone thinks that way.”
“The thing is Gram gets lonely, but she also can’t stand high-maintenance people. I think my aunts wore her out with their drama when they were younger. Now she wants quiet, but that doesn’t mean she wouldn’t like someone around to talk with.”
“Are you sure she won’t throw us out if you end things with Stella?” Rae asks, lacking the tact to soften her words.
“No, she won’t. Gram has a life outside of my needs.”
“Well, then I can’t say no to such a nice place. We’d have an address and could get Kori signed up for school.”
Stella nods, but she still feels guilty about pushing them to move to Ellsberg. Even if things have turned around, there’s no undoing what Rod did. Rae is so difficult to read, though, that she could spend every moment haunted by his evil or not be bothered by it at all.
“I can move you in tonight,” I say when they fall silent.
Kori grabs her mom’s hand. “Yes, please.”
“We could pay rent with the money we got back,” Stella suggests.
Rae nods and rubs Kori’s head. “We could pack up tonight.”
The little girl jumps up and down while I feel the same way on the inside. Getting them out of the motel will take a lot of pressure off me since I can’t fucking relax knowing Stella’s there. The place is unsafe even without the Rod factor.
“Let’s go now,” Kori says, pulling on her mom’s hand. “I’ll get all my stuff put in the car right away.”
“Thank Colt.”
“Thank you!” she squeals, more excited than I’ve ever seen her.
Stella is like a ghost next to me. She’s nervous again. We need time alone, so I can kiss her silly, make her forget about her past problems, and focus her mind on the future.
I hold her hand as we head down the outside stairs. Kori squeals when she sees a dog at Gram’s side.
“Does it bite?” Rae asks, likely fearful of Rover’s size.
“He’s harmless,” Gram says. “Worst guard dog you’ll ever meet.”
Kori and Rover make fast friends while Gram hands over the keys to Rae and talks costs.
“What’s that look mean?” I ask Stella.
“Good stuff doesn’t happen for me,” she says and bursts into tears. “This isn’t going to last.”
Backing away from me, Stella looks ready to bolt. I don’t know where she thinks she’ll go.
I take a big step, erasing the space between us. “Listen here, Stella. Good things happen to me all the time. I was born under a lucky star. My parents are awesome. I’m always healthy. I have no problems except I never found a woman I wanted to keep around. Now I have, and I’m ready to start our life together.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You’ve had bad luck, but that was the past. You’re with me now, and my luck will rub off on you.”
“You give me good luck, and I give you nothing.”
Stella’s tears draw Kori’s attention, and I sense Rae is worried. They think we’re fighting. I already know the kid is about to ask if I won’t let them move in now.
“Gram, we’ll pick up their stuff and move in tonight, so they can get out of the motel.”
“Sounds good,” she says, playing along as I state the obvious.
Once Kori stops looking ready to freak out, and Rae’s frown returns to her regular blank expression, I can focus on Stella.
“You’re the key, baby, remember?” I say, caressing her trembling lips with my thumb. “All those other girls couldn’t open my heart no matter what they tried. It was so easy for you because you’re the key.”
Stella stares
at her hand pressed against my chest. Her tears dry, but she looks exhausted. As much as I need her to catch up to where I am feelings-wise, I remind myself how her life’s been turned upside down in a single week.
“Let’s make a deal,” I whisper once I rest her head against my chest. “We’ll get you moved into the apartment tonight, and I promise no more big moves for a few days. No meeting my family or friends. We’ll just hang out and get to know each other better so you’ll feel more comfortable.”
“What’s a few days?”
“Three.”
“I liked meeting your gram, but I’m really nervous about meeting your mom. If she doesn’t like me...” Stella trails off as tears fill her eyes. “Moms never like me.”
“That’s not true. Rae likes you. Gram likes you.”
Stella looks up at me and whispers, “Three days?”
“I promise. I just can’t have you at the motel. I go nuts when I can’t protect the people I love, and I do love you, Stella.”
“I don’t know why.”
“Your cunt mother never showed you your worth, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have any. The reason I know I’m fucking awesome is because my mom told me all the time. You’ve got a shitty mom, but that’s the past. You and I are building a future, and that cunt’s problems won’t stop us.”
Stella’s smile grows. “Do you think after we move in tonight that you and I could be alone for a while?”
“Are you asking for sex?” I whisper. “Because I’m always going to say yes to that question.”
Laughing now, Stella hugs me tighter. “You have a way of making everything seem simple and easy.”
“I got lucky with a good family, and I want to share all my luck with you. It’ll feel weird and maybe fucked up at first because you’re used to having a shitty family and bad luck. Give it time, though, and you’ll see how easy life can be when you’re no longer dragged down by cunts.”
Stella giggles whenever I say “cunt.” I bet she’s always wanted to hate her mother but felt as if she shouldn’t. Her mom is one of those people who did shitty stuff long ago and then turned things around and acts like a fucking saint. Except a truly redeemed person wouldn’t have abandoned her daughter just to start over clean. Her mom is still a cunt just like she was back when she left her child in a car on a hot day.
