Walker smacked me upside the back of the head. “I don’t want to hear that shit.”
I chuckled. “You asked.” I was single, I might as well enjoy the variety life had to offer. I was always honest about what I was looking for—and what I wasn’t. I treated the women with respect. Hell, I took a lot of them on dates. But I rarely saw a woman more than three times. Three seemed to be the magic number where most started to think they could be the one to change my ways. And I was not down for that.
Walker glanced back at the guest house as he guided his truck down the drive, the leather of the steering wheel squeaking as he tightened his hold. “I’m worried about her.”
I ran a hand through my hair, giving the ends a swift tug. “Me, too.” And it wasn’t just the circles rimming Jensen’s eyes, it was the dullness within them. The amber used to glow and dance with mischief, burn with wildfire. Now, they had no life in them at all.
“She won’t talk to anyone. Not even Taylor has been able to get through to her.”
I looked up at the rearview mirror and saw Jensen corralling Noah into her SUV. “Taylor makes her feel guilty.Youmake her feel guilty. Hell, your whole family probably makes her feel guilty.”
“What are you talking about?”
I continued watching Jensen through the mirror. “You got shot. Taylor almost died. Your family nearly lost you. She blames herself for bringing Bryce into all of your lives.”
Walker’s jaw worked. “That’s bullshit. We all knew Bryce for years. None of us had any clue. The pain he caused is Bryce’s fault alone.”
“I know that. You know that. The whole town knows it. But J doesn’t believe it.”
Walker switched on his blinker and turned towards town. “How do I get her to believe it?”
That was a question I’d asked myself a million times. I hated how powerless I felt to help her. For as long as I could remember, I’d always been able to make things better for Jensen, but everything I’d tried recently just seemed to piss her off. I wanted to help, but I also wanted my friend back. “I’m not sure.” But I sure as hell planned to keep trying.
Silence overtook the cab as we wound through the country roads. Ranches and rolling hills gradually gave way to smaller homes and flat, paved surfaces. Walker slowed for a stop sign.
My entire body locked up at the sight of a figure exiting a house on the corner.
Bastard.It wasn’t enough to be a cheater. Apparently, he wasn’t even going home anymore. Wasn’t even making an attempt to hide his indiscretions.
“Isn’t that your dad?” Walker’s voice held a puzzled curiosity.
I cleared my throat, forcing levity into my tone. “Yeah, my mom mentioned he was going to help a friend of hers with a leaky sink this morning.”
“That’s nice of him.”
I let out a snort of derision. “That’s Craig Harris, nicest guy around.”
Walker stole a sidelong glance at me before accelerating through the stop. “Tuck…”
“It’s fine.” It damn well wasn’t, and we both knew it. Walker just didn’t know why I seemed to hate my father so much.“You’re just like me, Tuck. Two peas in a pod.”I refused to let myself become the man my dad was, forcing his son to lie for him, treating his wife like garbage.
My mom had done her best to cover for him. She made excuses, tried to hide her worry, but she didn’t know the depth of his betrayal. She thought he abandoned her most nights for the bottle. I knew the truth. His real drug was women.
At least growing up, he’d fished outside of Sutter Lake waters, but lately, he’d been getting bolder. And I knew that my mother would find out eventually. And it would kill her. A woman who had wanted nothing but to build a family with my father. To make him happy. And this was how he repaid her?
Craig Harris’s blood ran through my veins, but I would never let myself become him. I would never leave a wife and child at home waiting for me, because there would never be a wife and child to begin with. I rubbed my sternum, trying to alleviate the phantom feeling in my chest.
My life was full. I was happy. I had a job that I loved. People in my life who loved me. And I never hurt for female company. It might not be a typical life, but it worked for me. I was fine.
3
Jensen
The bellover the door to the Kettle sounded as a blast of cold air shot through my warm and cozy space.
“Hi, baby girl. How’s your day treatin’ you?”
I took in my mom, her dark brown hair swept up in a bun that somehow managed to look both casual and elegant. Just like the rest of her. The sight of her put-together outfit and expertly applied makeup had me brushing crumbs off my rumpled shirt. “Hi, Mom.”
