I met his gaze head-on. "I want to know about the fights."
Chapter 37
From inside the house, I heard the lawn mower running somewhere out back. To my relief, Joel had actually agreed to my terms, even if he didn't look too happy about it.
But I had a good reason for pushing the issue. We'd been spending a lot of time together, and in spite of my best intentions, I was falling for him in the scariest way.
Howhefelt, I couldn’t be sure. But Ididknow that both of us had been dodging our share of questions – me when it came to Derek, the estate, and everything associated with it.
As for Joel, he'd been dodging questions about two primary things – the fights and how he made his money. This led me to an ominous realization. Those two things were probably related.
In spite of my earlier assumptions, he didn't seem to be hurting for money. And yet, he didn't seem to have a regular job waiting for him anywhere.
True, I could say the same for myself. Over the past few months, I'd been living in limbo-land, with a seasonal part-time job – two jobs if I counted the lawn thing – and a college career that I'd been forced to put on hold.
When Joel had asked me about college, I'd given him the same vague answer that I always gave."Oh that? I'm taking a year off."
Like I had a choice.
But if anything, Joel's answers had been even more vague than mine. When I'd asked him point-blank what Mike had meant about seeing Joel "slaughter" someone at State, he'd replied with something along the lines of,"Eh, the guy didn't know what he was talking about."
What did that even mean? That Mike had mistaken Joel for someone else? That it wasn't a slaughter, so much as a maiming? Or that the altercation didn't qualify as a real fight?
I had no idea. But soon, I'd be finding out.
While he mowed the yard, I ran through the house, dusting the furniture and running a mop over the floors. It wasn't only that it gave me something to do. It was the fact that I didn't want added trouble if Derek's dad popped in for a spot inspection.
The way Derek had talked, that was a distinct possibility, and there was no way on Earth I wanted to get caught in any kind of violation.
The cleaning itself wasn't a hardship. I mean, I didn’t mind cleaning my own place. But I hated the thought of doing it just because it was a condition of me living here – like some kind of temporary tenant, squatting in the guestroom until the real owner showed up.
Iwasthe real owner – or at least, I would be, in four more years, assuming I could hold on that long.
I was just finishing the kitchen floors when I heard that dreaded sound, the doorbell echoing through the house. Fearing the worst – that it might be Derek's dad, coming to check up on me – I set the mop aside and rushed to the front door.
But when I flung it open, it wasn't Derek's dad. It was Derek himself. With barely a hello, he demanded, "What the hell ishedoing here?"
Oh, crap.Maybe I'd been dreading the wrong person. But in my defense, I hadn't considered that Derek might stop by twice within such a short timeframe.
From the open doorway, I scanned the front yard. I didn't see Joel, but I could hear the lawnmower running smoothly out back.
Stalling for time, I said, "What do you mean?"
"As if you don't know." Derek made a sound of disgust. "What? You're farming out your work now?"
God, what an ass.I wassotired of being on defense all the time. "It's getting mowed. What do you care?"
"That wasn't the agreement."
I gave him an irritated look. "Sothat'swhy you came back? To make sure I was mowing the lawn myself?"
"No. I came with news about your car, not that you seem to appreciate it."
Obviously, he meant my mom's car, which was still being repaired.
"Fine," I said. "Is it done?"
"Hardly. You're looking at some major repairs."
