Page 2 of Shadows of Timber Creek

“They better be glad I left him alive,” I seethe.

“I need you out of prison. We gotta win the bowl this year.” He chuckles.

“I’m fine. I just need to get my head right.” I walk into my bathroom and flip on the faucet to the shower.

“Good. In the meantime, lay low and behave.”

“Yes sir.” I hang up, tossing my cell onto the countertop before I slide down my shorts.

Just as I’m stepping onto the cold tile, my phone rings again.

Easton.

If I have a soft spot for anyone right now, it’s him.

Swiping the screen, I pick up. “Brother.”

“Hey man.”

“What’s up?” I pinch the bridge of nose, not looking forward to another conversation regarding our family matters.

“Nothing much, just calling to check in.”

His tone is off, and it immediately sends me on alert. “East.”

I’m not sure if my voice holds a question or a warning. I’m standing buck naked, and he wants to beat around the bush.

“You talked to Adam?” He asks.

“Nah. Why?”

I’m not sure why he’s asking about Adam. Adam Harper has been my best friend since third grade. He’s a police officer, along with my brother and I can’t deny that sometimes I’m just waiting for that call. The call no one wants to get about someone they’ve spent decades of their life with.

“What’s wrong?” I finally ask.

“Nothing is wrong….” He clears his throat. “It’s Tilly.”

Ice. Cold, soul crushing ice fills my veins at the mention of her name. My best friend’s little sister.

I swallow. “What about her?”

“Grey…...she’s.” He pauses and sighs. “She’s engaged.”

I freeze. All I can do is stare absently back at myself in the mirror. All I can focus on is the light layer of steam gravitating over my reflection. The sound of the water pounding against the floor of the shower.

“Grey? You there?” He asks.

“What the fuck do you mean, engaged?” I bark out.

“Her boyfriend proposed last night.”

“Boyfriend? What boyfriend?”

I was aware she had gone on some dates, and she had company the last time we had seen each other. I had showed up unannounced, and had a rude awakening, but how in the world did she go from a few dates to engaged?

“I’m as shocked as you are. She’s only been dating him a couple of months.”

My limbs regain function and I’m on the move to the bedroom, still naked as the day I was born while I reach for my suitcase inside the closet.

---