Page 50 of Throw Down

“I don’t know, man.” Nate cracked his neck, clearly uncomfortable with the topic, and said reluctantly, “None of the Owens kids had much of a childhood.Him most of all, I guess. He’d already dropped out of school before I hit kindergarten.Spent all his time working out in the boonies with rough old bachelors.How’s a fourteen-year-old kid going to make friends like that?”

“He never graduated high school?” Briar thought back to their first meeting and the sneer in Derek’s voice when he said: you think rednecks can’t do math without some fancy college degree?

Briar leaned forward, eager for more information despite the tiny voice inside his head trying to make him feel guilty. He knew he should be learning these things from Derek, but he always felt like he was on the back foot with him.Any information was welcome if it could firm up the ground beneath his feet.

Nate snorted and scrubbed his hands over his face, seeming to come to an internal decision.He stretched back into the sofa and patted his shoulder, inviting Briar to get more comfortable for storytime.

Briar obligingly snuggled up to him.Nate was like a brother, and Briar knew that whatever he said was the God’s honest truth as he knew it.

“Derek never went to high school,” Nate said, starting slowly, as if organizing his own thoughts in his mind.“I heard he’s pretty smart—”

“He is,” Briar affirmed. “He can do mental math really fast, and he always has an answer for everything. His cabin is full of history and psychology books.”

“How do you...” Nate began, looking disturbed.Briar stared back at him, tight-lipped, and eventually Nate just sighed and shook his head.

Briar took that as encouragement to continue.“He can cook and fix cars and catch fish and carry on a conversation about Sabbath’s medical treatment as if he’s the one with the veterinary qualifications.He seems to know everything. It’s intimidating as hell.”

Nate was quiet for a moment, absorbing the information—or maybe just registering Briar's enthusiasm.

“I don’t like him,” Nate said after a long silence.“West is my friend. I grew up with him, and I’ve seen the way he shrivels whenever his older brother is around.Derek might’ve been the one who kept their family running all those years, but so what?We’re all small-town poor around here.None of us had it easy. But Derek’s never let any of them forget what he gave up for them.He’s…he’s just not a nice person, okay?Even if he was out, he wouldn’t be right for you.You’re sweet and a little naïve despite the way you grew up—”

“Hey!”

Nate tweaked his nose, trying to smile despite the worry on his face.“I just never again want to see you flinch when a boyfriend walks in the room.”

Briar twiddled his thumbs, sorting through a jumble of responses. What Nate said made sense; Briar had repeated the same cautions to himself over and over again. But Nate had never looked into Derek’s eyes. He’d never seen the kindness there…or the loneliness.

“I hear you,” Briar said slowly, not wanting to sound like a vapid, lovesick fool, ready to throw away common sense just to hop on the D. “I know you want what’s best for me, and I appreciate it.But—and don’t take this the wrong way—didn’t people say the same thing about Tucker McGrumpypants?”

Nate stiffened. “That’s different,” he said sharply.

“How?”

“I've known Tucker since we were kids.He can’t show his gentle side around a lot of people, but it’s there and it’s strong.He’s the best man I’ve ever known.”

Briar nodded agreeably. Tucker wasn’t the most personable guy, short-tempered and brusque, even on his best days.But he treated Nate like gold, and that was all that mattered to Briar.

“It’s just that maybe Derek is misunderstood too,” Briar said softly.

Nate took a breath. “Briar—”

“I know how it sounds,” Briar protested, holding up a hand.“I learned my lesson with Dax, I swear.I’m not into bad boys anymore.But it’s not like I’m trying to rehabilitate Derek.I like him the way he is.”

“Why?” Nate sounded perplexed.

“Looks aren’t everything,” Briar said, trying not to take offense.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Look,” Briar said, choosing his words carefully, “I might not have known Derek as long as you knew Tucker, but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong.It just means he feels safe enough to show me a side of himself that he’s never shown other people.Maybe...maybe because I'm not like anyone he's ever known before.”

He added that last parthesitantly.For the first time, he dared to believe that his oddball nature wasn't aflaw.It was part of what Derek loved abouthim.

Liked.

Liked abouthim.

Derek didn't lovehim.

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