Page 73 of Catching Sparks

“Fuck, Garrison. At least tell public relations. Bring it up to them and have something drafted, even if you don’t ever use it.”

My head weighs a million pounds as I drop it back and stare at the sky that’s growing darker with every minute I waste arguing with Nathan.

“Leave it. And keep this between us. The last thing I need is this getting to the board while I’m not there to explain.” The threat is obvious in my tone, so I don’t waste my breath with more words.

“Fine. Goddammit, fine. But the moment this goes sideways, I’m pulling you out of there. You’ll have to take care of everything else yourself.”

“I’m more than capable of doing that. This is nothing,” I grind out.

It’s absolutely not nothing. Regardless of the lack of emotional relationship, I’m sleeping with Poppy, and that in itself requires some sort of fail-safe protection plan. I’ve never hesitated like this before to ensure I have nothing to worry about if things do get messy. I hate messy. Always have. But the idea of handing a file of legal documents over for her to sign and risking her feeling uncomfortable or believing I don’t trust her makes me feel sicker than the past few days have.

“I’ll take your word for it, then,” Nathan mutters.

“Great.”

Before I say something that I can’t take back, I hang up the call and shove my phone back into my pocket. Johnny’s still staring at me; I can feel it before I spin on my heel and meet his stare. He doesn’t bother looking away and pretending he hadn’t been listening either. As annoying as it is that he eavesdropped, I do respect his honesty. It’s a quality that’s far too rare.

“Poppy hasn’t mentioned her washer and dryer not working. One of us would have gone over and helped her with it if she had,” he says.

My first instinct is to tell him her well-being isn’t his concern. But it’s not mine either.

“They were beyond help. She needed new ones. I have the means to give them to her. End of story,” I tell him.

His eyes narrow at the corners. “Alright.”

“Don’t use that tone.”

“What tone?”

“The doubtful one. I don’t have it in me to fight this battle again.”

“Who’s Nathan?”

My legs eat the distance between me and the car, but I swerve at the last minute. The truck is unlocked like it always is. No one in their right mind would come here to steal it. I ignore Johnny’s question and get in the truck, slamming the door shut behind me. It starts rough, black smoke puffing into the air, before Johnny joins me.

He does up his seat belt, damn near twitching with questions. “He’s a friend of yours from Toronto?”

“You’re a dog with a bone.”

“I’m just trying to crack your shell. I know it’s possible.”

“No, it’s not,” I argue, shifting the truck into first gear and pulling away from the house.

It’s become easy to drive the truck. I’ve taken it into town more often, relying less on Johnny to take me where I need to go. He’s been handed more responsibility this past week, and while Wade blames that on the upcoming breeding season, I think otherwise. He took my suggestion to heart and is testing the kid. I don’t want Johnny to fail because he’s preoccupied with me.

“Have you ever thought that maybe people here haven’t welcomed you yet because they can sense you don’t want to be here? Why would they give you a chance if you’re not going to offer them the same courtesy?” he asks, the sudden sharp tone of his voice taking me aback.

“I have just over a month left here, kid. It won’t do anyone any good to get to know me when I’m going to disappear forever. Plus, I have a less-than-appealing reputation. I doubt many people want to find out for themselves if I’m different than what they’re expecting me to be.”

He huffs, head shaking while he sets his hat on his lap. “You’re more than a reputation. Me, I’m friends with damn near everyone. I’ve always wanted to make my own opinion on someone instead of judging them for what someone else told me. That’s who I am. Poppy, though? Deny it all you want, you stubborn ass, but she gave you a chance, knowing that it could catch her in hot water with both Anna and Brody. Considering that she continues to do so shows me that you’re not as bad as you make yourself out to be.”

His words settle unevenly in my gut. Yeah, I think this kid might be Wade’s saving grace while also being a colossal pain in my ass. Even if he’s speaking nothing but the truth.

I’m just not ready to admit any of it to myself.

Not yet.

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