Page 20 of Whatever Will Be

Like this house is terrifying.

Like this town is terrifying.

I’m ashamed of these thoughts.

I want to escape them.

In spite of the freezing weather, I pull my sweater belt tight and step outside in my slippers.

The moon peers down from the edge of a winter cloud and the light in the carriage house window is on. I would assume Danny and Trent are in there reliving past glory days of constant trouble. They were a hell of a team and not always in a good way.

I used to think Trent was to blame for Danny’s wild behavior. When Trent was gone and Danny’s wild behavior didn’t fade, I knew I’d been wrong.

As if summoned by my thoughts, a slice of light appears as the carriage house door opens. Trent Cassini is silhouetted for a handful of seconds and he says something I cannot hear from all the way across the yard. The door shuts and his footsteps crunch in the direction of the back gate. If I say nothing, he may not even notice I’m here.

“Are you going home?” I blurt out.

He freezes. “What the hell are you doing out here in the cold?”

“I asked you a question first.”

“Yeah, I’m going home. Now answer mine.”

I hold up the bottle. “Making time for my date.”

He snorts and gets close enough for me to inhale a blend of sandalwood and musk. His cologne, or maybe his shower gel.

He gestures to the bottle. “If that’s from Cassini Brewery I’m going to spontaneously puke.”

“It’s not. No one in this house ever drank Cassini Beer.” The moon has temporarily escaped the clouds and I can see him more clearly now. His shirt is rolled to his elbows and he’s not wearing a jacket. “It can’t be more than thirty degrees out here.”

“More like twenty.”

“You must be cold.”

“Is that an offer to keep me warm, Gretch?”

I can’t stop from hissing out a disgusted noise. “Don’t do that.”

He leans on the wall right beside me. “What?”

“Flirt.”

“I don’t flirt.”

“Are you drunk, Trent?”

“Not quite.”

“Is Danny?”

“Just about.”

The beer bottle is making my cold hands even colder. I forgot to open it before coming out here. “How is he?”

“He’s your brother. Ask him.”

“Tomorrow.” I try to pry the bottle cap off and give up quickly. “I hear we’re neighbors again.”

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