Page 5 of A Tinsel Tale

I snort. “I’m sure city life hasn’t prepared you for farm chores.”

“What do you know about city life? Have you ever heard of gyms?”

I scoff. “Hardly the same.”

“We’ll have to see, won’t we,” she says as she grabs an armful of wood. I glance at Bill and he’s grinning from ear to ear.

“If you’re sore tomorrow don’t say I didn’t tell you so.” She ignores me and piles the wood on top of the stack.

“I need to get off my knee for a bit. I’ll leave you both to it,” Bill says.

“Okay, Daddy,” she purrs. I know she’s intentionally trying to annoy me and it sure as hell is working.

We unload the firewood in silence. She holds herself rigid and refuses to look at me. When we’re done, I whistle for Hux and he comes galloping back to me from the barn, tongue lolling.

“Huxley,” Evie calls, her face finally softening for my damn dog. “Come here boy. So, you’re the famous mascot my dad keeps talking about,” she coos, crouching down to pet him. “So handsome.” He proceeds to lick her face while she giggles.Traitor.

I open the truck door and grumpily command, “Load, Hux.” He looks up at me and cocks his head curiously but obeys and jumps right in. I climb in behind him. “Enjoy your time with your dad,” I say. “It’s been real hard on him. He’s missed you.” I start my engine and glance over as she flips me the bird. I bite back a satisfied grin as I drive away.Score.

3

EVIE

Asshole. I watch him pull away steam practically coming out of my ears. What a judgmental prick. I mimic him, “Enjoy your time with your dad. It’s been hard on him. He’s missed you.” Screw him! I’m so mad right now I want to chase after his truck snarling like a rabid Rottweiler. That would play right into the picture he’s trying to paint of me. He’s the bad guy here, not me!

I take several slow steadying breaths and count to ten. I’m not going to let him spoil the afterglow from my glorious trail ride. It was heaven, pure and simple. The cold breeze blowing in from the lake, Bunny full of piss and vinegar, her ears pricked forward, a prance in her step. She was as excited as I was to hit the trails. My butt’s a little sore because we rode longer than I’d planned but I don’t care. It was the best I’d felt in a very long time, riding down old familiar trails through the woods then following the worn path parallel to the lake.

I walk into the house and my dad’s eyeballing me with undisguised curiosity. I pull off my boots at the door and turn to face him.

“What?” I grumble knowing full well what he’s about.

“Nothing. Jamie looks good, doesn’t he?”

I shrug. “He’s alright I guess if you like his type.”Liar!I couldn’t help but notice his broad shoulders and thick muscular thighs. Or his loose curls with highlights the color of a copper penny peeking out from under his ball cap. And those eyes! The very same eyes that used to smolder with passion when we made love.

Dad chuckles. “There was a time when he was one hundred percent your type.”

“Don’t remind me of my stupidity.”

“How long you gonna hold it against him? You were just kids, Evie.”

“What do you mean? I let go of that a long time ago,” I lie again. He looks at me knowingly over his reading glasses.

He says, “You know, it wouldn’t hurt for you two to talk about it. Holding onto the past hurt and grudges doesn’t do anyone good.”

“I’ll take that under advisement,” I say.

“I’m sure he had his reasons. Why don’t you ask him? You may be surprised by his answer. He more than likely thought he was doing right at the time. I don’t think he knew how to handle his injuries and losing his scholarship. It cost him his dream. I don’t think he wanted to hold you back from yours.”

“I wish you’d quit sticking up for him,” I say, my hands on my hips. “He’s not the hero everyone thinks he is. He dumped me with no warning and told me his feelings had changed. He said we were too young to settle down without exploring the world. Therewasno conversation about him holding me back. You’re seeing him through rose-colored glasses. He dumped your daughter. End of story. Not everyone is as romantic as you, Dad.”

“Jamie is a good man. That I do know.”

“Not surprising you’d take up for him,” I say, sounding like I’m twelve.

“I’m not taking up for anybody. I’m only offering my opinion. He was all set to join you before the accident. Full football scholarship, then poof, it’s gone. Try and put yourself in his shoes.”

“His shoes? What about my shoes? He broke my heart! You know, Dad, let’s change the subject. Life’s too short to waste it on him. He made the decision all by his little ole self and broke my heart. And don’t forget, he waited until the day I left for college! I can’t believe you’re defending him.”

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