Page 6 of The Last Time

He eyes me with annoyance. “I wouldn’t hurt my niece. Maybe you should try to chill out and even smile once in a while.”

I brace for everyone to chime in with their opinions. Telling me I’m different since Lauren passed, that I should get help, that I don’t smile anymore. Telling me I’m angry at the world and should find things to be happy about or asking me what else happened that hardened me to life.

“Daddy, this yummy,” Brie chimes in.

I wink at her, and she giggles. She doesn’t actually understand that she saved me on that one, but I appreciate it.

Layla starts talking to our parents about her friend who’s back in town, and my mind begins to wander. I remember Charlotte. Most of the time, she was just my sister’s friend, but the last summer I saw her, she really started to mature. I tried not to take notice since she was seventeen, but it was impossible not to.

However, I was too enamored with Lauren to care, and Charlotte was far too young for me at the time. She was still in high school when I had already finished college.

I remember spotting her on the dock with her father all the time. I would smile every time my boat went passed and I saw her.

I’ve driven by that house a number of times over the years. I don’t know what the inside looks like, but if the outside is any indication, Charlotte has her work cut out for her this summer.

If I gave a shit about anything anymore, I would be a little worried about her spending nights alone in that place until it was inspected. But that man died a long time ago.

My family has all but begged me to see a therapist. They think someone can talk me out of thisfunk, but they don’t know the full story. No one does.

That’s how it will stay—for my daughter’s sake.

Just as I’m finishing my chili, my phone buzzes in my pocket. An area code I don’t recognize flashes across the screen. Most of the time, unknown numbers are work calls, but running a company means taking calls twenty-four/seven.

“Excuse me,” I announce to the table. “Hello, this is Asher.”

“Hi, Asher. My name is Charlotte. I’m an old friend of Layla’s,” Charlotte says softly on the phone.

I get an odd feeling in my chest at the sound of her voice. I wonder if I’m getting heartburn from that chili. Am I too young for heartburn?

“Yes, my sister told me you’d be calling,” I reply.

“Oh, um, okay. Well, I’m not sure what exactly she told you.”

I step out onto the small patio in my backyard to take the call, wanting some privacy from the many ears in my kitchen.

“Just said you needed some renovations done on your house.”

“Well, the thing is,” she begins hesitantly. “The water isn’t working. In some sinks, it splashes out all over, and in others, it just trickles out. I normally wouldn’t have called at this hour, but I just wanted to see if this is something your company can handle or if I should be calling a plumber.”

I squeeze the back of my neck as tension grows. We normally don’t get to a house quickly for emergency repairs. We’re more of a home renovation kind of company, but she sounds so desperate on the phone.

I think I might feel bad for her. Shit, maybe there’s a heart somewhere inside me. Or maybe I just want to avoid the wrath of Layla if I pass her friend off to someone else when she’s clearly desperate.

“I can take a look. I normally have my guys go out on the repairs, but I don’t make them work weekends. I have some time tomorrow afternoon to come take a look.”

I hear a sigh of relief on the phone. “Oh, thank you so much. Do you need my address? I can text it to this number.”

“I know the house. I’ll text you when I’m getting ready to head your way.”

“That’s great. I really appreciate you fitting me in last minute.”

“It’s fine. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Oh, uh, sure. Thanks again. Bye.”

I end the call and curse under my breath. I know how I come off these days. I wish I knew how to control it, but I don’t have it in me to try and figure it out. I’m just…tired.

I’m tired of living my life with this lie. Tired that life can be so cruel. Tired that people can go on living like they’re innocent when the world deserves to know their cruelty.

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