Page 81 of I'll Carry You

ChapterTwenty-Six

“You get your marching orders?”TJ stood at the door to his motel, wearing a floral Hawaiian shirt over a thermal. He’d paired it with sweatpants and flip-flops and looked ridiculous.

Jason peered past him into the motel room. Orange light illuminated the dated two-toned gold striped wallpaper. The bed was an unmade disaster, and open carry-out containers littered the floor and tables. “God, you’re a slob. You gonna let me in?”

TJ rolled his eyes, then gestured Jason forward.

Jason shut the door behind him as he came in. “Turns out the owner of the cabins is related to Jen, so I was politely told my cabin rental couldn’t be extended as I’d originally planned.”

“Sorry to see you go, man.” Gathering a few containers of food, TJ stuffed them on top of an overflowing trash can. “I thought you might actually pull out a win on this one.” His sarcasm on the last part was dripping.

Jason cocked his head at TJ quizzically. “Why are you saying that like you’re staying here?”

TJ flopped onto the hard loveseat in the room. “Because I am. I’ve gotten to see a lot of this town while I’ve been here and, I don’t know. There’s just something about it. It’s like a place where you feel like maybe if you stay long enough, you won’t be alone. I’m sick of living out of crappy motels and eating like a pig. And I’m sure there are plenty of cheating spouses in the area who could use my services. I figure after you pay me—if I don’t end up in jail from Ned’s charges—I may try to take the domestic route.”

Jason stared at him, blinking. TJ...liked it here? “Damn near a crime for you to use your talents on cheating spouses.”

“All part of the job. And jobs like that sometimes lead to bigger ones, you know.” TJ grinned widely. “I’m sending you your invoice via email later today. Make sure you’re sitting down when you see it.”

Jason smirked. As though he’d never seen a huge bill from TJ before. Or just in general. He nodded slowly. “Yeah, I will. I just wanted to thank you. For everything. You’ve been the closest I’ve had to a friend lately, which I know may sound ridiculous, but I want you to know I’m not going to leave you hanging with the legal issues.”

TJ got up and walked over to him. Clapping him on the shoulder, he nodded, his eyes reflecting concern. “So that’s it, then? What about that baking thing tonight? Isn’t the last part of the competition tonight?”

“What am I supposed to do? Her brother said she was filing a restraining order against me.”

TJ shrugged. “I don’t know. Show up, make a grand gesture?Say Anythingstyle. You know—boombox in hand, declare your love.” His hands moved in wide motions to match his words.

“You’re aware this is real life, right? That doesn’t actually happen.” After Jen had texted him to ask about the bills he’d paid the day before, he hadn’t heard anything else. No thank you, which hadn’t been why he’d done it. Not even outrage. Just . . . nothing.

Every notification from his phone since then had been torture.

“There’s a reason those things have stood the test of time, my friend.”

Jason gave him a cynical chuckle. “Yet one of the most famous lines to come from Hollywood is fromCasablancawhen the guy loses the girl and ends up with his weasel friend instead.”

TJ dabbed his eyes in mockery as though he had tears. “Am I your Louie? I’m touched.”

Jason couldn’t help the genuine laugh this time. He sighed, then shook TJ’s hand. “I’ll see you around.”

He left the motel and got back into his car. He had one more place to visit before he left. As he drove, the route took him right through Main Street. His heart felt as though someone had encased it in a sheath of ice. Unlike TJ, he couldn’t think of coming back here. Every single corner of this town reminded him of Jen.

He pulled up in front of Mildred’s house minutes later. Before he could get out, he saw her in the backyard of her house. On the top of a ladder, hand in the gutter.

His pulse quickened as he got out of the car. He came around, trying to make as much noise walking as he could. He didn’t want her to get startled by him and fall off the ladder, after all.

“Look what the cat dragged in. I was wondering when you’d turn up around here. Don’t tell me—you’re leaving town?” Mildred looked down at him, then tossed a handful of leaves out of the gutter.

“Mildred, what the hell are you doing up there?” He waved at her to come down. “Can’t you hire someone for that?”

“I quite like heights, thank you.” Mildred grinned at him. “Only time I get to be taller than everyone else.” But she began a slow descent.

Jason’s palms hurt from watching her sway on the creaky old ladder. He held out a hand toward her as she drew closer. She took it, then climbed onto the leaf-covered grass. “Please promise me you won’t do that crap anymore. I’ll pay for someone to come and take care of this for you.”

She frowned, then gritted her teeth. “Fine. If you insist. I don’t know why you pretend to care.”

“I do care.” Jason squeezed her hand. “You’re the only family I have, you know.”

“You could have more family if you tried a bit. But as soon as you have a tiny setback, you flee.”

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