Page 97 of Burn It Down

“I’ll forgive you this once, Dildo, but you’d better start working on one hell of an apology to make it up to me.” She’s still mad, but her use of my stupid nickname eases the tightness in my chest a little.

“On it,” I assure her as I study her expression trying to see if she’s feeling better.

“I’m really happy for you and Jake. I’m sorry his dad’s such a cunt.”

I huff a laugh because Cass has a way with words. “Yeah, me too.”

“Should we go rescue Jake from Dad?”

I nod, eager to see what they’ve been talking about.

We find Dad and Jake still outside on the porch. When I open the front door, my dad goes silent.

“What are you two talking about?” The tension has moved from my chest to my jaw, making my back teeth grind as I talk.

My dad flashes Jake a pleading look, all wide eyes, forehead wrinkles, and tilted head. He’s silently asking Jake not to answer me, but Jake braces his hands on the white railing behind him and crosses one ankle in front of the other and starts talking. He addresses my dad first.

“Charlie, I won’t keep this from Dylan because I won’t keepanythingfrom Dylan. Ever.” Swinging his eyes to me, Jake says, “Your dad and I are discussing options for selling the shop. Specifically, he asked me to buy him and Cassie out and be a silent partner for you until you can either buy it outright or wanted to sell your portion too.”

The sting of betrayal cuts deeply.

“So, this is how we do things now, Pop? Go behind each other’s backs with secrets?”

“Damn it, Dylan. I’ve been trying to get you to sell for months. Cassie doesn’t want to be here anymore, with Carl gone, their shop sold, and Terrell and Glynda closing their doors too, this isn’t the same street we started out on, son. We had a good run, but now it’s just rundown. We need to think ahead. Take the money while it’s still worth something and start somewhere new.”

“So, let me get this straight, you didn’t want me to get involved with Jake in the beginning because,” I hold my fingers up for air quotes, remembering his words quite well, “that kind of money changes good menand you didn’t want to see my heart get broken when he got tired of slumming it and now—”

“Dylan, I never said pursuing you wasslumming itfor God’s sake,” he argues. “You’re my own flesh and blood.”

“The implication speaks just as loudly as your words,” I bite, pissed that now that my dad has a use for Jake’s money, his wealth is no longer the evil it once was.

Jake pushes off the railing and places his strong, steady hands on my pecs, his face taking up my entire line of sight.

“Hey, we all say some harsh shit when we’re trying to protect the people we love. I’m not offended.” Slowly, half his mouth draws up in a smile. “Besides, baby, I believe it wasyouwho once reduced me to a Tesla-driving, expensive-liquor-drinking, Rolex-wearing douche with an early tee-time.”

I can’t help but smile as I point out, “The only part I got wrong was the Tesla and I never called you a douche.”He doesn’t ever need to know how I labeled his contact that first day.

He leans in and throws my words back in my face for a second time, but delivers them with a kiss to soften the blow. “The implication speaks just as loudly as your words.”

Shaking my head, I laugh and gently push him away from me.

“Touché, asshole.” Turning to my dad I offer an apology before looking back at Jake and asking, “So, what’s the plan?”

“I’ll buy your dad and Cassie out, giving them the cash flow they need to pursue whatever is next for them. I’ll be a silent partner as long as you’ll have me and if/when you’re ready to move, we’ll sell this building, find the one you want, I’ll sell my portion of the company to you for one dollar and you’ll be the sole proprietor and all the money from the sale will be yours.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Is itstillnot obvious? I’d do anything for you.” Jake grabs two fistfuls of my shirt at my waist and plants his forehead against mine.

“Maybe we should take this inside before you two set my yard on fire with those looks. I think we could all use a shot of tequila and I think a toast to Carl would be nice.”

Around our kitchen table, my dad pours five shots. We set Carl’s on the mantle as we all toast and knock them back.

Chapter 27

Jake

Cora and I meet Ines at the television studio at six in the morning. Ines works at the local news station as an anchor, but she’s also one of its producers. She’s covered several events for Cora and is a rare source we trust these days.

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