Page 21 of Love Me, I Dare You

“To try my luck at The Harbor House again and hope Mable Watkins has gotten amnesia overnight.” Yeah, I know that’s not gonna happen.

Billie’s eyes go wide in bewilderment. “Why on earth would you be wishing for that? Did you sleep with her on your way around town and need her to forget the less than impressive experience?”

Jase bursts into a fit of laughter at my expense, but I don’t give in to the taunts Billie throws my way. “No, but because when I drove by this morning after checking out of the rat infested Dundy Motel down on highway nine, dear old Mabel started blaring gospel music out of her front porch.”

Billie nearly chokes on her drink as she laughs, spitting her margarita across the bar and onto Jase’s white t-shirt.

“Sorry, Jase. Yeah, there’s no way Mabel’s going to rent you a room. She hates you and your brothers and may as well be the only Crossroads resident who doesn’t adore Monty.” She pops a handful of fries Jase brought over into her mouth. “By the way, why aren’t you staying with Monty?” I give her a look that says,you know exactly why,since I’m sure she’s heard from Monroe just how excited she was to see me. She nods in understanding. “Monroe stayed with Bailey the first night, but then she went back home when Monty told her you weren’t there and wouldn’tbe staying with him. Sorry to say Nash, but your sister isn’t happy you’re home.”

Add that to the list of people that just keeps growing. So that’s where Monroe ran off. I stayed with Monty my first night in town, but only because it was so late by the time I left the bar and showed up at his house. There was no way I would have found a room anywhere else. But after waking up the next day and realizing Monroe had packed a bag and left, my oldest brother made it clear I wasn’t welcome to stay if it meant he’d lose her. I understood where he was coming from and I wouldn’t be making Monroe more uncomfortable than she already was. The poor girl puked the moment she saw me.

“I don’t blame her. I’ve been a complete asshole to her and deserve every colorful word I’m sure she called me. Besides, Monty is remodeling his place and the only rooms that are livable are his bedroom, Monroe’s, and her studio office.”

“Why don’t you stay with Bailey?” Jase blurts out, and now it’s my turn to spit out my drink, just in time to see Bailey walking out of the kitchen and toward us. She glares at me when she's noticed I’ve made a mess and grabs a bar towel, tossing it to me as she passes by.

“If you’re going to make a mess, Nash, you better fucking clean it up. We don’t clean up after sloppy drunks around here. We kick their asses to the curb.”

I wipe the whiskey off my beard before moving to dry up the small spill in front of me, as the corners of my mouth quirk up in amusement. “That’s the Bailey you want me to stay with? Yeah, you’re out of your mind, Jase.”

“Why not? She’s got a spare room, and you need a place to stay, at least for the few weeks it’s going to take to make the necessary repairs. The ranch ain’t livable. You said it yourself. Monty’s getting the work done, but there’s no way you can stay there while they make the repairs. Monroe’s staying with Monty,so he’s got no space. Plus sounds like she's as happy as Bailey that you’re back in town. Bailey just purchased the apartment upstairs. It has two bedrooms and a loft. More than enough space.”

Billie’s face is scrunched up in a befuddled expression as she stares at Jase with her mouth gaping open. My thoughts exactly. I toss the dirty towel to Jase. “Jase, have you lost your goddamn mind? Did you not witness the encounter we just had?”

Beside me, Billie straightens up and snaps her head toward me. “I think it’s a great idea. Sure, B hates your guts, but there’s nothing she hates more than seeing someone in need of help.”

I reach over the bar and refill my drink, clearly not drunk enough for this conversation or high enough of whatever these two fuckers smoked. “I don’t need anyone’s help.”

Jase yanks the bottle of whiskey back out of my hands. “Yeah, but you’re going to take it anyway, Nash. We’re family…” He pauses, and I know he said it without thinking twice. It’s muscle memory. We were brothers long before any of this mess between Bailey and me, but we’re not anymore. “At least we once were,” he corrects himself. “But family always comes through in times like these. Especially in Crossroads. I’ll run it by her…”

Billie stands on unsteady feet, running her palms down her skirt as she adjusts it. “Why don’t you boys let me bring it up to her? She’s less likely to murder me.”

Less likely, but not incapable. Jase has no fucking clue what he’s suggested, or what he’s asked of me. Bailey King hates me more than anything in this world, and for good reason. But in just a few days, I’ve reminded myself why it was so important for me to leave when I did. Being around her, much less living with her, might end up with one of us dead.

All bets are on me.

Chapter Nine

Nash

Well, that went exactly as expected.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me Billie,” Bailey shouts, throwing her hands up over her head in exasperation. Her blonde hair bounces as she anxiously paces back and forth. There’s no way she’ll ever agree to this preposterous idea these two have come up with. No point in even trying, but I let them go on, if only to amuse me.

“Hear me out,” Jase says, dodging the towel his sister swings toward him. “He needs a place to stay for a few weeks at most. Just until he and Monty can turn The Bishop Ranch into a less deadly trap.”

I didn’t dare walk over to her like they encouraged me to. No, I was going to stay as far away from Bailey and the hundreds of glass bottles neatly stacked on the wooden shelves at her reach. From the table at the end of the bar, near the dart boards hung up against the wall, I can faintly hear their conversation but know damn well it ain’t going well. She’s never looked more furious.

“Why the fuck isn’t he staying with Monty, or in any other hotel in Crossroads?” she shouts, her eyes flicking back and forth between her brother and best friend, clearly assuming the two went completely mad for even entertaining the idea of the two of us living together. She can’t even stand being in the same room with me, let alone allow me to enter her safe space.

Jase keeps his distance, not wanting to risk anything else being flung his way. Smart man.

“Look, you know it’s been a while since he’s been in town. I asked around. No one wants to let him stay in their establishment for fear of what hooligans he might bring their way. Not my words, that’s literally what Mable Watkins down at The Harbor House said to me when I called her just now.”

She turns her murderous glare on her brother and for once, I’m grateful those eyes aren’t just meant for me. “Then why the fuck isn’t he staying with you?” Jase chuckles, and honestly, I’m curious to hear his response. It’s true Jase never offered to let me stay with him, immediately offering Bailey’s place instead.

He tucks his hands in his pocket in a nervous gesture and I’m kinda thrown off by the unusual way he reacts to the question. “Bailey, you know my place isn't right for the two of us. I use it more for work than I do for sleep. Besides, I’m still on dad’s property, not sure how he’d feel about Nash back on his land.”

Oh, I know exactly how he’d feel. Nearly a week in town and I’m actually surprised I haven’t heard from Mayor King himself. By now I’m sure he’s heard I’m back, since Jase is so reluctant to let me near his family’s property. Bailey ignores the pair of lunatics, continuing to fill up the glasses of beer she needs to deliver to her customers. “And you think Nash, living with his daughter, would be any better?”

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