Page 109 of Corkscrew You
I’m desperate to see Nate, and I don’t want to see him ever again. I want to hear his side of things – Ted’s right – and I will never forgive him as long as I live. I love him, and I hate what he did. I don’t want this to be the end of us, but I can’t see how we caneverbridge this gap.
The pickup isn’t here. I shut my eyes and open them again, just in case, but the gravel is bare. No Nate.
Damn it! I’ve worked myself up into a lather! Theleasthe could do is be here so I can find out if the doctor said he’s okay. And if he’s okay, then I can yell at him some more.
It’s awfully quiet. Usually, if anyone pulls up, the dogs will make a noise, and Dylan will make an even louder noise. Maybe they’re shirty with me because I haven’t fed them this morning. Better do that right now before they decide to eatme.
My phone beeps in my pocket, and I jump. Nate?
No, but close. Ava. She texts like Chiara, short and to the point:WTF did U say 2 dad?
I don’t have time for this now. If she really wants to know, she can ask him herself. He’sherfather.
I head round the house to the back door, where the food supplies are. And bump into Cam.
“Fed them,” he says, correctly interpreting my purpose.
Suddenly, I’m finding it hard to speak. “Thanks.”
He peers at my tear-puffed face.
“You OK?”
And I burst into tears AGAIN!
Cam, who isn’t a touching kind of person, makes like Ted and folds me into his arms. Unlike Ted, his T-shirt has holes, and he smells like sawdust, with a hint of pig. Has the same calming effect, though. Cam has natural solidity, like a muscular redwood. My head barely reaches his chest.
I relieve Cam from hugging duty, and fish Ted’s handkerchief (no longer crisp) out of my pocket.
“Sorry.”
Apology seems to be my theme of the day. That, and dampness.
“Heard about Javi,” Cam tells me.
He doesn’t need to elaborate. Not that he was going to, anyway.
“I’ll have to call him,” I say. “Don’t know how I can make it better, but…”
“Iris, too.”
“Oh,fig,” I groan. “I completely forgot about Iris!”
I have to lean my forehead against Cam’s sternum again, just to steady myself. He pats me tentatively on the back.
Deep breath, Shelby. You’ve been through worse. You can handle this.
Cam tenses, just a little, and an instant later, I know why. Tires are rolling over gravel. Could be anyone. But I know it’s not.
“Boss man.” Cam knows it, too.
“I have to face him.” Wish it weren’t so. Wish this wholenightmarewould just go away.
“Can you come with me?” I shamelessly beg.
Cam looks like I’ve asked him to run naked down Verity’s main street for charity. It’s the last thing he wants to do, but it’s for a good cause, so he can’t refuse.
“K,” he sighs.
