Page 13 of Beat around the Bush
Worried that something was wrong, I clicked his contact, dialing him.
He answered on the third ring. “Oakley?”
“Hey.”
He sighed into the phone. “Where are you? Are you okay? I’ve been worried.”
“I’m fine,” I said. I wasn’t going to give him any more than that in case he somehow figured out where I was and decided to come to Bell Buckle himself to bring me home. “Is there something you need to tell me?”
“Well, no, I-”
“Okay, then stop calling me.”
The line was silent for a few seconds, then he said, “But, honey, I-”
“No,” I interrupted again, “I don’t want to talk to you right now. I need my space, okay? Can you please just respect that?”
“Can you at least tell me where you are so I know you’re safe?”
“I’m safe. But unless there’s some kind of emergency, I need you to give me a break.”
The silence was back, and I debated hanging up the phone. I’d said all I needed to say.
“Okay,” he whispered.
“Thank you.” I hung up the phone, shoving it back into the pocket of my jacket.
I looked at my half-eaten sandwich, my appetite suddenly gone. Tossing it in the trash, I washed my hands in the sink and made my way back out to the floor.
I doubted my dad would give me the space I needed right now, but how else was I supposed to process the fact that my parents were split up, my mom cheated, and my dad wanted me to choose sides?
That was a choice no person should ever have to face. Yet here I was, finding myself right in the middle of it.
8
Lennon
My office chair squeaked as I leaned back, the sound interrupting the blissful silence of getting here before Leo and Oakley. I’d gotten a better night's sleep last night despite Oakley’s words floating around in my head.
I’d overheard her on the phone in the break room from my office. I should have closed my office door, or at least not eavesdropped, but she sounded angry. Sweet, little Oakley had a flame to her, and fuck me for wanting to see it burn brighter.
Her conversation didn’t sound pleasant and whoever she was on the phone with, she clearly didn’t want to speak to them. I’d been curious who was calling her repeatedly all day. Her phone hadn’t stopped ringing. But now I realized it had to be a boyfriend. Who else would she be telling to leave her alone?
Was that why she moved to Bell Buckle, to run from an ex?
My blood boiled at the thought of her feeling like she was in danger enough to the point she had to run. Was he abusive? Obsessive?Clearly.My pen cracked in my grip, and I loosened my hold. It was none of my business who she was on the phone with, but if I had to be on the lookout for a crazy ex trying to find her, I needed to know.
What if he came to the store looking for her and Jacey or Leo confirmed her employment here? It was a risk I wasn’t willing to take.
As if the universe heard me thinking about her, the bell on the door dinged from the front of the shop, echoing back to my office. Soft footsteps padded on the linoleum until they came to the hallway and slowed.
“In here,” I called out.
Oakley appeared in the doorway, fiddling her fingers together in front of her. Her denim jacket was stained with rain on her shoulders, and she was wearing the same light wash jeans, but instead of the white t-shirt she wore yesterday, she’d opted for the Tumbleweed Feed burgundy shirt with our logo on it - a tumbleweed rolling by a cow.
It was pretty corny, if you asked me, but Jacey helped design it, so it stuck.
“Good morning,” Oakley said with a voice too small for my liking.
