Page 46 of Tucker
Jeremy’sphone rings, and Justus chuckles when he steps away to answer. “He can fight itall he wants. But he’s going to end up with that woman. They’re equally crazy.They belong together.”
“Frannie?”I ask.
“Yep.I tried to warn him redheads are crazy, but what do I know?” He shrugs.
Jeremyreturns and Humper follows him in the room. Humper walks over, flops down at myfeet, and starts to lick his balls. “Don’t mind us, buddy,” I scoff.
“Iwish I could do that,” Jeremy jokes.
“Youshould at least pet him first, then see what he’s up for,” Justus replies,drawing laughter from all of us.
That’spretty much how the next couple of hours pass and the weight of the day liftsfrom my chest a little.
Thegirls come back inside as the sun starts to set. Zoe and Ayda leave togethersince Ayda has a baby to get back to and Zoe wants to get home to Landon.
Leahpulls me aside to ask how I’m doing and volunteers to stay another night withme. Her innocent eyes gaze up at me and I hate what I have to say, but I haveto say it. We walk out onto the porch and I tilt her chin up with my palm.
“Icouldn’t have made it through the last few days without you. I can never thankyou enough for all you’ve done, but I need you to leave now.” Instead ofarguing or questioning me, she nods and bites her lip. I pull her into my arms.“I’ll miss you.”
“Metoo,” she whispers. “If you need me.”
“Iknow.”
“Sinceyou somehow found out where I live,” she giggles, stepping back and wiping hereyes. “You’re kinda stalkerish.”
Chuckling,I sweep her hair off her forehead. “You’re not unlisted. All I had to do wasGoogle you. I’m glad you’re doing so well. You deserve good things.”
“Sodo you,” she replies.
Whenwe return, Sadie is preparing to leave as well and there’s a good naturedargument going on because Justus wants to stay and they rode together.
“I’lltake you home,” Leah tells Sadie. “I’m headed that way.”
“See?Problem solved,” Justus says. “Hakuna your tatas.”
Dare’sbrow wrinkles. “What the hell does that mean?”
“Calmyour tits,” Justus replies, rolling his eyes. “You have a kid and you’ve neverseen The Lion King?”
“I’mpretty sure that line isn’t in there,” Leah chuckles.
“Whatever,”Justus replies. “We’re all crashing here. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He kissesSadie, and she gives his ass a quick squeeze.
Leahgives me one last smile and walks out with Sadie, leaving me alone with theguys.
“So,”Dare produces another bottle of liquor. “We getting shitfaced or what?”
* * * *
TellingLeah to go was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but I was sure itwas the right decision…at the time. My head was so screwed up, my guilt andgrief over Kathi would have ruined anything I tried to pursue with Leah.
WhileI still think it was the right decision to take some time alone, the last twomonths have changed nothing when it comes to how I feel about her. Ayda haskept me up on some of the things going on in her life, but I’ve had no contactsince the funeral. Leah tried to call a few times, but I knew if I talked toher, I’d never let her go again.
I’vetried to keep myself as busy as possible, but I still think about herconstantly. Ayda has tried to convince me to call her or text, but every time Ipick up the phone, I can’t think what to say.
Thesun beats down on my back as I haul two Adirondack chairs into my truck to dropoff at Keith’s furniture. A glance at my phone reveals they close in less thanan hour, so I have to get going.
Monais the only one working when I lug the two wooden chairs into the backstoreroom. “Hey, Tucker. Got a couple more for me?”
