Page 85 of Tied to You
“I can feel your eyes burning,” I tell Mollie, wiping my head with the back of my hand before turning the cap on my head backwards. “See something you like?”
My shirt’s off, my skin sweating where I’ve shifted a tonne of shit and lugged three heavy barrels from one end of the field to the other. Not to forget, I also mended the gate at the end of the path leading to the small barn on the grounds. That place is so run down, I don’t know why I bothered.
“Oh, yeah. Definitely seeing something I like.” She takes a sip from the can of Fanta she’s drinking before holding it to her head. It’s a hot day. No way she could have managed all these jobs alone. I know she would havehad Mick, but it feels good being the one to help carry her load.
“What time you heading out?” Mick asks, pulling both of our attention to him.
Mollie looks at me.
“Uh, whenever I’m done here.”
He nods. Then he’s quiet. Waiting.
“You alright?” I ask him. I turn my gaze to Mollie.
She gives me a nod, jumping down from the wall, leaving us to chat in private.
He gives her a nod as she passes him, then scratches at his head. “I need to apologise to you, Son.”
Son. The word is heavy. Whatever he’s about to say is coming from the place love comes from; deep within your soul.
“No you don’t.” I don’t need to hear anything from him. I know I haven’t pulled my weight around here. It should be me apologising to him.
“Yes, I do.”
“Mick—”
“Bloody hear me out. Hell fire, I need to say this.”
I stand down, pulling my t-shirt from my back pocket and hooking it over my shoulders. I wipe my brow, waiting for him to look at me.
“I know the club is where your allegiances lie, I can’t argue the toss about that anymore.”
I sigh, not wanting this to end in an argument.
“I also know, you’ve been a different man since Mollie came along.”
My eyes dart to his.
“I know it’s early days, and you and Dean are getting your business going, but I want you to know that I am so fucking proud of you. I realised; I don’t think I’ve ever told you that. So, I’m saying it now. You make me happy and proud, Son.”
Unsure I’m hearing him right, my face scrunches, a whole new onslaught of emotions kicking inside me. He’s fucking proud? Of me? “I can’t be hearing you right.”
“Don’t be smart.”
“No, Unc, this isn’t me being smart.” I shake my head, disbelieving. “I think… I think this is me not knowing what to say.”
He jolts, I just know he’s being a sarcastic wanker. “Christ a-fucking-live.He’s finally not got a comeback.”
My lips pull into a straight line but the weight on my shoulders is no longer there. My face relaxes and I stand still. Quiet. Content. I have a girl who loves me, and things between me and my uncle are oddly,notodd for the first time in fucking ages. How can things shift so quickly? The things I thought I knew all flood to the surface. I knew fucking nothing.
“At the risk of throwing you deeper into shock, I have something else for you.”
He reaches into his pocket, then with conviction, he tosses me a key.
I look up. “What’s this?”
“It’s for the old barn house.” My face is riddled with confusion. “I’m guessing you and Mollie will want a place of your own?”
