Page 45 of Rough
Clyde
Fuck. Fuck. Fuckin’ fuck!
“The fuck did we do?” I ask them, knowing the answer, but wanting to hear it from their lips. I barely recall last night, but I do remember being in the barn. I just don’t remember messing with her freezer. Most of last night’s memories were at the pond, ending with Betsy walking away and my eyes falling shut shortly after I covered my face with my hat.
Remy shook both Wilder and I awake at the ass crack of dawn, telling us we needed to get back to her and make sure we understood everything she said last night, then apologize for being gigantic asses for the better part of a week.
As soon as we parked and saw the lights on near the horses, Wilder was the first one to start shouting before we even got out of the rented SUV. Dawning realization makes him look ill.
“Oh shit.Oh shit!Guys…FUCK!We messed up so fuckin’ bad!I forgot!”
Before I had a chance to finish my question of, “What are you—” he was out the door and hauling ass to the barn. Remy and I only glance at each other for a moment, both of us confused by his reaction before we’re following.
Which brings us to this moment. All of us in shock, deflated, and feeling more guilt than I thought possible. It’s uncomfortable knowing Betsy is so disgusted with us she literally raised a gun to get us to leave. Not that a pellet gun is cause for alarm, but…
“I think if she’d had a real gun, that wouldn’t have gone any differently.”
Wilder groans low and knocks his head against the back of his seat. “I was fuckin’ sober, too. I let you guys do your thing, and I was gonna close it up and plug it back in when we were leavin’. I fuckin’ got distracted and forgot.”
“Why’d you even let us do it?” Remy grumbles, his forehead pressed against the frigid window with eyes shut. My lip tilts up, enjoying that he’s battling nausea as we bump down the road.
It’s time for me to interject, because there’s no way I’m going to let him rope me up in this. “You, Rem. I had no part in it.”
Wilder’s snort shocks me. “You fuckin’ wish,Horse. You’re the fuckin’ asshole who pointed the damn thing out. Rem here is the one who went all destructive and started opening doors and unplugging shit.” I open my mouth to argue, but he stops me. “And before you go accusin’ me, I fucked up by not stoppin’ anyone or fixin’ it before we left. We are all to blame here.”
“The fuck?” Remy breathes out just as we pull up to his house. Trina is out front in those ridiculous cut-off shorts and boots, snapping photos of the house. Renee is whipping the door open just as we step out, another spoon pointing right at us. “The hell are you doin’ Trina?” Remy shouts as he falls out of his seat once again.
This woman is so goddamn clueless, spinning around with a big grin on her face. “Guys! Thank God you’re back! Look at what I’ve got going.”
Holding her phone in front of her, she starts excitedly tapping her fingers as she hurries over.
“My house willnotbe ontik-tacksor whatever you call ‘em! You hear me?” Renee is furious and I want to throttle Trina for upsetting her. Especially when she’s trying to get ready for Donny’s funeral tomorrow. Stomping down the stairs, her face is bright red with eyes blazing. The moment she drops her voice, I know we’re in for a world of hurt. “Andyouthree. What the hell have you done? Betsy just called to tell me she needs a sit down meetin’ with all of us but asked that I’d get you all to keep your mouths shut while she’s here.”
“Ma,” Remy pleads. “Listen. We fuc—”
She shoots him a warning look, hissing through her teeth. “Watch your mouth, boy.”
Swallowing hard, he nods once. “Sorry. We, uhh, we messed up. Got piss drunk last night and messed with some equipment in her barn. Didn’ even remember what we’d done until this mornin’. We’ll make it right with her.”
“What’d ya’ll mess with?”
Mumbling incoherently, Remy tells her, but she doesn’t understand.
“Speak. Up.”
“Her freezer with the bull samples.”
Blinking up at him, her shoulders drop. I side-eye Trina as she inches closer, then realize she’s videoing this conversation. With flaring nostrils, I step in front of her until she looks up at me with wide eyes. “I’m only gonna say this once. Stop fuckin’VIDEOING EVERYTHIN’!This shit isn’t a game to us! Go the fuck inside, Trina!”
Wilder and Remy are arguing with each other behind me, and Renee is shouting for everyone to pull their heads from their asses. It’s fucking chaos, but I don’t move until Trina scurries back into the house, slamming the door behind her.
Spinning around, I jab a finger toward my friends. “She’s gotta go. I’m done with this online shit. It’s gone way to fuc—freakin’ far when she’s invading our home lives.”
“I’ll talk to her,” Remy says roughly, shoving his fingers through his hair.
“Not until after you sit down with Betsy. You boys will hear her out and not open your mouths. I swear to God, I’ve never been more disappointed in any of you. You have any idea how hard that woman has worked to create that program? How muchmoneyshe’s got tied up in it?”
Renee is spitting mad, and I can only shake my head because wedon’tknow. Not really. We can only assume, which to me means it’s a lot of cash.
