Page 38 of Rival
I sit down next to him, and he lifts his chin in greeting. “Fin just got here, so I’m gonna let you go. You want us over for the next race?” Another pause and he checks with me as he says, “I think we can bring drinks for us. If you want us to grab you anything, just send a text. I’ll let Jessie know we’re eatin’ there. Alright, see ya later.”
“Clay?” I ask, grabbing the stick from his hand.
“Yup. Wanna go watch the next race with me?”
I have no intentions of saying no to any invitations to go over there. Admitting to my brother I’m counting on them to get so wasted they don’t notice me slipping up to Edith’s is a no go, but I’m most definitely looking forward to seeing her again. Not quite sure what the draw is, but the other night when we laid together as she read her book was fantastic.Plus, that kiss…
“Yeah, I’ll come along. What were you two talkin’ about? Oh, and Jessie said dinner will be ready in fifteen.”
He jerks the stick back from my hand, so I jump up to grab one from underneath a bush and settle back in, enjoying the evening breeze.
“Clay’s got some bug up his ass about his kid workin’ over at that church thing where they’re building that barn. Fuckin’ Thorton is heading up the job and when I drove by the other day, I mentioned it to him. Don’t think he knew, but he kinda lost his shit and wanted to know if Thorton was messin’ with her.”
“Doesn’tyourkid work for Thorton?”
“Yeah, but it’s office work, and she said he’s never there. Plus, she got the damn job without even tellin’ me. Can’t really have her quit just ‘cuz of shit that happened back in high school. I just don’t bring it up to Clay.”
I frown, not liking that she’s mixed up with Jaxon on top of Mason. Plus, it sounds like a double standard the way Corbin talks about it. Something doesn’t add up, but before I can put my finger on it, my brother continues.
“Plus, you know who else was there when I drove by? Fuckin’ Mason Cooper! Not sure why, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t see him volunteerin’ out of the kindness of his heart. Anyway, Clay asked me to just check on her from time to time when I’m headed to work.” He bumps my shoulder and grins. “You should too. That kid don’t need to get mixed up with either of them.”
I don’t disagree with him, but it bothers me he’s been watching her. “You know, she’s been an adult for a few years now. I think Clay’s bein’ a bit of a dick for her just doin’ her own thing.”
Corbin shrugs his shoulders and stands up. “Not my place if a dad wants to protect his kid. Let’s go eat. I’m fuckin’ beat after today and I’m sure you are, too.”
The two of us work out at the same ranch as hands, but while he works with the animals, I tend to focus on the maintenance shit. Not that I mind animals much, but I prefer to not have to fight with my job.
I follow my brother inside, and we spend the evening hanging out; me giving shit to his kid before I head out to my place. I’m thankful they never have a problem with me coming by each night to eat, but lately I’ve been picturing Edith at my place and the two of us sharing a meal together alone.
It’s a few days before the next race arrives and I spend hours with Clayborn and Corbin, shouting at the TV. The whole time I’m checking the door to the kitchen to see if Edith will sneak through. She never shows up, but I hear a random creak of the floorboards from time to time, and dinner shows up on the counter as if a ghost snuck in and laid it out.
Again, she doesn’t eat with us. Neither Corbin nor Clayborn mention a thing about it. I’m tempted to ask, but I keep the questions to myself. I’d rather not draw any attention to my interest in her and have them start keeping a closer eye.
Our evening ends the same as it always does, Corbin heading home before he’s too drunk to drive and Clayborn passing out in his chair, rattling the walls with his snores.
Quietly, I collect our dinner plates and rinse them in the sink, then check once more on the man sleeping his drink away. Seeing he’s out cold, I sneak as quietly as possible up the stairs to her room.
This time, when I knock softly, she almost immediately pulls it open. I can’t hold back the gust of air whooshing out in relief when I don’t find her all bruised up for the second time.
“Evenin’, darlin’. I came for some more story time. And before you ask, your daddy’s dead to the world.”
She snickers and shuts the door behind me, pushing a laundry basket in front of the door as if that would keep someone out. “Do you really want me to keep reading?”
Finding my spot on the edge of her bed, I grin up at her. “I mean, I do, but if you got some other ideas in your head, I wouldn’t object.” Then I wink, making her blush just before she turns from me to pick up the book lying on her tiny bookshelf in the corner.
Before she has a chance to sit, I slide back on her bed and pat the space between my legs and lean against her headboard. “This way I can follow along.”
Edith raises a brow like she knows my game and hums under her breath, clearly not believing me. But she still climbs onto her bed, albeit a bit awkwardly, and sits cross-legged between my spread knees.
Chuckling, I bend forward and wrap an arm around her to tug her back. “I’m not gonna bite. Just relax and read. Where’d we leave off?”
She wiggles a bit as she gets comfortable, then starts to thumb through the pages. “We’re at the part where Edmond and Mercédès are supposed to get married.”
“Ahh, then the great betrayal,” I say a bit dramatically.
Giggling, she nods and peeks at me over her shoulder. “You got it. Ready?”
“Ready.” I lift my knees so she can balance her elbows on my thighs and hold the book higher, giving me a clear view of the pages as she reads.
