Page 49 of Plentywood
Charlie led me through the open door, his hand still on my back, stopping in front of the stunned man. “I’m not the married one,asshole,”Charlie snarled, glancing at the guy’s crotch before returning his gaze. “And I want a meal, not a snack.” Atthat, we walked out of the dealership, both of us laughing our asses off.
Charlie opened my door and waited for me to get in before he stepped around my new-to-me used truck, and hopped in the driver’s seat, laughing hysterically. “Did you see his fucking face?” he asked.
I was laughing out loud as well. I couldn’t remember being so nervous while still enjoying the fun of just letting loose. The situation was completely outrageous and I would never have done the same, but it was definitely funny. “You are bold,” I stated. “I can’t believe you said that.”
Charlie’s face turned serious. “Cheating asshole deserved it,” he hissed, sneering in disgust. He turned to face me. “Was I too much? Did I embarrass you?”
“No! Of course not,” I insisted. “Brave for sure.”
“But you’re okay with that behavior?” he asked.
He seemed concerned about how I felt. “I’m fine,” I said. “You’re fine,” I added.
He slid his hand across the bench seat and squeezed mine. “Good,” he said. “I don’t want you to think I’m just some crude country boy, Ben.”
Yep.He liked me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: Hunter
“Wow! This is sure fun,” Jill said, slumping back into the chair she occupied across from me. “I suggested you come in tonight so I could have some company, but I didn’t expect to be doing all the talking.”
I glanced across the table while I pushed peas around the plate in front of me. I’d hoped getting out of the house would help me pass the time. I was wrong. “The meatloaf is good,” I muttered.
“Yeah?” she asked. “I almost believe you with all that enthusiasm.”
“Sorry, sis. Maybe I should go home instead of to Smitty’s with you. I’m shitty company today,” I admitted, pushing the plate of food away.
“Thinking about Mark, honey?” she asked gently, extending her hand across the table.
“Surprisingly, no,” I confessed. “That sucks too, though.”
Jill stood and slid her chair to my side, sitting back in it. “Speak to me, sheriff,” she ordered, twisting to face me. “I’m sort of happy it’s not Mark, but then again, whatever it is must be bad if it isn’t him.”
I pinched my lips and leaned back. I was tired of dumping on Jill. And I imagined she had to be tired of being dumped on byme. Maybe it’d be best if I just said I was tired and went home. That wouldn’t be a lie. I was tired. Tired of being miserable.
“He’s with the new doctor,” I announced, shaking my head.
“Who’s with the doctor?”
“Charlie,” I muttered, not truly wanting to talk about it, but lining up a litany of complaints. “Fucking Charlie took advantage of an opportunity to help before I could. I didn’t even know he wanted to sell his car,” I continued. “I know people in Missoula. I could’ve done that for him. You know, help and stuff. They went there together. Staying overnight too,” I added, wringing my hands in my lap and gawking at her like she could fix this, too. “He’s so goddamned smooth, Jill. He’ll convince Ben to like him better than me.”
Jill began laughing, pissing me off. After letting loose with her obvious enjoyment of my pain, she leaned against me, hugging me, still laughing. “Aww, the poor little boy has his feelings hurt?” she said. “Is someone trying to steal your recess crush?”
I stood up. “Fuck off, Jill,” I spat.
“Oh, come on, Hunt. Sit your whining ass back down.Jesus!What are you, twelve?”
Reluctantly, I sat down and leaned forward, resting my chin in my hands while my elbows supported my pissed-off face. Jill ran her hand across one cheek and then leaned even closer.
I rested my head against hers. “I’m so stupid,” I whispered, suddenly hoarse as I fought my emotions. “I kinda like him,” I confessed. “I’m sorry, but I think I like him.”
“Don’t be sorry, Hunt,” she soothed. “I don’t want you miserable the rest of your life just because Mark was my brother.”
If truth be told, I didn’t deserve Jill. I didn’t deserve her when Mark was here and she’d been the perfect sister-in-law. I didn’t deserve her when we were teenagers. Jill had liked me inhigh school and her own brother got in the way, but she never complained. I felt guilty sometimes because of how the whole thing turned out. And Jill hadn’t had much success with men ever since. And now, here I was, pining over a man that she’d also hung her hopes on.
“And now here I am again, crushing on a guy that you like as well.”
“This one turned out gay, Hunt,” she reminded me. “And back then, who was I to deny my own brother the love of his life?”
