Page 40 of The Homecoming

“Are you going to tell Kyle you found me?” Rebecca asked.

Weasel raised an eyebrow. “I ain’t telling that twat waffleshit,” he replied. “I never liked him anyway. You want me to shoot him? I’ll shoot him.”

That brought a smile to Rebecca’s face, but she shook her head. “No, but thanks for the offer.”

“Anytime.” He walked into the room and shrugged off his jacket and tossed it on the back of the couch. “Now, ya’ll got any more of that pizza?”

He crossed the room and followed Ben into the kitchen with his gun holstered at his hip, making Autumn wonder how in jest his offer to Rebecca really was. However, she didn’t have time to ponder for long, as it was her turn to roll the dice.

Weasel sauntered into the room and sat on the floor between the fireplace and Rebecca. He had a plate filled with pizza in one hand and a can of Bud in the other. “You alright?” he asked her.

She shrugged. “I guess… I don’t know. I’ll have to face him at some point.”

He nodded. “Let me know if you need anything. I can go with you if you need to get stuff from his apartment. Or I can go get it for you.” Weasel looked at Rebecca in a way Autumn had never seen him do before.

“Thanks,” Rebecca nodded.

***

The mountain behind Huntington Farms was covered in thick, gray clouds to the point where the plateau disappeared under the fog. The snow might hit sooner than later. Autumn stood on the covered porch, taking it all in. She needed air, no matter how cold it was. Inside, the fireplace had the house warm and cozy and the mood was festive, despite the fact they were all hiding Rebecca from Kyle. The case of beer that Justin brought could be the explanation for the merriment, but Autumn had managed to avoid any drink offerings. Not everyone knew yet, and she wasn’t keen on the information being public knowledge for the time being.

The door behind her opened and closed softly. “Thought you’d left without a goodbye,” Weasel said. “Why are you out in the cold?”

She smiled and shook her head. “Needed some air.”

“Everythin’ alright?” he asked, stepping up to her with his thumbs hitched in his pockets.

“Of course.... Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Do you think Mark left town?”

“I know he did,” he said. “Are you worried? Did you see him?”

She shook her head. With a baby on the way, of course, she was worried. “No, I haven’t seen him…. I just don’t trust it when he gets too quiet.”

“Don’t worry, Ms. Mac. I’ve got friends who will take care of it.”

Lord only knew what that meant. Autumn nodded and let silence swell between them.

“How’s Jason?” He finally asked.

“Fine.”

He stared at her. “You sure about that?”

“Weasel, if you know better, why did you ask?”

Studying her with a blank, calm expression, he gave nothing away.

Autumn shook her head. “Sorry. I’m just in a mood right now.”

He nodded, keeping his expression calm.

She decided to change the subject. “You came out here looking for Rebecca?”

He nodded. “I was concerned, cause Kyle never talked to me, much less called.”

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