Saving Easton

by Kaci Rose

  "Is it true about you and Easton?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "Barbie said..."

  "First of all, fuck her. Did she tell you what she did to Easton? She lied to get into Oakside, and then was rubbing all up on him when he kept telling her to leave. When I walked in, Allie almost attacked, and so did Molly. But sure, believe what the bimbo who attacked your sister said." I say instantly pissed.

  The more I talk, the redder Lee's face gets, and I could care less. Though, when he looks over my shoulder, I have a good idea of what he sees.

  "Are you fucking kidding? My baby sister, man."

  I glance over my shoulder and find Easton there dressed.

  "I don't see how this is any of your business," I say, trying to close the door, but he stops me.

  "It's my business. He’s my friend."

  "Really, because last I checked, it wasn't you there week after week helping him, talking to him, or being there for him. It wasn't you sending care packages to your friend who was in a war zone, while you were partying it up and getting drunk every night. Was it?" I snap.

  My brother doesn't even acknowledge what I say, because his eyes are still trained on Easton.

  "You should have talked to me. Paisley deserves more," Lee says.

  "Are you fucking kidding me? Get out of here, before I call the cops." I slam the door in his face, and this time he lets me.

  I don't turn around, taking deep breaths to collect myself.

  When I turn, it's like I'm looking at the Easton who used to stare out of his window. The life is gone from his eyes, and it's just a blank stare.

  "What he said isn't true. Don't listen to him." I beg, but I can tell I'm already losing him.

  "I'd like to go back now." He says, his voice void of emotion.

  "Easton, please don't let him do this to us," but he says nothing, just looks right past me.

  "Alright, let me go get dressed.”

  The entire time I'm putting my clothes on, I'm fighting back tears. How dare Leeland do this? Of course, if Easton had told him at the beginning, this wouldn't have happened. I'm so upset and hurt I don't even know who to be mad at.

  I take a few calming breaths and head back out to the living room. Easton has his arms crossed over his chest and is looking out of my front window.

  "Don't go backwards just because my brother is an asshole," I say, but my words fall on deaf ears.

  We go to the car and get the dogs loaded. I really don't want to go to Oakside, and I pray to hit every light, maybe even a traffic jam, but this is Clark Springs, Georgia, and traffic jams here are unheard of.

  We get back to Oakside too soon, and he gets out of the car, gets Allie, and walks to the front door without even looking back at me.

  Tears fall from my eyes without me even realizing it.

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 31

  Paisley

  After watching Easton walk inside, I pull around to the side entrance and take Molly into Lexi's office. Noah is there, and he takes one look at me and grabs his phone.

  "I'll get Lexi."

  "You might as well stay, too. It's about Easton." That gets his attention.

  Noah types into his phone, and a moment later, Lexi walks in, takes one look at me, and closes the door. Noah pulls her onto his lap. It hurts my heart a little, because before today, I was so close to having that, too.

  "What happened?" Lexi asks.

  "Easton did so well at my house. He was the Easton I remembered, before he joined, and... well, things happened. Then, my brother showed up. Of course, the Barbie bitch ran to him and tried to spin some kind of story. Then, Easton walks out, and my brother lost it."

  "Lost it how?" Noah asks.

  "Going off about how Easton should have talked to him, and how he isn't good enough for me. I slammed the door in my brother's face, but by then, Easton had shut down. Just like he was, when I got here. Arms crossed, staring out of the window. He didn't say anything other than he wanted to come back here. It's like I wasn't even there."

  "Okay, I’ll check in on him," Noah says.

  My phone goes off.

  Leeland: Mom and Dad’s house now. We need to talk.

  Leeland: Please.

  "Well, I’ll give him today and try again tomorrow. Besides, I'm being summoned to my parents. I'm sure I'm in for a fun night."

  "Go, we’ll check on him," Lexi says.

  I nod and head out, not even sure what to say.

  On the way to my parents’ house, I debate what I’m going to say. Molly keeps sticking her head into the front seat and nuzzling my arm. She knows I'm upset, and she doesn't like it.

  "This will be stressful with Lee and my parents, Molly. Let's get through this, and I’ll spoil you tonight."

  She yips like she understands.

  I pull into my parents’ house, and Leeland's car is already there. Taking a deep breath, I get Molly and go inside.

  Mom and Dad are sitting together on the couch with Mom snuggled into Dad's side. Leeland is sitting in the chair furthest away from them with his arms leaning on his legs with his hands folded in front of him.

  I sit down in the chair closest to Dad, and Molly climbs right into my lap, like a warm cuddle blanket.

  "Now, what happened? Paisley, we heard Lee's side," Mom says.

  "Why am I even here?"

  "We’re going to work this out," Dad says.

  "There’s no working this out. Lee's a shitty friend. He wanted to come over and start yelling at Easton like he has a claim on someone he's seen one time in years. Did you know your words caused him to shut down? He's back to square one; he's not talking at all, because of you. The only person here who isn't worthy of me is you." I stand ready to leave.

  "Sweet pea, stay," Dad says.

  "No. We can go back to split dinners. I want nothing to do with him. As far as I'm concerned, I'm an only child." I turn to Lee, "You’ve done some shitty stuff, and you’ve refused to grow up and be accountable. I've sat here and watched Mom and Dad spend so much time and energy fixing your mistakes. But guess what? This is one they can't fix, and I'm done being understanding."

  This time I stand up. "I’ll be over for dinner on Friday, so long as he isn't here," I say, stomping out.

  I get Molly in the car and turn, finding Dad coming towards me.

  "How bad is Easton?"

  "Really bad. Back to where he was when I first saw him. He's completely shut down. Things were great. Easton left Oakside to come to my place. He was going to talk to Lee at lunch next week about us, and we were making plans, figuring out our lives. That's all gone in the blink of an eye because Lee was his spoiled brat self and not thinking of anyone but himself."

  Dad takes it and stands there. "I don't approve of what he did, and I came clean about knowing about Easton and even visiting him."

  "You visited Easton?"

  "Yes, after you told me he was there. We’ve had lunch a few times."

  "Thank you.”

  Dad hugs me, and I feel bad for snapping at him.

  "I'm sorry I snapped," I say.

  "I get it, but once things calm down, you’ll want to work things out with your brother. Don't wait too long."

  "Right now, I don't see that happening. He may be my older brother, but he's got a lot of growing up to do to even be equal to me. Until he does, I just don't have the time or energy to deal with him."

  "Maybe, this was the push he needed.”

  "Maybe, but I doubt it," I say. “Did he tell you what Barbie did?"

  "Only a little bit."

  I fill him in on Barbie visiting Oakside, using my name, and what she did to Easton, and what I did to her.

  "If I can ever stand to be in the same room with him, can we make it a rule no more of his hook ups at dinner, and only someone he’s interested in marrying?"

  "The rule would apply to you, too."

  "That would be why I have yet to bring anyone home to dinner, Dad."

 
; "Text me, when you get home. You know your mom will worry."

  On the way home, I stop at my favorite burger joint, because I no longer feel like cooking the spaghetti I had planned. I get a burger for myself and a plain burger for Molly and Reba and head home.

  The dogs eat their food right up, but I have a harder time getting it down. I decide to text Lexi and see how Easton is.

  Me: How is he?

  Lexi: Still not talking. Did he eat dinner?

  Me: No, and no lunch either.

  I look over to the food still on the counter, where we left it. Flashes of Easton wrapping his arms around me and me pulling him to the bedroom, fill my head.

  Lexi: Okay, we’ll try to get him to eat.

  Me: I’ll swing by tomorrow for my normal visit.

  Lexi: See you tomorrow. Need a girl’s night?

  Me: Not yet, but soon.

  Lexi: Just let me know when.

  I get up and toss the food on the counter, since it's no longer good and clean away any trace of Easton being here.

  Then, I go to my bedroom and strip my bed, doing the same thing. I wash my sheets and spray my bed down with a fabric refresher and put on new sheets.

  Then, I take a shower, erasing the last of the memory of him from me. I can't afford to be down. I have Reba to train, and I need to make my weekly visit to Oakside with Molly tomorrow.

  As I lay there trying to fall asleep, my phone keeps going off. Texts from Leeland.

  Leeland: Can we talk about this?

  Leeland: This all got blown up.

  Leeland: You really going to avoid me at family dinner?

  Me: You don't know what family is. Goodnight.

  Then, I turn off my phone and try to get some sleep, even though I know I’ll get very little of it.

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 32

  Easton

  How stupid was I to think things could work out between Paisley and me? She's kind, sweet, and pushes me, when I need it. But all those years ago, Leeland made it clear she was off limits. Why would that be different now that we’re adults?

  His words still ring in my ear.

  Paisley deserves more.

  She does deserve so much more than this. More than me being confined to this room. She deserves to go out into the world and do anything she wants, and she shouldn't be tied down to someone who can't be right at her side.

  Paisley deserves more.

  By staying away, I can give her more.

  I hear the knock on my door, but I don't turn from the window. Allie barely lifts her head, so it's someone we know. If it's important, they’ll talk, and if not, they can leave me alone.

  "Hey," Noah says and hesitantly sits on the couch.

  He sits and doesn't move, flipping through his phone, and after a good twenty minutes, I just sigh.

  "You aren't leaving, are you?"

  "Nope. I don't know what happened, but you need a friend, so I'm here."

  I have a feeling he's lying, because I'm sure Lexi has already talked to Paisley. If Lexi talked to Paisley, she told Noah, but I don't call him on it.

  "I was having a great day with Paisley. Fooled myself into thinking things could work between us. It's different now, because we’re adults, right?" I sigh.

  "Of course, it's different, Easton.”

  "Then in barges Leeland, going on and on about us together and tells me she deserves more than me. The worst part is he's right."

  "Bullshit.”

  "Excuse me?"

  "You heard me. You’re using this as a reason to push her away to put the walls back up, and you know it."

  "No, he was right. She deserves so much more than being cooped up in this room with me day in and day out."

  "What about what you deserve, Easton? After everything you’ve been through, don't you deserve to be happy?"

  "I’m happy. I'm happy I'm alive, and that's all I can ask for," I say.

  We both sit in quiet again.

  "How did Leeland find out about you and Paisley?"

  "The girlfriend or ex-girlfriend told him."

  "The one who was here causing problems?"

  "Yes."

  "Just proved we need you all the more," he says.

  "Listen, I don't want any visitors. You're fine, but no one else, not even Paisley. Not right now," I say.

  Noah eyes me before he nods. "Okay. Just promise me you aren't going to stop your appointments."

  "I promise.”

  That night, as I'm tossing and turning, all I can see is Paisley's face falling, when I asked to go home. She tried too hard to reach out to me, and I had just shut down.

  Every time I drift off, all I hear are her last words.

  Don't go backwards just because my brother is an asshole.

  I jerk wide awake and think, easier said than done.

  Then, I fall back asleep, only to hear it again and jerk back awake. This process repeats all night, and I give up the fight at the first sign of daylight.

  I sit in the chair by the window and watch people come and go. Kaitlyn checks in on me and reminds me of my appointment later this afternoon, but I don't realize how late it is until Noah knocks.

  "Hey, so Paisley was just here. She wasn't too happy you didn't want to see her, and that Lexi and I stopped her, but she left you this. I’ll leave it on the table here, if you want it." Noah says, dropping off a Tupperware container and an envelope.

  Nothing else is said, as Noah leaves, but I turn to look out of the window again. This time Paisley is there with Molly and looking right at me from the front lawn. She looks sad and tired, but still as beautiful as ever. My heart races, as I watch what she does.

  She takes off both Molly's vest and leash, and then turns to throw a ball for her. Oakside has plenty of room for Molly to run. It’s easily five times the size of Paisley's backyard, and Molly loves it. After throwing the ball a few more times, she finally puts the leash back on, before turning to look at me one more time, and then heading to her car.

  Once she’s out of sight, I get up and walk to the table Noah left the container on. I open it and find the spaghetti and meatballs we were supposed to have for dinner last night, and even garlic bread wrapped in foil.

  My stomach growls, and I grab a fork and dig in, while I stare down the envelope with the Oakside logo on it, and my name scrawled across the front in Paisley's handwriting.

  Do I want to read it? Of course, I do, but I probably shouldn't. I should close that chapter of my life and figure out my next steps. But I do need closure, and I'm sure Paisley does, too. What if the letter will give us both that? Then, I should read it.

  But Paisley could be mad. She could be yelling at me throughout that letter. In which case, I don't want to read it. But she didn't look mad when she was in the front yard with Molly. She looked sad, tired, and stressed. All because of me. So, I owe it to her to read the letter.

  I finish the food, and it is as delicious as I remember it. The letter sits on the table taunting me.

  "Allie girl, you need to go potty?" I ask, and she jumps right up.

  I take her outside, well to the courtyard near my room. She does her business, and then we play for a bit before she stands at the door and stares at me. She's done and ready to go back to our room. We head in, and the letter is still on the table.

  Glancing at the clock, I have about twenty minutes to my appointment, but decide to head over early and talk a walk through the lobby.

  My appointment with Dr. Tate goes well. I fill him in on the last few days, and it's mostly me talking and him writing in his notebook. I walk back to my room slowly, stopping by the courtyard again to let Allie out, before going to my room.

  The letter is still there. Now that I have no other excuses, I guess it's time to read it.

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 33

  Paisley

  I didn't sleep a wink last night. Between the fight with my brother last night and dropping Easton off and him not talking. Was
all that really only yesterday? It almost feels like a lifetime ago, even though the wounds are still fresh.

  I hope the new day brings a new perspective for Easton, and maybe, he wants to talk to me today. I head into the kitchen to feed the dogs, and then I work on some light training with Reba.

  As a peace offering, I could make the spaghetti we didn't get to eat last night and bring it to Easton. Maybe, that will break the ice. Trying to forget all the painful memories, I make everything I didn't get to last night.

  After I put the garlic bread in the oven, I turn my phone back on for the first time, since last night, and a mass flood of texts come in from Leeland, Mom, Dad, and Lexi.

  I text Mom and Dad to tell them I'm fine, but just want some space. Then, I put my phone on silent and stash it in my purse. I finish up the spaghetti, sauce, and meatballs and package it up in trays and containers to keep it warm, and then load it and Molly into the car and drive to Oakside.

  I refuse to think about making this same drive yesterday. Today, has to be better, right? We’ll talk this out, and everything will be okay. It has to be because I can't think of an alternative right now.

  I pull into Oakside, and even Molly doesn't seem her happy self like she can sense what’s wrong. I don't even make it to the lobby before Lexi stops me.

  "I'm sorry, Paisley, but he's saying no visitors. Not even you." She says with a sad smile.

  "But is he okay?"

  "He's regressed a little, but he's talking to Noah."

  "I brought him lunch. Will you give it to him?"

  "Of course."

  "Can I write him a letter to go with it?"

  Lexi looks over her shoulder at Noah.

  "I don't see why not. Need some paper?" Noah says.

  "Please."

  I stand at the counter and try to think of what to say.

  This almost feels like goodbye, even though it’s the last thing I want.