Final Day

by Megan Erickson

  Everly laughed, a pretty sound. Her hair swished in an auburn sheet as she glanced at him over her shoulder while she loaded the dishwasher. “Everything is complicated with him.”

  “Okay, well he saved my life, then I saved him. I say twice, he says once. Common debate. And then…” Erick stopped talking. What was he going to say? Your brother kisses like an angel and a devil at the same time? I sucked his dick, and it was great? Then I told him off and now we aren’t speaking? “And then…that’s it.” He shrugged, but he felt fake.

  Everly straightened and leaned back on the counter. “That’s it, huh?”

  Erick shook himself and begrudgingly gave her a bit more. “Your brother has layers.”

  Her eyebrows shot up. “You think?” She laughed again, cocking her head to the side. “What about you? Erick, right?”

  “I think I’m ‘what you see is what you get.’”

  “Good to know,” she said. “My brother could use a little transparency and honesty in his life.”

  Cooper yelled from the second floor, and she shot Erick a smile. “Excuse me,” she said.

  Erick watched her go, wondering what she meant, and if he’d find out.

  * * *

  Erick lay in the guest bed, staring at the ceiling, his brain not giving him a moment’s rest. He replayed everything that had happened over the past twenty-four hours, to his own torment. The library with Tarr. That damn kiss. The way Erick had dropped to his knees without hesitation and loved way too much the feel of Tarr’s hand in his hair. Then there was the look on Tarr’s face when he was with his family. When he was Rett. He came here knowing his sister would be angry, that she’d be scared, and that she’d blame him. And he’d done it anyway because he loved her and her kids.

  After Everly went to bed, they’d done an initial survey of the house and set up some basic alarms. The next few days would be spent installing cameras and other security measures, but for now they had a decent setup so they felt comfortable enough sleeping.

  Erick was eager to use the gadget he’d dubbed Fluffy, which was a remote-controlled robot that would respond to his voice commands and could travel all over the house and property. An attached camera would broadcast video right to Erick’s laptop. He was a little giddy about it but tried not to act too excited around Tarr. The reason they were here was serious. Even if it gave Erick an excuse to play with his toys.

  Tarr was on the floor on an air mattress. He hadn’t asked Erick if he wanted the bed or not. He’d simply lain down on the air mattress and Erick had no other choice but to crawl into the bed. Which was big enough for both of them, but that would have been awkward.

  He listened for heavy breathing or snoring, but there was no sound. “Tarr?” he called softly.

  “You okay?” came the quick reply. Erick hated how much he appreciated that Tarr was concerned he wasn’t.

  “Yeah, fine. Just can’t sleep. You?”

  “Me either.”

  Erick fell silent. The rest of the house had gone to bed long ago. It was after midnight now. He was bored though and couldn’t sleep so he began to think out loud. “Tomorrow we get to work.”

  “Erick?”

  “Yeah?”

  Tarr didn’t respond right away, and Erick rolled onto his side, peering down at Tarr from the side of the bed. The moonlight from the window cut across the top half of the air mattress so Tarr’s eyes glowed light green. “Thank you,” Tarr said. “For coming with me.”

  “Are you sure you’re glad I’m here?”

  Maybe it was because Tarr was with family so he was more himself, or maybe it was the absence of the tension of the road trip, but here he seemed softer, warmer. He smiled. “Yeah, even though you’re a pain in the ass.”

  The elephant in the room felt about twenty tons. “Look, about last night…”

  Tarr’s smile dropped. “We don’t have to talk about it.”

  “But I think we do.”

  “How about this? I don’t want to.”

  “I said shitty things.”

  “Yeah, well, you meant them, right?”

  “It’s not that black and white.”

  Tarr lifted up on an elbow. “How is it a gray area? You either meant it or you didn’t.”

  “At the time I meant it.”

  Tarr made a face. “Fuck off with that. You think I’m a piece of shit. Below your station. A killer for hire. It’s fine because I am. Now it’s out there between us, and we don’t have to talk about it.”

  “That’s not…don’t simplify it like that.” Erick didn’t know what he was trying to say, but Tarr wasn’t evil. If anything, he’d learned that. “If we were the same people but we led different lives, I think we’d be together.”

  Tarr collapsed onto the air mattress on his back, palms digging into his eyes. “Why do I feel like you’re breaking up with me when we aren’t even together? Erick, we fucked around when we were drunk. That’s all it has to be.” He dropped his arms onto the mattress with a thump.

  Erick couldn’t get a handle on his curiosity. “Did you want there to be more?”

  Tarr didn’t answer right away, his gaze on the ceiling. Finally he turned to Erick, his expression bleak. “What does ‘more’ mean?”

  “More. A relationship. A promise to each other. An exchange of feelings?”

  “I think we’ve exchanged plenty of feelings. Including your disdain for me.”

  “I have a disdain for what you do.”

  “So now you’re separating them? Because last night, I was the job. Now I’m not?”

  “Now I’ve seen you with your family.” Erick felt like he was trying to convince himself.

  “Erick, you’re confusing me,” Tarr confessed, his voice dropping low. “You want honesty? For a brief moment when I was kissing you, when you looked at me in that library, I believed I was someone else. Or more like, I remembered who I was at a better time in my life. I believed I could be that person again if you continued to look at me like that. Then you reminded me that I couldn’t go back, that I am who I am, and that’s that.”

  “Jesus, I’m the piece of shit.” Erick’s throat clogged. He hadn’t thought his words would impact Tarr like that. He’d been so cruel.

  “Nah, I am, remember?” Tarr’s voice was sad. “Look, go to bed, Erick. Just…go to bed. We have a lot of work to do the next few days. And I’d like to do it without being constantly reminded that I can’t have you. Because yes, I wanted more. Stop reminding me why I can’t, okay? Just help me save my sister. That’s all I want now.”

  Tarr rolled over onto his side, and Erick stared at the back of his head, unable to form words. And even if he could, he didn’t know what he’d say. Neither of them were willing to fight and work for the other, and if that was the case, then more would never happen. Maybe it was better this way. They’d separate after Everly and the kids were secure and forget about that night in the library, forget about their connection, forget about it all. They’d be better off. Wouldn’t they?

  Chapter Nine

  Tarr

  Tarr sat on the back porch, staring into the backyard, coffee cup in hand. He took a sip of the scalding liquid, hoping the caffeine would ease the ache in his sore muscles. He’d been sleeping on the couch the last few days because sleeping in the same room with Erick was torture. So his neck hurt and he wasn’t getting great sleep, but it was better than listening to Erick toss and turn on a mattress, all while Tarr knew he was wearing nothing but a pair of boxer briefs.

  They’d been working diligently every day securing Everly’s house. In Tarr’s spare time, he played catch with Cooper. He and Erick didn’t talk much unless it was about the job. He missed the banter and Erick’s ridiculous comments, but it would have hurt more to be that friendly with him, so back to strangers it was.

  The back door opened, and his sister walked out. She wore a loose dress that reached her calves.

  “Morning, Ev,” he said as she sat down on the chair next to him. The wo
od beneath her creaked, and she sighed.

  “Need to get that plank fixed.”

  “I can do it,” he said.

  “Really?”

  “Sure, need anything else done?”

  She bit her lip, considering. “I guess I’ve been meaning to hire some guys to trim the maple there.” She pointed to a large tree in the far left corner of her yard.

  “And I’ll take care of that too.”

  “Thanks, Rett.”

  “Least I can do.”

  She leaned back and rocked in the chair, a steaming mug of tea in her hand. “I’m sorry I haven’t been more hospitable.”

  “You’ve been fine. We showed up unannounced.”

  “I know, but you’re my brother.”

  “And I haven’t been the best brother, so it’s okay.”

  “Rett, look at me.”

  He did, rolling his head to the side to see her fresh, makeup-free face. She was beautiful, his sister, and he didn’t take a day without being grateful she was alive.

  “I do love you,” she said.

  “Love you too, Ev.”

  She shook her head. “Let me talk.” He would, but this conversation was leading somewhere that was making him squirm. Still, he nodded so she continued. “I hate what happened to you.” He groaned, and she ignored him. “You got, excuse my language, fucked over. You were angry, you lashed out, and you got taken in by a guy who only used you for your skills and didn’t think about how it would affect your life and loved ones.”

  “I made that decision, Ev.”

  “You did,” she said. “You did, but you can make other ones. You can change your life, Rett. I know you can. It’s not too late.”

  “Yeah? What am I going to do? Work at Starbucks? I’m good at shooting a gun and making sure that bullet is lethal.”

  She flinched. “You could work at a gun store, a firing range. You could relax a little because I know you have money saved. Travel. Buy a boat. I don’t know. I want you to visit. But I want you to visit in a way that doesn’t make my heart drop, that doesn’t make me instantly know something is wrong. We deserve that. My kids deserve that in an uncle.”

  He clenched his jaw and tightened his fingers around his hot coffee mug until the ceramic burned his palm. “I want to walk away,” he said quietly. “But I don’t want to start over. I did it once before. I don’t want to do it again.”

  “I’ll help you.” She pointed back into the house. “Erick will help.”

  “Don’t—”

  “Something going on with you two? I sense a weirdness.”

  “Maybe because we’re both weird?”

  “Stop it. Just tell me the truth.”

  “No, because then you’ll be all in my business about it.”

  She smacked him in the arm, hard enough that he yelped.

  “Everett!” she shouted.

  “Fine.” He rubbed his arm and scowled at her. “We hooked up, but he hates what I do. He’s got this thing called morals that I gave up long ago. He’s got a dead boyfriend as baggage, and I got an entire 747 of baggage. Ain’t no plane getting off the ground with us in it.”

  She sighed. “Shit.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  He sipped his coffee. It was much cooler now so he took a larger gulp.

  “Can you just promise me one thing?” she asked.

  “I can try.”

  “After this, please don’t just continue to go with the flow. Think about what you want to do. Make a decision to stay in or get out. And really think about it. Will you do that for me?”

  He ran his fingernail over a fine crack in his mug. “Yes.”

  “You will?” She sounded so damn hopeful, and it hurt.

  “Yeah, but I’m not promising you anything more than that.”

  “I understand. Just think.”

  “I will, Ev. I will.”

  She reached over and wrapped her fingers around his forearm. “Love you, brother. Despite everything, I do love you.”

  He met her square in the eyes, eyes so like his own. “I love you too. Always have, always will. Never stopped.” He stood up, not wanting to continue this mushy stuff. “I’ll leave you alone for a bit and check on the kids. Give you a break, okay?”

  She sipped her tea. “I’d love that. Thanks.”

  Tarr left her on the back porch and walked inside. He heard voices upstairs and found Cooper still sleeping in his bed. The door to Olivia’s room was ajar, and he heard her high-pitched voice. He crept closer and peeked in. Then he froze.

  Olivia sat at a small table, wearing an elaborate, fluffy pink dress. Dolls occupied the other two chairs, and they all had little play teacups and saucers on the table in front of them. In the fourth tiny, child-sized chair was Erick. His knees were nearly in his chest, and he daintily sipped from a small teacup while Olivia giggled. “You have to serve Elsa some, Mr. Erick!”

  “Oh!” he said, dramatically flustered. “How could I forget?” He picked up a plastic teapot in the center of the table and poured water into a teacup in front of a blond doll. “Sorry, Elsa. There’s your tea now. If you’re angry with me, my advice is to let it goooo.” He sang the last three words, and Olivia cracked up like it was the funniest thing she’d ever heard.

  Tarr’s face hurt, and he touched his cheek only to find he was smiling. He pressed on the door with his fingers so it swung open. Olivia glanced up. “Oh hi, Uncle Rett. Want to join our tea party?”

  “Hey, Livie. I’d love to,” Tarr said, his gaze on Erick, who continued to sip his water tea, pinky out, with a huge grin on his face. Tarr awarded him imaginary bonus points for not breaking character.

  “You can move Anna.” Olivia pointed. “She already had her tea and wants to nap.”

  “Oh, okay, of course.” Tarr picked up the brunette doll and laid her in a small doll bed in the corner of the room. He took a seat on the chair, hoping he didn’t break it, but thank God, it held his weight.

  “Did you two have breakfast yet?”

  “Mr. Erick made us toast to eat with our tea.” Olivia pointed to two plates, sprinkled with crumbs, stacked on her dresser.

  “Wow, Mr. Erick is a great babysitter.”

  “I was born to be an uncle,” Erick said. “I told Wren my biological clock is ticking so she better hurry.”

  “What’s biocal clock?” Olivia asked.

  Tarr laughed. “It means Erick is growing up.”

  “I’m growing up too!” Olivia gasped.

  “Awesome!” Erick beamed at her and then sipped more of his tea. “How’s your tea, Uncle Rett? Fresh from the bathroom sink.”

  “Mmmm,” Tarr said, drinking his water. “Delicious. Perfectly tepid.”

  “What’s tepid?” Olivia asked.

  “Not hot,” Erick said.

  “Oh yeah, ew.” Olivia wrinkled her nose. “Hot is bad. It burns. Mommy said I have to stay away from her tea mug at all times because it’s hot and steamy.”

  “That’s a good mom,” Erick said.

  They continued to sip their water, and Tarr couldn’t stop looking at Erick. He was a natural with kids, and if he had thought about it before, he would have guessed Erick was great with kids. He was practically a grown kid himself. He knew what to say to Olivia, how to make her laugh, and he seemed to genuinely be enjoying himself. When Olivia got up to go the bathroom, Tarr knocked his knee into Erick’s. “Thanks for playing with her. Got a chance to talk to my sister, and now she has some time to herself for once.”

  “Sure, I like the kid. She’s fun.” Erick smiled. “And I’m just taking cues from you. They love their uncle Rett. They talk about you more than their dad.”

  “That’s just because I’m a novelty, and I don’t discipline like their father has to.”

  Erick shrugged. “Sure, but they do love you.”

  “Well, I love them.” Tarr picked at a blister on his hand. They’d been working a lot, installing cameras and taking care of the yard, and his palms were paying th
e price. He felt Erick edge closer to him, and he instinctively backed up.

  Erick’s eyes widened a bit before he smoothed over his face. “Sorry, I just…look I wanted to talk.”

  “Erick…”

  “I know what you said, but maybe we can get a chance later, after the kids go to bed. Okay?”

  Tarr exhaled. “Fine.”

  Erick squeezed his thigh just as Olivia walked back into the room. “Who wants more tea? I filled up the teapot.”

  Erick raised his hand with vigor.

  * * *

  Erick

  Erick finished walking the perimeter of Everly’s house, surveying all the places he’d hidden cameras. Tarr was out back, trimming a tree that Everly needed help with.

  They’d been there for a week—a solid week of Erick sleeping in the guest bedroom and Tarr no longer even bothering to join him. They didn’t speak except to communicate what needed to be done. Erick hated it with every breath. It was awkward, and even Cooper noticed because he’d overheard the kid asking Tarr if he and Erick were actually friends.

  So while his personal relationship with Tarr was a mess, at least Everly’s house was secure, which was the reason they’d come here in the first place. Erick had hacked into the system monitoring all the traffic lights at every intersection surrounding Everly’s house. He’d installed an underground wire around her property so he’d know if anything over fifty pounds stepped foot onto her property.

  Every window and door had an alarm. He’d even installed infrared cameras so he could find shitheads hiding behind bushes. He could monitor everything on his laptop. Fluffy was like a well-trained pet that didn’t shed. Tarr hadn’t said much, but one morning he’d placed his hand on Erick’s shoulder, and when he gave a soft-spoken thank-you, his voice had cracked. Erick thought his heart would burst.

  They hadn’t discussed how long they’d stay. Erick was confident the Haros would find them. That was what these guys did—find people who didn’t want to be found and take them out. So they’d stay as long as they had to.

  A breeze blew over the front yard, ruffling Erick’s hair. He was going to miss the fresh Maine air, that was for sure. It was peaceful up here. He’d have to visit again sometime. His phone rang, and he answered.