Morgan pushes herself off the swing, mid-air, and lands on her feet. “I hope you didn’t drop the soap when you were locked up.” She turns around and faces me then reaches for a cigarette tucked behind her ear. She places it between her lips and lights it up.
“When you left here, you weren’t a smoker,” I observe.
“Yeah, well, the kids over there do it all the time.” She takes a long drag.
“So, you’re a follower now?”
She shrugs nonchalantly. “Stop trying to change the subject. Something went down that landed you in jail. My question is how did you get out? I know our parents would've kept your ass locked up. So, who got you out?”
I walk over to my sister, snatch the cigarette away from her, and place it between my lips. I inhale a long, slow drag and release it slowly. I flick my thumb against the cigarette to dispel the ashes before bringing it to my lips once again. A blue zig-zag of lightning flashes in the sky, and the strong, earthy scent of rain mixes with the stench of burning tobacco.
“It was Ava, wasn’t it?” Morgan asks after a beat of silence.
I stare at my sister, knowing she can read me like a fuckin’ book. Call it twin telepathy or some shit.
Morgan curls her hands into fists. “Did you fuck Ava as a thank you for getting you out of jail?”
“Shit, Morgan, it’s not like that.”
“Then tell me how it is then!” She throws her hands up in the air, exasperated. “Trust me, I saw the way you two eye-fucked each other in the airport and the way you touched her when you thought no one was looking. And let’s not forget the way she literally handed you your balls in the yard. You must’ve really pissed her off.”
“Nothing is going on; we’re just friends.” I glare at her and release another tar cloud.
“Yeah, fuckin’ right, Bryce. I’m your twin and I’m calling you out on your bullshit right now.”
“I’m listening.” I drop the cigarette and watch the tip burn before dispelling it with dirt.
“You like Ava and, obviously, you trust her. But you think you’re too fucked-up for her, so you push her away.”
Told you she knows me like a fuckin’ book.
“For once in your life,” she takes several tentative steps my way, “I want you to be happy.”
Now, she’s sounding like Ava. “Morgan—”
“No, Bryce. Listen to me for once,” her knuckles turn white as she grips the front of my shirt, “it’s not your job to take care of us. Not anymore.”
I grab her wrists and tug her hands-free from my shirt. “Then who the fuck will?”
We glare at each other, wondering who will look away first but, of course, neither of us likes to lose a fight, so we continue to go toe-to-toe.
“After graduation, I’m leaving and I’m not coming back unless somebody important dies,” Morgan reveals.
“When were you planning on telling me this?”
“I wanted to tell you on the way home from the airport, but we had company. I’ve been approved for the summer abroad program in Florence, Italy. Everything is paid for—plane ticket and room and board, and I get a monthly allowance that I can use toward food and other necessities.”
“It seems you have everything all figured out,” I scoff. Silence lingers between us to a point that I can hear my uncle’s cows mooing, though they’re miles away.
The rustling of leaves shows signs that a storm is brewing. Ava hates storms. Always has ever since she was ten. She and her mom flew in to Mobile, Alabama from visiting family in Puerto Rico and decided to drive from there back to Tennessee. It was storming really bad with flash flood warnings airing across radio streams and news stations across southern parts of Alabama. Ava remembered falling asleep only to wake up to the sound of her mom screaming and water filling the inside of their car. If it weren’t for her mom watching an episode of the Today show on how to escape a vehicle when it’s submerged in water, she and her mom would’ve drowned that day. And she wouldn’t be here, giving a damn about me.
“Bryce, if you don’t want me to leave—“
“No, you’re going,” I interrupt. “I don’t want you wasting your life away here. When are you leaving?”
“The day after graduation.”
I nod then stare up at our house. At least one of us is getting out. “They’re probably asleep now.” I tilt my head toward the house. “We should probably go inside before the sky opens up.” I walk in the direction of our house, pausing when I notice Morgan not following beside me.
“When the time is right, you need to apologize to Ava. But right now, give her some space.”
I glance over my shoulder at her. The cat was out of the bag, and there’s no denying my feelings for Ava anymore. I face my sister. “What if she doesn’t want to see me?” I grab the back of my neck.
She rolls her eyes at me. “When have you ever given up on a challenge when it comes to girls?”
I shrug. Never had to. Girls came easy. “Forget I asked.” I turn back around.
“Bryce, wait!”
I halt.
“I can’t believe I’m giving you relationship advice.” I almost correct my sister by telling her that Ava and I weren’t in a relationship. But just the thought of Ava being mine, and only mine, actually thrills the fuck out me. “Make her listen, no matter what. Especially if you think she’s worth it.”
She is. “And if that doesn’t work?”
“Then I guess you didn’t try hard enough to win her heart.”
Chapter 14
Bryce
“Ole man, quit dragging your ass,” Clay quips beside me. “I’m surprised Molly hasn’t kicked your ass off the stool for not milking her right.”
The cow in question moos as if agreeing with my cousin.
I yawn. “Yeah, I couldn’t sleep,” I grumble.
“I bet. You’ve been adjusting your stool like you can’t get comfortable. How’s your beans and weenie? Sore, I assume. Ava did knee the shit out of them.”
“Fuck you.” I squeeze then tug on Molly’s udder a little tighter to disperse milk.
“Well, you must’ve deserved it. Ava usually sits back and ignores your ass, but you pushed her to do what she did.”
I take the barely full bucket of milk and toss it at Clay’s head, only for him to jump back and dodge my attempt while laughing his ass off.
I place another bucket under Molly’s full udders and continue where I left off.
“Ava’s a good girl, Bryce.”
“Don’t you think I fuckin’ know that?” I turn on my stool and glare at my cousin.
“Then why in the hell, as soon as I pull up into your yard, I find your ass laid out on the ground and Ava rushing to me to help her and take her home?”
“It’s none of your business.”
“None of my business? Okay.” Clay throws his hands up in defeat. “Whatever, man.”
“Why the hell did you stop by anyway?”
“Do I have to have a reason to stop by?”
I shrug then turn back around on my stool and resume with my milking.
“I was up at the farmer’s market the other day and overheard some women talking about Uncle Bryce.”
“Is that so?” I pause to wipe away some sweat dripping down my forehead. “What about?”
“That he’s been seen leaving Miss Donna’s house odd hours of the day.”
Heat rises within me. I release Molly’s udder when she begins to stir, scooting away when I think she’s about to drop kick my ass across the field. I come to my feet and brush my pants off. “He could be doing odd jobs for her. She doesn’t have a man around, I guess, to do them for her.”
“Bullshit. You know Miss Donna is known for breaking up marriages. Especially if she can sink her nails into the right man that will fall for her slutty charms. Have you noticed anything strange going on with your parents?”
You don’t know the half of it. “Nope.”
“Well, I thought you should
know the rumor going around.”
“Yeah. Whatever. I’m sure that’s all it is. A rumor. But good looking out.”
“That’s what family is for.”
I pop my knuckles, knowing damn well my dad was probably getting his dick wet elsewhere, especially on the nights I would come home and get a good night’s rest because his ass wasn’t there. He would creep in later that night or early morning, and I’d wake up to my parents arguing and fighting. I bet that’s where he’s been this whole time while I’ve been away from home. I reach down, pick up the two buckets I was able to fill to the top with milk then carry and load them into the back of my uncle’s work truck. “So, is Kennedy going to be able to make it back for prom?” I quickly change the subject.
“I don’t know,” he calls over his shoulder. “I haven’t talked to her in over a week. Her aunt has been screening her calls.”
I lean against the tailgate. “That’s fucked up.”
“It is but I love her. I thought about getting in my truck and driving to Georgia to see her.”
“Now, you’re talking crazy.”
“I guess that’s what love does to a person.”
“Shit, then I don’t want no parts of it.”
“Really?” Clay snickers then crosses his arms across his chest.
“Really.”
“So, what’s this shit you have going on with Ava?”
“I never said, did I?”
Clay looks at me with a stupid grin on his face.
“What?”
“Nothing.” Clay takes his work gloves out his back pocket and pulls them on. “I was just thinking about the time when we were on spring break, and we had crashed that wedding reception on the beach. Your ass got so drunk that night. We were all sitting at a table while Hunter, Morgan, and Ava were dancing with a group of party guests. Ava started dancing with some guy, and I swear the whole time you were shooting daggers at the guy while nursing a beer. You started bitchin’ about her outfit and how she was dancing too close to ‘that asshole’. Next thing I know you were out your seat, dashing across the sand and getting all up in that guy’s face.”
Damn, I forgot about that. “Yeah, Ava slapped the shit out of me.” I flinch at the memory. “Then I puked all over her.”
Clay starts rolling with laughter. “She hauled your ass away from the party so fast.”
My mind drifts back to that night.
Sure enough, she marched my ass back to the beach house that Kennedy’s parents trusted us not to trash or burn to the ground. Luckily, it was less than a five-minute walk from the party. I’d felt like shit. Why I downed so much alcohol that night is beyond me, but she rushed me in the house, led me straight into the bathroom, and shoved my ass into the shower. She removed her shirt and got in with me then called me a perv for staring at her breasts that were covered up by a thin, white cotton bra. She reminded me that I puked on her blouse, and the only reason why she stood half-dressed under the shower spray that warmed our bodies. It was completely innocent. While she cleaned us up, I waited for her to snap on my ass, but that tongue lashing never came. Afterward, she told me to stay in the shower then she left. When she returned she was dressed in clean clothes and had an armload of fresh clothes for me. She left me alone to change, and when I went to look for her, I found her on the couch with a bowl of popcorn watching a movie.
“Feel better?” she asked.
I felt like shit but nodded anyway. Ava patted the seat beside her. I sat next to her, and we ate kettle popcorn and watched her favorite movie Legally Blonde. We both ended up drifting off to sleep on the couch, not even finishing the movie.
“You better be good to her. I don’t know why, but it seems like she’s always taking care of your ass. Maybe she feels sorry for you and seems to know how to set you straight, but if I were her, I’d leave your ass out to dry since you apparently don’t appreciate all she’s done for you.” Clay grabs the shovel leaning against the fence and starts shoveling up cow dung.
I stretch my arms above my head and squint up at the bright sky. “Yeah, if it weren’t for her, I’d probably be dead and gone by now.”
Four Months Ago
Bam!
I slam the motherfucker against the wall, not giving a damn if I attract the attention of his friends. The bitch has something of mine, and if he doesn’t give it up quickly, I’m going to kick his ass up and down this piece of shit of a yard that’s covered in dirt and weeds, along with his friends if they decide to size me up. Either way, I’m going to fight for what’s mine.
“I’m not going to ask you again. Where is it?”
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” the smug fucker has the nerve to say. “Why don’t you tell me what I supposedly took.
“You took my wallet, you piece of shit; now give it back.”
“You must have me confused with someone else because I didn’t take your fuckin’ wallet. Now, if I were you, I would take your hands off me right now, white boy,” he chuckles and starts spewing words in Spanish. I look behind me and see that his goons finally decided to show their faces. Shit, there’s a lot more of them than I thought.
Mondo, the fucker that I have pressed against the side of his house is also the guy that I was referred to for weed. Trust me, this will be the last time I try to buy any shit from this guy. I took my wallet out to pay him and laid it on the dresser in his bedroom where all transactions are done. I pocketed my stash and left. Stopped by the gas station to buy some Black and Mild cigars, and that’s when I remembered that I left my wallet on his dresser. So, I drove fifteen miles over the speed limit and was lucky the cops didn’t pull my ass over. I got out of my car and saw him on the side of his house smoking a cigarette. I approached him and explained to him why I came back, and he had the nerve to pretend not to know me.
My heart begins to pound to the beat of the merengue music playing somewhere on the other side of the house where a crowd of people is celebrating a quinceanera. My jaw ticks like a grenade ready to explode.
I’m caught off-guard and pushed to the ground then kicked repeatedly in the stomach by someone. I cough against the ground, dust billowing around my face. Before I can catch my breath, I’m pulled to my feet and my arms are bound behind my back. This time, I’m punched in the gut near my already bruised rib. Fuck!
Blood sputters out of my mouth. There’s no point in calling out for help. No one would hear me, and if so, would they care? My head is jerked back by my hair, and I’m punched in the jaw then just above my left eye. I try to free my arms so I can somewhat defend myself, but all of my attempts fail.
I continue to take my beating and verbal lashings spoken in Spanish.
I should’ve never brought my ass out this way.
“Mondo!?! Omigod, stop!!!”
I spit out a wad of blood before looking up to see several people crowding around.
I frown when I see Ava breaking past them.
“Bryce what…“ Her words drift off, and her eyes and hands access me. “Mondo, let him go!” she yells.
He releases me and I stumble to the ground on my knees in front of her. She immediately wraps her arms around me. Protecting me. I hug her waist, not wanting to let go. I close my eyes and listen to her ramble off in Spanish to Mondo.
“Bryce, tell me what happened.” Her fingers comb through my hair, and her lips press against my forehead like a mom’s when comforting her child.
“He took my wallet,” I murmur against her stomach, smearing my blood against her shirt.
“Dame su billetera y todos el dinero,” Ava demands.
I listen to her and Mondo converse back and forth, not understanding a lick of it until I can’t take it anymore. “English, please!” I shout. “Especially if it’s about me.”
“I told him to give me your wallet,” Ava says after a brief moment of silence, “and every cent that was inside it.”
I hear the boots that I’m sure were kicking me in my side and stomach c
runch along the dirt, growing near.
“Thank you,” Ava says. “If I were you, I would stay out of trouble because my dad can’t keep bailing you out.”
“Yeah, whatever cuz,” Mondo says behind me. “Take your white boy off my property and make sure his ass doesn’t come back.”
“Come on, Bryce.” Ava helps me to my feet, but I stumble back down and clutch the fabric near my low-beating heart. I can’t breathe.
“Bryce?!”
I can’t speak. Ava’s eyes widen in horror, and she begins yelling. Well, I think she is. I can’t hear her, but her arms are flailing about and her lips are moving fast with a look of horror on her face while hitting Mondo in the chest.
I’m drifting. I close my eyes.
Soft lips press against mine, air fills my mouth then the lips are gone.
One, two, three. Chest compressions. Soft lips again. Air. Then repeat.
Calm darkness surrounds me.
One, two, three. Chest compressions. Soft lips again. Air. Then repeat.
“Bryce!”
One, two, three. Chest compressions. Soft lips again. Air. Then repeat.
My eyes fly open the next time Ava’s soft lips touch mine. I part my lips, tasting the sweetness of her lips. My heart sputters back to life, beating strong in my chest.
Her lips pull away from mine slowly, and we stare at each other. Her eyes roam over my face before her attention shoots to Mondo once again. “What the hell did you give him?”
“He’s a paying customer. I didn’t give him shit.”
She glares at him. “Did you at least call 9-1-1?”
Mondo laughs. “Shit. I ain’t getting busted for no one. Like you said, Tio can’t keep bailing my ass out,” he sneers.
“No hospitals,” I mutter.
Ava runs a concerned gaze over me. “Okay,” she says quietly.
A girl, dressed in a pink dress with a crown atop her head, appears with a bottle of water and hands it to Ava. “Gracias, Maria,” she says to the young girl before lifting my head up and placing it in her lap. “Drink,” she orders me.
F*ck Perfect (MindF*ck Book 2) Page 9