by Mari Carr
“The hospital.”
Jade sighed. “You sure you want to tackle that right now?”
He nodded. “Feel the need to make a clean sweep. A fresh start.”
“Can’t argue with that.”
She dropped him off at the door and said she would chill in the parking lot, play a little Toy Blast on her phone, while she waited.
TJ took the elevator to his father’s floor. This time, his old man was awake, and his scowl when he spotted him in the doorway was evident even through the bandages on his head.
When he spoke, his voice was hoarse, gravelly from smoke. “Came back, huh?” Thorn said, coughing violently.
TJ nodded. “Yeah. Sawyer called me about the fire. House is a total loss.”
“It was a fucking dump anyway.”
TJ couldn’t disagree. When his mother had been alive, it had been a warm, comfortable home, the kind of place where a loving family would create a lifetime of memories. That atmosphere died when she did.
“So you ran off with your boyfriend, huh?” his dad taunted, sounding ridiculously like a middle-school bully.
TJ could never go back to being his father’s keeper. He’d figured that out at the cemetery, but his father’s vitriol, his hate, made it simpler to walk away.
“Yeah. Actually, I did. Doug and I are together now. We’re in love with a beautiful Italian girl named Rosalia. I’m hoping to make a family with them.”
His father’s eyes narrowed to angry slits. “Fucking faggots. Always knew you were a queer. You’re a goddamn disappointment. Thank God your mother died before she saw what you turned into.”
“Don’t ever talk about my mother again. If anyone has disgraced her memory, it’s you.”
That comment hit, but it didn’t stick. His father was too far gone to ever admit fault. “Get outta here. Go join the Compton freak show. Every single one of you is gonna burn in hell.”
TJ wasn’t sure what he’d expected. No, actually, this was exactly what he’d expected. But he clearly had too much of his mother in him. There had always been a small part of him that hoped for better, prayed Thorn would change. Those days were over.
“Goodbye, Dad.”
Thorn snorted and turned his head away from him. “You’re dead to me.”
“So be it.” TJ walked out of the room. If the man had given him one fucking opening, said one decent thing, TJ never would have left him that way while he was so obviously in physical pain, but any drop of kindness that might have remained, evaporated. It was done. The ties severed.
TJ couldn’t summon an ounce of sadness. He’d said his goodbyes to both his parents today, and now, he was looking forward to starting a new family.
Jade was there when he returned. “That didn’t take long.”
He lifted one tired shoulder. “It’s over.” That was as much explanation as he had to give. There was nothing more to say.
“Good. And now,” she said, making it clear there would be no debate, “you’re going to the ranch and to sleep. From the looks of you, I’d say about twenty-four hours should do it.”
He offered no argument.
Chapter Eleven
Doug sat by the bonfire with his cousins and tried to relax. TJ was inside the house, in his bed, sleeping like the dead. He had wanted to wake him up when he’d arrived home a few hours earlier, but no less than four family members blocked him, telling him the poor guy had been exhausted, and there was nothing Doug needed to say to him that couldn’t wait.
Doug didn’t completely agree, but he went along with it. However, if TJ didn’t wake up within the next hour, Doug was dragging his ass out of bed regardless of his family’s interference.
Fortunately, he’d shown up on a busy, big day for his family. Bryant had earned his doctorate, and the entire Compton clan was in a celebratory mood.
With Bryant settled down with Vaughn, and James and Ivy, as well as Hayden and Austin all partnered up, he was the last Compass boy facing an uncertain future.
He’d had six weeks of his ideal time away from reality with Rosalia and TJ. Now she was back chasing her storms, without him to protect her, and God only knew where TJ’s head was at the moment.
Vaughn tucked his arm around Bryant and teased Doug about being jealous of them. He tried to deflect, tossing back a comment about being a bachelor, the joke falling flat.
There was nothing he wanted less than to be single. He’d told Vaughn about him and TJ and Rosalia. So far, he was the only one in Compton Pass who knew Doug’s “new relationship” included three people, not just two.
When Bryant leaned closer to Vaughn and said, “I found Vaughn a long time ago. It just took forever to work things out. That could be the same for you,” Doug wondered if Vaughn had spilled the beans.
Vaughn covertly, subtly shook his head, and Doug sighed. “I’m not that patient.” He reached for another beer and glanced at his phone. Forty-five more minutes. He was giving TJ forty-five more minutes to sleep.
Sterling carried out a cake as part of the celebration, and Doug tried to get wrapped up in the joy of the moment.
He couldn’t. There was still too much to say. To work out.
And then, forty-two and a half minutes later, TJ emerged from the house. It took him a sleepy second to figure out there was an impromptu party going on. Then his gaze found Doug’s.
Doug held his breath as his best friend, his lover, walked across the yard to him. He actually clenched his fists in preparation. If TJ said one thing, said one single word about what they shared being wrong, he wouldn’t be held accountable for his actions.
He’d spent too many hours of last night and today imagining all of TJ’s excuses for walking away from him and Rosalia, and he’d worked himself up into quite a lather. Maybe he should speak first and warn TJ to tread lightly. He was a man on the edge.
In the end, words weren’t necessary.
TJ walked right up to him and, in front of Doug’s entire family, he kissed him. A serious, open-mouthed, no-mistaking-what-the-fuck-this-is-all-about kiss.
The entire yard—which had previously been ear-piercingly filled with laughter and talking and Leah playing the guitar—suddenly went quiet.
When they broke apart, TJ looked around. “Where’s Rosalia?”
“Arkansas. Twister,” Doug said, feeling slightly light-headed. What the fuck was going on?
“What? You let her chase one of those goddamn storms alone? Are you crazy? Where’s your head?”
Doug had intended to be the aggressor in this facedown with TJ. The tide had turned in seconds and now he was on the defensive. “You fucking left us, Third. No note, no call, nothing.”
“I was going to call, but I lost my phone.”
Doug shook his head, not about to let TJ off with that excuse. “Fuck that. We were right there in bed when Sawyer called. All you had to do was wake us up and tell us what was going on. Why didn’t you?”
TJ rocked back on his heels and rubbed his chin. When he didn’t answer, Doug knew he’d scored a point.
Upper hand to me.
It was TJ’s silence before he left that had caused him the most angst, had him questioning what they were to each other. TJ’s kiss seemed to indicate that if he had been wavering in Oklahoma, he no longer was.
“I shouldn’t have left like that,” TJ said.
“You’re right. You shouldn’t have.” Doug forced himself to ask the question that had been eating at him since TJ left. “You were walking away from us, weren’t you?”
“I was in a bad place for a few hours.” TJ glanced around the yard. “Your family showed me what a fool I’ve been. You showed me. Doug,” TJ paused, and Doug could see he was fighting some pretty heavy emotions. “I went to the cemetery. You were right. About everything.”
Every drop of anger that Doug felt dissolved in an instant. “I’m glad you went.”
“I didn’t give him a choice,” Jade hollered from somewhere behind him.
Doug laugh
ed. “Dammit, Jade. A little privacy?”
James walked over and slapped him on the back. “Kind of hard when you two are putting it all out there in the middle of the yard.”
James stretched his hand out to TJ, and the two of them shook. “Welcome to the family, bro. Not that you weren’t already in it. Just nice to make it all official.”
TJ smiled. “Thanks. Speaking of official, I saw the drawing of the tat.”
Doug glanced over at Vaughn, who shrugged. “He snuck up on me.”
Laughing, Doug turned back to TJ. “What did you think?”
“I’m getting one too.”
Every word TJ spoke drove Doug’s anxieties from the past few hours even further into the background. TJ was in. Committed. So much so, he was going to ink it on his body.
Doug placed his hand on his lover’s forearm. “We’ll go together to get them. Maybe we can even talk Rosie into getting one.”
Speaking her name took TJ right back to his original complaint. “You sent our Rosalia out alone,” he repeated to Doug.
“She’s going to be okay, man. I told Justin and Eric to look after her.”
TJ rolled his eyes. “Oh, well. I’m a fool for being worried then. You’ve got the kittens guarding the bank.”
“Fine. If it’ll set your mind at ease, I’ll call her right now.” Doug had his cell in his hand, knowing TJ wouldn’t relax until he was sure she was safe. Doug felt the same, but three years with the team had given him a stronger sense of confidence in Rosalia’s abilities and the precautions she took.
No sooner had he dialed the phone than the sound of an approaching vehicle caught his attention. He grinned as Rosalia’s big-ass RV rolled into view.
“Thank God,” TJ muttered.
His father walked over, stepping between him and TJ as they watched Rosalia park the RV in front of the main house and step out.
“I assume this is the scientist,” Dad said as Rosalia glanced around and noticed the party. She stood next to the RV, searching for them in the crowd.
Doug raised his hand and waved, capturing her attention. “That’s her. That’s our Rosie.”
“Ours, hmm?”
TJ looked at him. “Yes, sir. I realize that probably comes as a surprise to you, and I hope—”
“Son,” Dad said. “Have you taken a look around at our family dynamics? Love is love. It’s as simple as that. You two have been thick as thieves for more years than I can count. I’m glad you found your happiness together. And…” He stepped forward as Rosalia approached them, stretching out his hand. “This must be the lady storm chaser.”
Rosalia smiled, her ever-present blush blossoming full force. “Don’t know about that description this season. No tornadoes and very few storms. The weather has been very uncooperative the last few months.”
“Tell me about it,” Bryant said, coming over to them. He’d just spent the entire summer dealing with drought while waiting to test the new irrigation system he’d installed on the ranch. No rain, no test. It had been a rough few months for his cousin as his doctorate had been in Mother Nature’s hands, and she hadn’t played nice.
Rosalia reached out to hug him. “Hey, Bryant. Long time, no see. I read all about your irrigation system. Very cool.”
“Thanks. Just got the news today from the committee. I’m a doctor now, too.”
Her eyes widened. “That’s fantastic.”
Bryant gestured around at the large gathering of family. “Hence the celebration.”
“My family did the same for me except it was held in our Italian restaurant, where we drank cases of wine and ate a hundred pounds of tiramisu.”
“Sounds like a damn fine party,” his dad said.
“Rosie, this is my dad, Seth.” And then, as if by magic, his mother emerged. “And Jody, my mom.”
She shook their hands, exchanging pleasantries. Doug turned around and considered introducing everyone else but figured that would take too long and be way too overwhelming, so instead, he just said, “And this is the rest of the Compton clan.”
Rosalia waved. “I’ve heard a lot about all of you.”
“So no tornado?” TJ asked, seeking confirmation.
She shook her head. “Whole thing petered out by the time we got to Arkansas, so I grabbed a few hours of sleep, then headed here. Justin and Eric set up camp in Fayetteville. I’ll meet up with them there in a few days. Are you okay? I heard about your dad and the fire.”
TJ looked at Doug, and he could read the question there. Doug shook his head to reassure his friend that he hadn’t told her anything about Thorn’s alcoholism.
“He’s fine. I know you just got here, but are you too tired to take a walk? I’d like to talk to you and Doug alone.”
Rosalia nodded slowly, concern creeping into her pretty eyes. Doug reached out to give her hand a reassuring squeeze.
“We can mosey down to the creek.” Doug kept hold of her hand and TJ grabbed the other. They made their way to the edge of the yard. Dusk had arrived, so Doug pulled out his cell phone and used it to light their way to the water, where they all sat down on a grassy bank.
TJ picked up a couple of small stones and tossed them in.
“TJ?” she prompted. “What do you want to talk about?”
“My dad is an alcoholic, Rosalia. He’s been in and out of jail for drunk in public and driving intoxicated. He set the house on fire because he passed out with a cigarette in his mouth.”
She twisted toward him, running a comforting hand along his cheek. “Oh my God! I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”
TJ grimaced. “I know. Honestly, I’m not sure why I found it so hard to tell you. I guess after hearing about what happened to your grandfather, I wasn’t sure how you would feel about…”
She frowned. “About what? Your dad wasn’t driving the car that killed my grandfather, TJ.”
“No, but he could have been. It could just as easily have been Thorn behind the wheel, leaving your grandmother or some other woman a widow.”
“And that would have been on him, not you.”
“That’s what I’ve been telling him,” Doug mumbled.
“I promised my mom I would look after him, take care of him. He’s always had alcoholic tendencies.”
“Didn’t you tell me you were eleven when she died?” Rosalia asked.
TJ nodded.
“Jesus. Considering what you’ve told me about your mother, I’m very sure she didn’t mean for you to wear your dad’s sins as your own.”
TJ ran his hand through his hair. “I know that. It’s just, I’ve always sort of seen Thorn as my responsibility. Which hasn’t been easy. He’s not a nice guy.”
“That’s an understatement.”
TJ chuckled at Doug’s muttered comment. “I never thought it was fair to saddle someone else with him. I couldn’t just write him off because of that promise to my mom.” He gave Doug a rueful grin. “Even if he is a dick.”
“Third—” Doug started.
“No. Hear me out. That’s over. He’s going to have to spend a lot of time in rehabilitation. He was badly injured in the fire. Beyond that, I’m not really sure where he’ll end up, but that’s all on him. I’m twenty-three and not making my life decisions based on him anymore. I want to be with the two of you. For as long as it lasts. Forever, if you’ll have me.”
“If we’ll have you?” Rosalia asked with a smile that told him he was crazy to doubt it.
Doug was more interested in the last part. “Forever sounds pretty good.”
Rosalia threw her hands up, though it was obvious she didn’t have a problem in the world with what they were aiming for. “It’s only been six weeks, guys. Do all cowboys move this fast?”
“When it’s right, they do,” Doug said. “We’re not saying let’s get hitched tomorrow—”
Rosalia laughed. “Good thing. Since it’s illegal for the three of us to get married.”
Doug reached over and ruffled her hair. “Smart-ass. You’l
l just marry one of us legally.”
TJ pointed to him. “You’ll marry Doug. I’m homeless and buried in debt.”
Rosalia glanced from TJ to Doug and back again. “Let’s table the wedding talk until we sort out the other seventy-two million things in our way.”
“What things?” Doug asked.
Rosalia started counting off on her fingers. “I’ll give you six big ones. My brothers.”
Doug winced. “Excellent point. But there’s a simple solution. We never travel east of the Mississippi. Next?”
Rosalia laughed loudly. “Fine. Three more.” She pointed to herself. “My job.” Then to him, “Your job.” And then she tilted her head toward TJ, “And his job.”
“I don’t have a job,” TJ added. “So that’s another issue altogether.”
Rosalia narrowed her gaze on TJ. “I can’t have you losing your shit every time Twister comes on TV. That is my job.”
TJ crinkled his nose. “Can’t make any promises there.”
“Third,” Doug said. “You might have to try a little harder to understand what it is Rosie does.”
“I know. I do think you’re amazing, and as long as I’m close by when you’re filming…”
Doug brightened up, remembering something he’d forgotten until that second. “Actually. Remind me to tell you about the email I got from The Weather Channel today.”
The station wanted to option the rights to Light as Air. Which meant they all three had jobs, working together, to film and produce the show—if TJ could overcome his overprotectiveness. But there was time to talk about all of that later. He had something else in mind at the moment.
Rosalia and TJ both looked at him curiously.
“What email?” TJ asked. At the same time, Rosalia said, “The Weather Channel?”
“They want the show.”
“Why would they contact you and not Rosalia?” TJ asked.
Doug chuckled. “Because I’m the producer, of course.” Obviously, the studio bigwigs took the ending credits more seriously than their ragtag research team.
Rosalia feigned a shudder. “Oh my God. Does that mean Justin is really a director now?”
Doug shook his head emphatically. “Hell no. But let’s talk about it later. After.”