Under the Owl Tree

by Sara Daniell

  “What do you do for work?”

  “I help Brink keep up with emails and help him file. I’m also over a scholarship foundation that is named after Sam. We award teen moms full-paid scholarships.” She smiled brightly.

  “Wow, that’s awesome!”

  She nodded. “It is. So now it’s my turn to ask you something.”

  “My life has been nothing but baseball. There’s not much to ask.”

  “What’s your favorite color?”

  “Black.” I chuckled.

  She looked at me oddly. “Black?”

  I nodded.

  She laughed. “Favorite food?”

  “That’s easy. Junk food. All of it.”

  She laughed.

  “Twinkies are her favorite,” Zach said sleepily as he came downstairs.

  I nodded. “If you want to be specific.”

  He dragged himself over to me. “I have to go to the restaurant.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  He grabbed his keys from the counter. “One of my cooks quit. I have to go work.”

  “I’ll come help.” I got off the stool.

  He gave me a slight smile and yawned. “Sounds like a plan.” He handed me the keys. “You may want to be the one that drives.”

  I slipped on my shoes as we headed out the door. “You have the worst luck with employees.”

  “That place is cursed.” He eyed Quinn. “You made me buy a cursed place.”

  She batted her eyes at him and smiled. “But you love me.”

  “You two have fun.” She got up and closed the door.

  We got into the truck, and Zach yawned again.

  “You sure you don’t mind helping?”

  I think I smiled too largely. “Not at all.” I had to keep my eye on Miss Legs.

  “Thank you, baby,” he said as his eyes closed.

  By the time we pulled up to the restaurant, Zach was asleep again. I refused to wake him. I left the engine running so he wouldn’t burn up then went inside to find Miss Legs.

  “Hey, I’m here to help. Just tell me what to do, and I’ll do my best!”

  “Oh. Okay. Where’s Zach?” she asked and looked back at the computer screen.

  “Sleeping in his truck. Please don’t wake him.”

  She nodded. “Very well. If you could wait on tables, I can cook.”

  She got up and handed me an apron. “Every table has a number. Match the orders to the table numbers, and make sure they have their drinks refilled if needed.”

  Jenny put an apron over her skirt and went to the kitchen to work. I looked at the apron and chewed on my bottom lip.

  This was going to be a disaster.

  I was turning in an order an hour later, and, surprisingly, not failing at the job. I turned when I heard Zach’s voice and saw him talking to someone. He smiled a little when he saw me. I didn’t know if that was a happy smile or a ‘why the fuck did you let me sleep, you are in so much trouble’ smile.

  He finished his conversation and walked over to me. “How’s it going?”

  “I only spilled two drinks.” I groaned when more people walked in. “And my customer service isn’t horrible.”

  He chuckled. “I’m about to send Jenny out to help you. Thank you for letting me sleep. I owe you.”

  I went over to the table and greeted the customers as cheerfully as I could.

  IT WAS 10:00 pm, and I had no idea how a pizza place could be so busy all day long. Didn’t people know what a home cooked meal was? I waited for Zach out by his truck while he talked with Jenny. She smiled brightly at him and nodded at something he said before he walked over to me.

  “I owe you majorly. Thank you.”

  “You owe me nothing. I didn’t mind.”

  He opened my door for me, and after Jenny pulled out, he leaned down and kissed me. “Thank you for letting me get some sleep.”

  “Of course. So we should probably go talk to your brother.” I looked at the time on my cellphone. “Think he’s still awake?”

  I had the feeling that Quinn wasn’t the best at keeping secrets, and I just wanted to get it over with because it was all I could think about all damn day.

  “Yeah. I told him to wait up for us.” We got in the truck, and he drove toward his house. He laced his fingers with mine.

  “I need to talk about quitting the team too.”

  “Is it what you really want, to quit?”

  “If my dad is involved at all, yes.” I squeezed his hand. “But I know the team is counting on me, and Elliot really wants me on it.”

  “That’s true, but you have to do what’s best for you.” He let go of my hand to turn into the driveway.

  “How do you want to do this? Together or do you want me to ha—” he stopped when Elliot stormed out of the house. “I’m going to kill Quinn.”

  Elliot whipped open Zach’s door and yanked him out.

  “What the fuck, Zach?” he yelled as he slammed him against the truck.

  I got out and moved between them. “Stop!”

  Quinn came out with Brink and Dane.

  “Hales, it’s okay. Go inside.” Zach kept his eyes on his brother.

  I was going to argue, but Dane picked me up and carried me in.

  “Put me down!” He didn’t put me down until the door was shut, and Brink was guarding it.

  Brink looked at me. “Zach needs to take what Elliot’s throwing at him.” He crossed his arms in front of his chest.

  We all heard Elliot yelling but nothing from Zach. This went on for what seemed like hours, and then, there was nothing. The door opened, and Elliot came in rubbing his fist.

  “Follow me,” Elliot said, pointing at me as he walked to the study.

  I looked at Dane, but he didn’t give me the reassuring smile I was looking for. I followed Coach and closed the door behind me.

  “Did you hit him?” I was pissed. Zach didn’t do anything wrong.

  “Yes.” He sat down behind the desk. “How long has this been going on?”

  “Not long.” I sat in the chair in front of the desk. “So this study is legit shit, Coach. Like something out of Beauty and the Beast.” I smiled sweetly, trying to change the subject.

  “Sam designed it.” He rubbed his head with his fingertips. “Stop trying to change the subject.”

  I sighed. “I’m eighteen, Coach.”

  “I know.” He looked at me. “Is this your first relationship?”

  “Why does that matter?”

  “Because I want to find out how much my ass of a brother corrupted you.” His jaw was tense.

  “Corrupted?”

  “I’m sure Zach’s the one who pursued this, and I’m wondering what else he talked you into.”

  “Actually, it was a mutual thing. I’m the one who told him I thought he was hot, and then he told me he thought I was hot, and then, well, he kissed me, and I kissed him back.” There was no way I was going to tell him we had sex. Not ever. “I know that sounds really juvenile, but there’s more to it than that. I really care for him.”

  His blank stare irritated the shit out of me.

  “Well? Aren’t you going to say something?”

  He rubbed his forehead. “Yeah. You’re welcome to stay here however long you need, but as long as you’re here, Zach will stay elsewhere.” He stood. “I’m heading to bed.”

  “Coach,” I said, standing.

  “Hailey, the less I know the better.”

  “Okay, so, can we talk about baseball for just a second?” I wasn’t going to press the Zach issue anymore. He just needed to get used to it, and I needed to give him time to process it. Hopefully, it would all blow over, but we needed to talk about baseball.

  He looked at me. “Alright.”

  “I won’t quit, under one condition.”

  “What?”

  “My dad stays out of it. If he comes near the field, I’m gone.”

  I felt sick to my stomach even having to say that. I loved my parents so much,
but they were wrong for how they treated me over ball. For once in my life, I felt like I mattered, not just my skills. I felt like I was more than baseball.

  “I can handle that.” He went to walk out but stopped. “Brink will be the assistant coach from now on.”

  “Coach” I whined.

  He didn’t say anything else as he left. I stayed in the study, trying to keep calm. Zach knew what he was doing; I couldn’t see Brink being good help when it came to baseball.

  Dane peeked in. “You okay?”

  I sat down in a big leather chair near a bookcase. I shrugged.

  “One question and then you can talk to me about whatever else you want to.”

  I raised a brow at him. “I might answer.”

  “Are you back on the team?”

  I nodded.

  He smiled. “Good.”

  We both looked at the door when Zach came in.

  Dane winked at me. “That’s my cue to leave. I just wanted to check on you.”

  He left the room.

  Zach had a busted lip and his eye was swelling. “You okay?”

  I stood. “Are you?”

  He nodded. “I’ll live.” He gave me a weak smile. “Are you back on the team?”

  I nodded. “But only if my dad stays away. I don’t plan on talking to him for a long time. So, what do we do now? I don’t want your family hating you.”

  “They have their reasons to be acting the way they are.” He kissed my forehead. “I need to go pack some stuff.”

  “No. I’ll go home.”

  He shook his head. “No. I’d feel better if you were here.”

  “This is your home, Zach. Millie won’t understand why I get to stay and you have to leave. I’ll be fine at home.”

  He put his hands on my shoulders. “Millie will be fine. She’ll come hang out with me.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’m going to go stay at the cabin.”

  He took my hand and led me out of the study. I followed him to his room and sat on the edge of his bed. He started packing his bag.

  “You can stay in here. Millie will be excited you’re here. She won’t miss me.”

  I was pouting majorly. “Zach, I’m not okay with this. You can’t just be kicked out of your own house.”

  He sat on the bed next to me. “It’s not my house really. It’s Elliot’s.” He shrugged. “I sold my house a few years back.”

  He looked down at his hands. “I’m a nothing, Hales. You deserve better than me.” He stood and picked up his bag.

  “Zach.” I got up and stood in front of him. “That’s a lie! Where is this even coming from?”

  Tears filled his eyes. “It’s not a lie. It’s the truth. I thought I could be different, but then Elliot—” He stopped and looked away from me. “Do you want to know how many women I have been with? How many one-night-stands I’ve had?” He looked at me. “I couldn’t even finish college.”

  “I never really thought about it before, Zach. And I already told you, the past is the past!”

  “The ones I remember total over twenty.” He looked down at his shoes; his face was filled with shame. He picked up the pictures that I had found and tossed them in the trash. “Sam was wrong about me.” He left the room.

  I grabbed the pictures out of the trash and hurried out of the room. “Zach, stop!”

  He stopped on the stairs and looked at me.

  “I don’t care about your past! Yeah, I’m a little shocked, but you’re not that guy anymore!” Now I was crying. I couldn’t stand to see him hurting. It was killing me.

  A tear slipped down his cheek. “You’re right. I’m not that guy anymore. You were the first girl I had kissed and had sex with in five years,” he whispered. “You’re the only one who knows that. The others wouldn’t believe me anyway.” He wiped my tears then put his forehead to mine. “Go get some sleep. You have school tomorrow.”

  “Take me with you. I don’t care if we make everyone mad. I’m not letting you stay alone. And if you don’t, I’ll just get in my car and come there anyway. I’m not letting you tell me no.”

  He looked like he was torn but nodded anyway. “Alright, let’s go.”

  WHEN WE GOT to the cabin, Zach took his shirt off and tossed it into the hamper. He had a bruise forming on his side. He looked down when he saw me looking.

  “I hit the side of the truck when Elliot pushed me.”

  I touched it and frowned. “I think I just lost all respect for Coach.”

  “Don’t. He’s a good guy. He usually doesn’t lose his temper at all.”

  “So why now?” I yawned. “I mean, I get that they worry because of who you used to be, but you’re not that way anymore. Don’t they see that?”

  “I think he just had a moment. His struggle with cancer, missing Sam, and now me with you. I think he just couldn’t take the stress. He considers you his responsibility.”

  “But he shouldn’t.” I followed him through the cabin to his room.

  Zach slipped his jeans off and got in bed. He patted the spot next to him. “Maybe not, but he does. And me with you scares the hell out of him. Please, don’t hate my brother. He’s a great guy. The best kind of guy.”

  “So are you,” I whispered as I laid my head on his chest.

  He played with my hair. “Only around you. Things are so different with you, Hales.” He kissed my head.

  “How so?” I closed my eyes.

  “I’ve never felt real emotions toward any girl before, until you. It’s always just been about sex and the physical attraction. It’s why I kissed you that day at the pizza place and left without a word. I wanted to kiss you again and again and again. I didn’t know what to do with that feeling. I never had to deal with being emotionally invested in someone before.”

  “You make it sound like it’s a chore,” I chuckled and yawned again.

  He laughed. “I don’t mean to. I’m happy. I guess what I’m trying to say is that how I am with you is so foreign that no one really knows how to handle this right now.”

  “Yeah, well, they can either get on board with it or go jump off a cliff.”

  He burst into laughter. “Don’t you think that’s a little dramatic?”

  I shrugged and frowned when his fingers stopped moving through my hair.

  “Don’t stop.”

  He chuckled lightly and started playing with my hair again. “I like this. I like you being in bed with me like this.”

  “Me too.” I turned in his arms so I could look at him. “Can I ask you something really personal?”

  “Sure.” He looked down at me sleepily.

  “What do you mean you only had sex with the other girls? I guess I don’t understand how there could be no emotional attachment.”

  “I honestly don’t know how to answer that. For the longest time, I thought something was wrong with me. I mean, I never let them stay in my bed longer than a few minutes after having sex. I never wanted to just sleep in bed with any of them. I wouldn’t return texts or phone calls. I just wanted a good fuck and then to be left alone. Sorry, I know that sounds harsh, but I want to be honest with you.”

  “You don’t have any STD’s, do you? I feel bad asking that, but you only remember twenty girls, and there were more than that so...”

  He propped himself up and looked down at me. “No, I don’t have any. I got checked, and I’m always careful. I can show you proof.” He kept his eyes on mine. “I told you I haven’t had sex or even kissed anyone for the past five years. I got checked after Sam died.”

  “Sorry. I know I said your past didn’t matter, but I had to ask.”

  He kissed my nose. “I want you to ask me whatever you want. I will tell you anything.”

  “I appreciate that. Same goes for you.”

  “I appreciate that.” He grinned. “Night, Tiger.”

  “Night, Zach.”

  I woke up to my alarm and a text from my mom. Zach mumbled in his sleep then rolled over onto his
stomach. He draped his arm on my stomach.

  Mom: Sweetie, we miss you. Take all the time you need. Your dad is getting counseling. He realizes he was in the wrong and how he was handling things wasn’t normal. Please don’t shut us out completely.

  I smiled at Zach and set my phone down. “Zach,” I whispered and tried to get up, but he held me tighter. His right eye was sporting a horrible, black bruise. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at me.

  “Coach Elliot did some serious damage.” I kissed right beside his eye. “He’s probably going to yell at me for staying here when I go to practice.”

  “He wouldn’t dare,” Zach growled a little.

  “I don’t know. We broke his stupid rules. Oh, and he tried to get me to tell him if we had sex or not. His word was ‘corrupted’ actually. I didn’t tell him.”

  “He can say whatever the hell he wants to me, but he’s not doing that to you,” he said angrily.

  “Whoa, calm down. I can handle him.”

  Zach ran his hand over his hair and moved his head in my lap.

  I sat up and ran my fingers through his hair. “If what you do to me is corrupting me, then just keep on.” I gave him a bright smile.

  He smiled up at me. “I think I can do that.”

  I sighed. “I guess we should get ready for the day.”

  He jumped up and wrapped his arms around me. “You going to take a shower?” He asked and kissed my neck.

  “Yeah, why?”

  “I was thinking about how I could corrupt you again.”

  I burst into laughter. “Well come on then.”

  He smiled brightly before following me into the bathroom.

  SCHOOL WASN’T NEARLY as bad as it had been. I was hoping the day would just get better, but all hope was lost when I saw Coach Elliot’s face at practice. I made it there before anyone else and planned it that way.

  “I never apologized for stripping in front of you when I had that meltdown with my dad.” I was hoping to make him laugh, but I didn’t.

  “I was more concerned about your shoulder. How does it feel?”

  “Not as swollen.” I wasn’t telling him about the steroid shot. “I plan on using my left hand.”