Miss ~ Harloe Rae

by Rae, Harloe

  “I was trying until my elbow rammed into her. And that’s the indisputable fact. She’s hurt because of me.”

  Ryan widens his stance above me. “When she finds out how you’re coping, it won’t end well.”

  “Good thing she won’t hear about this. We’re no longer together.”

  Ryan gapes at me. “What’s that bullshit you’re spewing?”

  “There’s no way I’d risk Delilah’s safety, ever again. I’m obviously a loose cannon.”

  “Uh-huh. There’s definitely a few screws loose up there.” He flicks my forehead. I don’t even flinch.

  “Fuck off. You know what I mean,” I say with zero room for argument.

  Ryan goes quiet for a minute. He clears his throat and fidgets with imaginary lint. Eventually he grows the balls to ask, “Is this because of your father?”

  “Ding-ding,” I announce.

  He squats down to my level. “You’re not him, Zeke. Far fucking from it. We’ve talked about this so many times. I always figured you saw the differences.”

  “Used to believe that. Not anymore.”

  “You’re on a spiral, huh?”

  “I’m not lounging on this disgusting mat for my health,” I snap.

  “Get the fuck up so we can fix this.” Ryan holds out a hand, but I wave him off.

  I struggle to sit up, every exhausted muscle screaming in protest. “I’m not your problem. You don’t wanna be caught around town with the likes of me. This is my fucking cross to bear.”

  “Stop tearing yourself down, man. No one would believe you’d hurt Delilah on purpose. I’m not sure why you’re taking this so damn hard.”

  I use every remaining reserve stored in my broken body to yell, “I fucking hit her!”

  He doesn’t flinch from my outrage, which only causes my blood to boil hotter. My chest is rising and falling rapidly, completely out of control. I suddenly feel like the walls are closing in on me, and there isn’t enough oxygen. I claw at my neck, begging for a decent breath.

  In the back on my mind, I hear Ryan murmuring but can’t make out the syllables. He places a cool cloth over my forehead, and the relief is instant. My skin sizzles before the fire recedes completely. I pant for a few moments and try to collect my sloppy thoughts.

  “You good?” Ryan asks and removes the towel.

  I give a jerky nod. “For now.”

  “It’s gonna be okay. You’ll see,” he assures.

  I don’t have any fight left to keep up with him. “How’d you find me?”

  Ryan lets me off the hook. “Saw that heap of rusted metal down the block. Process of elimination. Figured you weren’t antique-shopping or buying women’s clothes.”

  “You’ve always been a smartass.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment coming from you.”

  I move to stand, and he helps stabilize my wobbling legs. “Thanks,” I mutter.

  “Damn glad I showed up before you caused serious damage. Your palms are torn to shreds,” he says and inspects the massacre again.

  I flip them out of sight. “I hardly feel it.” And that’s the truth. I’m just an empty shell.

  “You’ll have to skip work for a few days. No way you can wield any tools in this condition.”

  “I’ll manage.”

  “Always the fucking tough guy. Lean on me for today, yeah?” His eyes shine with empathy and I’m too tired to resist.

  “Whatever.”

  “We’ll rehydrate and eat,” he begins. He continues talking when I try interrupting. “Somewhere quiet without any gossiping hens.”

  “Yeah, all right.”

  Ryan coughs into the collar of his shirt. “First, let’s get you in the shower.”

  “Why bother?” I mumble but begin stumbling toward the locker room.

  He chuckles. “I might not be leaving your sorry ass, but you fucking stink.”

  GOSSIP

  Delilah

  I APPRAISE MY appearance in the mirror, tilting this way and that. No matter what angle I turn, the bruise still shines. The injured skin is fading into a greenish-yellow blotch, but visible none the less. With a lengthy sigh, I stow away my suffocating sadness and leave the bathroom. The time has come to face another day of sympathetic looks and persistent questions.

  With a roll of my shoulders, I drag-ass down the hall and settle behind the counter. Jitters will be bustling with customers soon. My belly swoops thinking about a certain someone walking through those doors. I immediately scold myself for grasping onto that possibility. It’s most likely not going to happen, and my tattered heart can’t handle more disappointment.

  It’s been days since the incident at Cyclone, and I haven’t heard a peep from Zeke. I’m becoming increasingly more desperate with each passing moment. It’s embarrassing to admit I’ve gone full out stalker mode a few times. But what’s a girl supposed to do? Driving by Roosters to see if his truck is there isn’t so bad. Thankfully, Bertha has been sitting pretty along the street each time so I haven’t lost my shit. But the truth is almost worse.

  Zeke is purposely ignoring me, which cuts deeper each time I let my mind wander there. At least he hasn’t left Garden Grove, I remind myself. His close proximity is definitely something I’m holding onto until we see each other again. I’m forcing myself to give Zeke time to figure shit out on his own. A week seems like a reasonable amount, right? If he hasn’t called or messaged me by then, I’ll be paying him a special visit.

  The chime sounds, signaling my first caffeine seeker. I plaster on a fake smile with a warm greeting to waiting on my lips. But the expression falls flat when I notice who’s strutting toward me.

  “Good morning, Delilah,” Marlene sings.

  I slump against the register. “Hello to you. How’s Wednesday so far?” What are the chances I can distract her from more obvious topics?

  Her face wrinkles with a wide grin. “Peter comes home tomorrow. We’re having a gathering to celebrate.”

  I nod at the mention of her oldest grandson. “He hasn’t visited Garden Grove in quite a while. What’s the occasion?”

  Marlene’s features beam bright and I almost shield my eyes. “His wife, Becky, is expecting. I’m going to be a great-grandmother. Can you believe that?”

  “Wow, congratulations. That’s wonderful news,” I tell her honestly. Maybe this will keep her preoccupied for years to come.

  “Thank you. We’re all very excited.”

  “You should ask Raven to bake a gender-reveal cake,” I suggest.

  Marlene sucks in a startled breath. “Oh, my. I never considered that. Do you think she’d be willing?”

  “Absolutely. That girl loves specialty projects.”

  “That’s a great idea, Delilah. I’ll talk to Peter and Becky, see what they say.”

  I give her a genuine smile, pleasantly surprised she hasn’t brought up my—

  “You need better makeup, dear,” she suddenly whispers.

  Ah, there’s the Marlene I barely tolerate. I decide to play dumb, for entertainment’s sake. “What do you mean?”

  “No need to pretend with me, sweetie. The mark is clear on your cheek.”

  I scowl, not appreciating her assumptions one bit. “I hope you’re not implying—”

  “Hush now. It’s all right. Don’t bother making excuses on my account,” Marlene says. She leans across the counter, and I get a lungful of her signature floral perfume. I try not to breathe while she murmurs, “I always worried about that boy, but he seemed to really love you.”

  I bristle at her placating tone, immediately stepping up to Zeke’s defense. “He would never hurt me, and I don’t appreciate you jumping to conclusions.”

  She tilts her head, sending her grey curls bouncing. “No? Then tell me what happened.”

  For a brief moment, I contemplate spinning a wild lie. But what would that really accomplish? My mind reels, and I decide to tell the truth. Hey, there’s a slim chance Marlene will spread the real story.

&nb
sp; I lick my dry lips. “We were at a bar—”

  She tsks. “Those drunk dens are nothing but trouble.”

  I grind my molars at being cut off again. “As I was saying, there was a man trying to take advantage of me. Zeke stepped in and saved me. He accidentally elbowed me in the process. It definitely wasn’t intentional.”

  “Men and their egos. How typical,” she scoffs. “Zeke lost his temper and took it out on you.”

  Didn’t she hear a word I said?

  “W-what?” I sputter. “No, not at all.” I curl my hands into fists and silently release a string of curses. It’s judgements like these that have Zeke believing he’s a monster. My bitch-meter cranks up to high and there’s no more biting my tongue.

  I point at her and growl, “Don’t you dare, Marlene. I swear on the deed of this store, Zeke was only protecting me. The end. You better not tell anyone otherwise. That’d be the worst type of injustice.”

  She pats my arm. “That’s what they all say, honey. His dad beat on his mom, you know. That anger can run in the genes. I dated a man with a real short trigger. If you ever—”

  I slash through the air, having quite enough of her garbage. “No. Zeke isn’t like that. He would never hurt me.”

  Marlene’s expression turns somber. “He already did.”

  I want to stomp my foot and demand she listen to me. How am I supposed to convince Zeke that this was a minor mishap when she’s dragging his name through the mud? Thunder cracks in my veins, and I try to rein in the desire to throttle her. After taking a deep breath, I feel marginally cooler.

  “He’s one of the good guys, Marlene. Please never say otherwise.”

  She rolls her eyes and huffs. “We’ll see what everyone else—”

  I slam my palm on the glass between us. “I’ve had enough. If you’re going to keep bad-mouthing my boyfriend, please leave my shop. I don’t want your business. Or need it for that matter.”

  Marlene gapes at me. “Well, I’ve never been talked to in such a way. Your mother—”

  “Her mother what?” The interruption calls from beside us.

  I startle at seeing my mom waiting there, arms crossed and ready for battle. How did she sneak in without me noticing? Air whooshes from me in a hurry, and I slump against the counter. This is an interesting turn of events.

  My mom clears her throat and moves closer. “I raised my daughter to be a strong and honest woman, Marlene. Are you calling her a liar?”

  The old woman’s lips pucker. “Not exactly, but look what that man did to Delilah. And she’s trying to defend him.”

  “Oh, I didn’t realize you were there when this happened. Did you have a front-row seat?”

  Marlene blinks her clumpy lashes. “Sallie, that’s ridiculous. I wouldn’t be caught dead in those nightclubs your daughter hangs around.”

  “Exactly. You didn't see the man threatening Delilah, trying to drag her away. You weren’t a witness to Zeke standing up for her. You don’t know how that bruise got on her cheek,” my mother states coolly.

  Marlene glowers. “And I take it from all that you were in attendance?”

  My mom comes behind the counter to stand by me, and I’m thankful for her support. “I wasn’t and never claimed otherwise. I’m choosing to believe Delilah and the truth she told me. Considering, after all, she was there and it happened to her. Zeke is a wonderful young man. My daughter cares a great deal for him, as do I. Listening to you speak ill of him, trashing his character this way, makes me sick.”

  “How did this get turned around on me? I’m under attack all of a sudden,” the older woman says.

  My mother leans forward, propping a hand on her hip. “Marlene, I appreciate your tales as much as the next gal. But this is straight slander, and I need to intervene. Accidents happen. You know that just like everyone else. Zeke would never hit Delilah on purpose so get your facts straight. Harmless gossip is one thing, but this is a man’s integrity and reputation we’re talking about.”

  I want to pump the air at my mom’s warrior ability. Marlene’s mouth opens and closes several times without a word. I’m certain she’s about to turn and walk away, but no—she continues hovering. My mom reaches for one of her wrinkled hands and gives it a rub.

  “I think that’s enough for now, yes? No hard feelings on our side. We know you’re always trying to do right for this town. Just remember to give folks a chance to explain,” my mother soothes.

  The older woman nods slowly before lifting her eyes to me. “I’m sorry for being rash, Delilah. You let Zeke know I apologize to him as well. I’ll be calling Raven about that cake.”

  I give her a soft smile. “Thank you, Marlene. It’s all right. My attitude could have been a bit nicer.”

  She inspects her immaculate manicure. “I’d act the same way if someone talked poorly about my Wally. I wasn’t acting very ladylike, dear. I should probably be better about giving the benefit of the doubt.”

  “I appreciate that,” I say.

  Marlene fiddles with a stack of napkins in front of her. “I was steamrolling all over the place and not listening to you. Wally says I have a habit of doing that. Guess it’s time to pay more attention.”

  My mom and I share a knowing smile in regards to Marlene’s husband. He’s the only one who manages to corral her crazy jabbering. Out of love, of course.

  “Everything is fine and dandy between us. Don’t worry a pretty hair on your head. I expect to see you Friday for the usual,” I supply softly.

  She fluffs those grey curls in response. “I’m seeing the errors of my ways, scattering all about. Thank you for the kindness. You’re very forgiving, Delilah.” Marlene glances at my mom. “You’ve raised her right, Sallie.”

  My mother wraps her arm around me. “She’s my favorite oldest daughter.”

  A snort escapes me, immediately followed by a choked sob. I fan my eyes, getting overly emotional during this gush-fest. I’m usually not a big crier, but the last month has been a rollercoaster. Ever since Zeke arrived in Garden Grove, the waterworks won’t quit.

  “Well, I better get going. There’s a lot of planning to do,” Marlene chirps in her typical upbeat tone.

  I offer a small wave. “Extend our congratulations to Peter and Becky.”

  My mom grins widely. “See you at tea on Thursday, Marlene.”

  With that, Marlene sashays out in a cloud of sickly-sweet perfume. I collapse against my mother, feeling deflated before eight o’clock in the morning. Her head rests on top of mine, and we spend a moment in quiet comfort.

  “Thanks for coming to my rescue, Momma,” I murmur against her shoulder.

  “That’s what I’m here for, sweetie.”

  “And dang, you’re feisty. She didn’t see that sassy-sass coming.”

  My mom’s chest shakes with a laugh. “Sometimes we all need a refresher on how to mind our manners. Even ladies like Marlene. And Zeke is like the son I never had. He’s mine to protect, too.”

  Emotion stings my eyes, and I bat the tears away. “I’m such a mess over all this. He won’t talk to me. I’ve tried, but he won’t answer. The last thing he said was goodbye, and it sounded so permanent. Why does he think I deserve better? He’s all I want,” I weep.

  She combs through my hair. “Shh, shh, sweetie. Give Zeke time. That boy can’t stay away from you for long.”

  “B-but he did before,” I say.

  “That involved far more than just your relationship. And he explained all that, right?” I nod quickly, and she continues. “He’ll come around eventually. He’s gotta fight off these bad feelings first.”

  “How can Zeke believe he’s capable of actually hurting me? That would never happen. I feel it here,” I say and press against my chest.

  “He grew up in a different environment, D. Remember that. We don’t understand everything he’s been through. But he’s stronger in spite of it all. I know he is.”

  “H-have you seen him around town this week?”

  “No
, but that isn’t a huge surprise. I went almost a month before seeing him out and about with you. He’s probably not in the best place. And I’m not talking about The Mossy Den,” she laughs quietly, and I hiccup a sad giggle.

  “I love him so much. Why won’t he talk to me?”

  “Sometimes the damage runs real deep, beyond where anyone can reach. But Zeke isn’t lost. You’ll get to him. Or maybe he’s planning to stop by any minute.”

  I blow out a long exhale. “Yeah, but he was pretty serious about staying away. I’m not feeling very confident.”

  She rubs my arm, shaking me out of the stupor. “Dry your tears, sweetie. It’s all going to work out exactly as it should. Enough sadness for one day. Let’s focus on something positive. How about I make you some coffee?”

  I roll my watery eyes. “That’s my job.”

  “Well, then. I’ll have a large hazelnut with extra whipped cream,” she orders and bumps her hip into mine.

  I scrub over my blotchy face and force the storm clouds away. I’ll obsess over all this later. “Coming right up, Momma Bear.”

  She hums at the nickname and begins wiping off the display case. “What else can I do to help around here?”

  I shrug while measuring out the grounds. “Just sit and relax. The rush won’t start for another thirty minutes.”

  “Like clockwork?”

  I lift my lips in a half-smile. “Predictable Garden Grove.”

  She makes a noise of agreement. “No truer words. Speaking of, did you hear about Polly’s latest mix-up?”

  I shake my head and laugh. “This should be good.”

  VISIT

  Zeke

  PENT-UP FRUSTRATION THRASHES like an angry sea, and I force more effort into expelling all of it. My biceps complain when I swing the hammer wide, smashing the nail clear through the board. I rip at the wood, splitting it off the beam with a brutal crack. I throw the broken piece away and grab another to destroy. I’m on a direct course of tearing all our progress down, just to rebuild all over again.

  “What the fuck are you doing?” Devon bellows from behind me.

  I don’t spare him a glance. I raise my fist to strike dead center.