He kissed her on top of her head and whispered something into her ear, instantly causing her to keel over in a fit of laughter.
“It’s not funny, woman. I’m telling you my little swimmers did the deed. No drinking for you, and I mean it,” he demanded with a smile on his face as he attempted and failed to take the beer out of her hands.
“You big buffoon. You’re full of yourself. I’m on birth control. That I take religiously, mind you. The condom broke. One that had spermicide on it. You didn’t get me pregnant,” she said as she held the beer up as high as she could. Standing on the tips of her toes to try and keep it out of his reach. Only he was taller by at least a foot. He easily took it from her and chugged it down, laughing when he pulled the bottle away from his lips and wiping his hand across his mouth.
“Now you can’t drink it,” he stated like he’d won. Only when I looked back at her, the look of determination spread across her features. He hadn’t won by a long shot. This was going to be way too fun to watch. Trenton Quinn was going to get his ass beat. By a woman.
“We’ll see, Mr. Quinn,” she stated as she turned on her heel to walk away. Only he stopped her. His hand rubbing across her stomach. The look in his eyes showed that he wanted a baby in there more than anything. Something I knew all too well was the most amazing feeling in the world. Instantly, I wished she would be just to see the look on his face when he found out.
“There is no baby,” she laughed as she smacked his arm. “Now stop being rude and introduce me to your friend. I’m sure he thinks we’re crazy by now,” she chuckled.
“I know he’s crazy. You, I don’t know well enough. Yet. I’m Weston Corbin. Friends with this knucklehead since high school,” I stated with an outreached arm as I introduced myself.
Shockingly, she shook my hand firmly. Not daintily like most women would. That I respected. It showed confidence. Which from what I’d witnessed tonight, she had tons of.
“Delaney Winters. I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough that I am in fact crazy. About Trent that is,” she laughed as she shook my hand, letting go after a few moments.
Trenton stood behind her and pulled her back into him, wrapping his arms around her waist. I took that moment to take her in. Her hair was a shade of blonde I didn’t see very often. The light hitting it showed off the red tint. A lot redder than I’d seen in any other woman with strawberry blonde hair. She came up to just under Trenton’s chest so I’d say she was around 5’2. Without trying to get caught, I looked her up and down quickly hoping Trent didn’t notice. The curves on her body were something I wouldn’t think about. She was Trenton’s woman. It wasn’t appropriate to even remotely look at her that way. But holy shit. That’s all I would even think about that.
“Why don’t we sit down and you can tell me all the embarrassing stories from your childhood?” she suggested.
“We’d be here for days talking about them. You see, Trenton here had tons of awkward moments in our younger years,” I joked.
We all walked over to the bonfire and sat down on the makeshift chairs that were made out of tree stumps. Trenton sat down and pulled Delaney into his lap. I walked over to the cooler and pulled out a water. Seemed like the safest bet tonight, since everyone else looked to be drinking, except for Davis, who appeared to have a water bottle in his hand. That didn’t mean much, though. Someone had to drive their drunk asses home later.
I walked back over to where Trent and Delaney were and sat down on the stump beside them. So ready to spill some of his embarrassing moments.
“Don’t even think about it, man. We aren’t talking about the craziness from high school. That shit’s behind us all,” he suggested. Only he wouldn’t stop me.
“Come on. Be a good sport,” I encouraged. So ready to tell her about the time he asked a girl out for the first time.
“Not in a million years,” he laughed.
“Yeah, babe. Be a good sport,” Delaney taunted as she turned in his lap giving him a seductive look. The fire illuminated her features as she slowly licked her lips and pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. He whispered into her ear something I’m sure I didn’t want to know and suddenly I felt as if I was intruding on a private moment. She threw her head back and laughed, her hand going to her stomach. When Trent noticed her motion, he covered her hand with so much tenderness.
“I’m telling you my son is in here,” he announced louder than the last time, and she clasped her hand over his mouth to hush him.
“Weston, why don’t you go ahead and tell me something this crazy ass did in high school so I can keep him from spouting off this nonsense,” she suggested with her hand still over his mouth. All of a sudden she shrieked and stood up off of his lap. He reached for her instantly, but she was quicker, backing away even further than him.
“I know you didn’t just lick me, you asshole,” she screamed, continuing to back up. A little too far. I jumped off of the stump and pulled her forward before she got any closer to the barrel. Her small frame up against me, her hand still within my own as she trembled from the sudden movement.
“Sorry. I didn’t want you to fall into the fire,” I attempted to joke as I let go of her hand and backed away from her.
“Hands off, Wes,” Trent demanded as he walked up to her and pulled her into him, laughing.
I just threw my hands in the air and laughed at his antics.
“And you better not spill shit. She doesn’t need to see me as that dork. Not when she can see me as this,” he said as he moved his hand up and down his body. He was insane.
“That’s what I should do. Get the yearbook so she can see you in your dorky glasses and the pictures of you and the chess club,” I leaked out, and he lunged after me. Only I was quicker and ran away from him.
“You’re so not funny, Wes,” he said as he tried to chase me.
I sat down on the stump before he even made his way back over to me.
“And you’re still too slow,” I joked.
“You had a head start, jackass,” he said as he sat down and tried to pull Delaney down into his lap.
“I’ve got to go to the bathroom,” she stated in an attempted whisper, only everyone chose that moment to quiet down, causing all ten people to hear her. She didn’t seem fazed though as she looked over to Davis for direction.
“Go into the garage right there and it’s in the far left corner,” he stated as he pointed off to the left. The garage may be fifty feet away.
She kissed him on his cheek and skipped off into the direction of the garage.
Trenton had a goofy smile on his face as he watched her walk away.
“That woman is going to marry me someday, Wes.”
“Y’all look really happy. Congratulations,” I said.
“We are. We have been for the past year. She stayed by my side even though we’d met only a month before I left for Afghanistan. I thought she’d be gone when I called, but she answered every single time. And she was there to welcome me home. It was the best feeling in the world. I just need you to promise me something,” he seriously said as he took a swig of his beer.
“Anything. Name it.”
“If something ever happens to me, take care of her. She’s got no one. Her parents’ abandoned her when she turned eighteen, and she doesn’t have any siblings. I’m all she has. I can’t leave this world knowing she won’t be taken care of,” he said, choking up on the last part as if it pained him to even ask.
“Nothing’s gonna happen to you, but I’ll promise you. You know me nor Davis wouldn’t let anything happen to her. You’re my brother just as much as he and my two actual brothers are,” I promised just for effect. Nothing was going to happen to him.
“Good. Now tell me where I can find that bitch Mackenzie,” he demanded as he looked over at me all the joking now gone from his features.
“She’s not worth your time, man. It’s over, and I don’t even want to think about her. I just want to focus on Grace,” I said, taking a sip of m
y water, wishing it was something stronger at the mere mention of the mother of my child.
“I just don’t understand how someone does that,” he said at the exact moment Delaney returned to sit in his lap.
“How someone does what?” she asked.
“Leaves their child,” he said looking at me angrily.
“That’s awful,” she said as she touched her chest with her hand and looked back over at me.
“It’s my reality. I’m over it and making the most of the situation,” I said, not believing anything that just came out of my mouth. I didn’t know why I held back my feelings, but I didn’t want to dampen anyone’s mood. Not while we were all having fun. And not in front of Delaney. My confidence in the female population was minimal, and I didn’t need to take that out on her since she seemed like a great person.
“I call bullshit, but I’m not going to press. How’s my honorary niece?”
“She’s perfect. Oh and demanding and a diva, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“It’s the least of what you deserve,” he said with a laugh. I was a hellion growing up so I knew exactly what he referred to. My parents’ would die if they knew all the shit I’d done with these two.
“Hey, Marine. Wanna race the four wheelers?” Davis yelled across the circle that we’d formed. It wasn’t the best idea. Especially not out here in the dark of night.
“Y’all shouldn’t do that. We’ve all been drinking. Well, everyone except me,” I warned, hating that I had to sound like a parent to them, but someone had to think wisely.
“I’ve only had two and I’m drinking water now,” Davis confessed.
“Same here. Let’s do this,” Trenton agreed as he kissed Delaney deeply before he ran toward the garage following closely behind Davis.
They knew this land like the back of their hand. They should be okay. But something just didn’t sit right with me. Something told me to try and stop them, but I’d already tried that. They were stubborn as the day was long. Nothing would stop them at this point. Not now that they’d gotten this cockamamie plan into their heads.
The engines of the four wheelers roared to life and moments later the bay doors opened. When they reached the top, both came barreling out, just like we’d done thousands of times growing up. They both laughed as they headed toward the empty field. As long as they didn’t go too far, they’d be okay. About a half a mile into the field, there was a barbed wire fence that we all knew about. They’d surely know well enough to turn around before they got that far.
Me, Delaney, and the other five guys stood and watched as Davis and Trent swerved back and forth at each other, getting farther and farther away from the bonfire. Too close to the fence for my comfort.
“Y’all need to turn around. The fence is up ahead,” I yelled through the cupped hands around my mouth, hoping to make my voice carry that far ahead.
Davis slowed down but Trenton didn’t. He was too busy looking behind him to see it.
“TRENT,” I screamed as I started running toward him, causing everyone to follow my lead. My voice echoed throughout the air, but it was too late. When he turned back around he was too close to the fence to stop. The four-wheeler hit it full force. The sound of metal hitting echoed through the air followed by a gut-wrenching scream, then a thud hitting the ground.
Davis turned the four-wheeler around and headed toward Trent’s unmoving body. He was off and by his side in seconds, screaming for him to wake up as he checked him over.
Delaney kept up and stayed beside me the entire time. Only when we were close to the fence, I pulled her back. She didn’t need to see and have this horrible image of Trent in her mind. Especially if it were her last.
“NO, Weston. Let me go,” she screamed as she tried to break free. Only I held her tighter. Knowing this was the best thing for her.
“You don’t need to see him like this. Let me go over there and check him out. I’m CPR certified. Call an ambulance and go stand with Miller,” I said gesturing Miller over to my side.
“Don’t let her go no matter what,” I demanded, not caring for one second if she liked what she heard or not.
She pulled the phone out of her pocket with shaking hands and put it up to her ear. Then and only then did I walk over and access the situation. I climbed over the mangled fence and walked over to where Trenton’s lifeless body laid. Davis was pounding on his chest with no luck as he performed CPR.
“Come on, Trent. Come back to us,” Davis demanded as he stopped compressions and blew a breath into his mouth, only to presume compressions again.
Trenton’s body laid at an odd angle, his leg completely behind him and his neck off to the side. A tree branch came up through is side, the blood gushing from the wound. Without even thinking, I pulled off my hoodie and rushed over to his side to put pressure on the wound.
“Delaney’s with Miller calling an ambulance,” I reassured him, only he didn’t hear me. His complete focus was on our unmoving brother.
Minutes felt like hours as I prayed for help to arrive and save the friend and brother I knew was already gone. Sirens blared in the distance promising hope. Only I knew there wasn’t any. CPR should’ve worked by now, and if it did at this point, he’d most likely be brain dead. I couldn’t remove my hand from putting pressure on his wound, just like Davis couldn’t stop the tireless effort of the compressions that he continued.
“Let me go see him,” Delaney demanded. Her voice filled with determination and fear of the unknown. I trusted that Miller would do as he promised and keep her away. I only needed a few more seconds and then I could go to her and stop her from seeing him. She didn’t need to see this version of him. She needed to remember the laughter, not the mangled body that laid before me. I’d never get this image of him out of my head, nor would I get over the guilt that I should’ve done more to stop the race.
The sirens grew closer and stopped, the reds and blues brightened the field. I moved to the front of Trenton’s body to shield Delaney from seeing him. Not moving until the paramedics tapped my shoulder.
“He flipped over the fence. I’ve performed CPR since, but he hasn’t responded. There’s a tree branch going through his side causing him to bleed out profusely,” Davis choked out between the sobs he attempted but failed to keep in. He broke down right in front of him as he stopped pushing on Trent’s chest. Pain crossed his face as he moved back and removed his hands. He stood and looked down at Trent one last time and rushed off to be with the others. Instantly causing me to wish I could be with him.
“We’ve got it from here,” the paramedic said as more sirens blared in the distance. I looked up and saw the fire truck coming up the drive. Leaning down, I whispered that he needed to fight. But I also whispered my promise to my brother in his ear. A vow to look after the woman he loved if he didn’t make it. I just didn’t want to picture a life without him. We didn’t see each other often, but technology made it possible to see him when he couldn’t physically be here.
I got up and wiped my blood-stained hands on my pants, not caring about ruining the garments. Only wanting to make the blood disappear before I got to Delaney.
I stepped over the fence, the metal crunching beneath me. Delaney was within Miller’s grasp. She heard the noise somehow through the commotion. The second she saw me her hands flew to her mouth, her head shaking incessantly back and forth.
“No, no, no,” she screamed as she continued to shake her head, the sob wrenching out of her body immediately.
She knew.
I didn’t even have to tell her.
The look on my face said it all. I held my head high even though I just wanted to hang it in defeat and grieve for a man that I loved and respected.
When I reached her, I pulled her from Miller’s grasp and nodded my head in thanks. I needed to get her out of here.
Her hands instantly went around my neck and her body went limp in my arms. I leaned down and put my arm under her legs to carry her over to my truck. So
bs wretched from her body, and she took in the reality of what just occurred. It hadn’t been confirmed yet, but my silence confirmed what she suspected.
The man she loved was gone.
Chapter 11
She clung to me for dear life. Her grip getting tighter and tighter with each step I took. I adjusted my hold on her body and the sobs that she’d held silent until now grew louder. She turned her head into my shoulder to muffle the sound as her body continued to tremble. My shirt became wet from the tears that flowed from her body. I couldn’t believe the freak accident that just occurred. My mind moved at a thousand miles per hour in an attempt to try and process the events that I’d witnessed. Logically, I knew that he was gone, but I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that he wouldn’t light up this world with his presence anymore. Someone like him deserved to live a long and full life, not have it snatched away from him so quickly.
I juggled her body somehow and managed to open the passenger door to my truck with just three fingers. I tried to sit her down on the seat, but she pulled me tight against her.
“Delaney, I need you to let go so I can drive the truck,” I whispered, hoping she could hear me.
All that I was met with were harder sobs and a tighter grip around my neck. I kneeled down to let some pressure off of my back and attempted again to break free from her grasp.
“Please,” she pleaded as she pulled me back. Her voice cracked and it pulled at my heart knowing the amount of shock and pain she was experiencing. I didn’t know how I’d get us out of here at this pace, but she didn’t need to be here and I couldn’t manage to walk back over to where he laid on the ground to see him that way. If the paramedics managed to save him, and that was a big if, I didn’t want to watch in anticipation for it to happen.
Conflicted (The Existing Series Book 2) Page 10