by S. N. Garza
“What is it?”
“He texted me. Called me. Texted me angrily.”
“Did you respond?”
I shake my head no.
“Good. Let him wonder where you are. Here. You can slip these on and wear them until we get there. You do… uh… have what you need there, right?”
“Yes. And he knows I’m with you. I think when he didn’t see you with the team, he put two and two together. Should I—
“No. You need to fucking breathe. And honestly, right now so do I.”
That takes me by surprise.
“What’s wrong?”
“My parents just found out I’m batting for the other team. I guess someone texted them.”
“Oh, my God. I’m sorry. They’re not… supportive?”
“My mom isn’t worried. I think she figured it out, but my father… he feels… whatever the fuck he feels. But my ex blabbed all over facebook too with pictures of us and then about the breakup after our little confrontation and now the school—or at least the team found out about it at half time. So, I’m sorry I’m using you.”
“Use away. We both can use a break then. Let’s go.”
He puts his hand up between us on the console, open and supportive, and I slip my hand in his. “Thanks, Willow.”
“Anytime, Alann.”
And for the next four hours, we table the serious shit and just road trip all the way back to Brisbon. Grifton Falls is only a memory for now.
Knowing Gabriel as I do, I’m sure he’s not far behind. Now I’ve been able to calm down and think rationally, I hate leaving the way I did. I’m glad though. I needed a reprieve.
FM 2299 is the only way in or out of this town and growing up here, I loved it. I love knowing everyone and walking to school and waving at the people who were getting their stores open for the day. The local hardware store, and coffee shop. The one car garage, and pet grooming store. It’s only at the edge of town where the highway meets the road, you see the bigger stores like Walmart and Starbucks. It’s still a pretty small area. Population 8,000.
“Pretty quiet around here.”
Laughing, I know what he’s thinking.
“Yeah, outside of Walmart and a few stores closer to the highway, everything pretty much shuts down around nine o’clock. My street is just a little bit up here.”
And I point to the street sign, telling him to turn right. He looks up and this smirk lifts on his face. “Nice street name.”
I shove his shoulder, rolling my eyes. As we turn down Stroker Road, I can smell the fragrance of freshly mowed grass. God, how I missed that hometown smell. I can tell Alann isn’t too impressed, but he’s being a good sport about everything. When he pulls up to a gravel driveway, he pauses, sees “Paradise Ranch” on the wrought iron gate, looks past it to see all of Mason land and his eyes widen.
“And here I thought you were just a small-town farm girl. This place looks nice. You little rich girl.”
“It’s been in my family for generations. My uncle, when he’s not being a P.I., does the whole ranching thing. It’s not big, but we do the street market on Saturdays… or well, I don’t since I’ve been in Grifton Falls, but we have thoroughbred horses and a little farm. My dad used to race the horses before he died.”
“Sounds like you miss it.”
“I do. It’s another world here. But then, Grifton Falls is similar, in a way. It’s another world. A little bit bigger than Brisbon, but it still has its uniqueness.”
When I tell him the combination to open the gate, he has to slow down on the gravel road. “Damn. You really live out there, don’t you? It’ll be funny to see Saint drive here.”
That makes me pause. Would he? Would he go to the trouble of coming here?
“If he does. I don’t think he will. I don’t think our relationship is like that.” Which brings a fresh set of tears to burn behind my eyes. I really don’t want to give him up, but the way he acted? I don’t know if I can forgive him for leaving me in such a state, in that kind of position.
“Willow, I think it is. He’s just...,” He stops mid-sentence and looks ahead. He points up to the house and I look to find Burke, Uncle Luke’s Great Dane, jumping at the screen door and with the windows still rolled down, I hear him the closer we get. He’s barking up a storm.
Growing up, we never got late callers while I was here. If it was a business matter, he took those over the phone. And as usual, the front door is open. We’ve never closed the front door. Never locked it. Alann stops the car and I get out when suddenly, everything I’ve missed about this place, this small town, comes rushing back. Covering my face with my hands, I feel myself just let go of the tears I’ve been fighting. I feel Alann come up behind me and he places his hands on my shoulders.
I turn, throw myself in his arms. “Thank you, Alann. I think this is just what I needed.”
“Any time. I’m glad I’m here for you, Will. Always know that, honey.”
Then he reaches into the car, grabs his bag from the back seat and we walk up to the door where Burke, finally recognizing me, starts going crazy, wanting to be let out.
“Settle down, boy. Who can that be, so late? Probably another spouse.” Uncle Luke walks up to the screen and ruffles Burke’s head as he looks up and takes me in.
“Willow-Tree.” He rushes to unlock the door and not even two seconds later, he’s pulling me into his arms and heaving a big sigh. “Oh, I missed you, girl. What’s wrong? What happened?”
I sniffle, not able to control anything anymore. I needed this. I needed to be surrounded by everything once familiar to me. Especially Uncle Luke. “I really missed you, too.”
“I’ve taken care of you since you were five, girl. A month away from you is like someone slowly ripping out my heart, kiddo.”
I give in and shove myself deeper into his arms where I always loved being. He’s been my safe place for so long, that even when I don’t see eye to eye with him, I know I can fall into his arms and know I’m loved and safe. A sob wrenches free and I fall apart right then.
Another tight hug and he leans back, gently pushing me away so he can take measure. “What did that little motherfucker do, Willow-Tree?” But I can’t. It’s… too embarrassing. I pull myself back into his arms and hold on tight. When I don’t answer, he turns to Alann. “Hey, Alann. What did that little fucker do?”
“Uncle Luke. Not right now please. I just… I needed to breathe. Alann was only too willing to drive me.”
“You don’t have a game?”
“Willow needed me. It’s just a game anyway.” I look back at Alann and he just gives me a soft smile. “I got you, Willow.”
“Glad someone does because I’m starting to get pissed off. I asked you what happened, Willow Claire.”
He’s only called me that a handful of times in my life. It’s his ‘serious, don’t keep secrets from me’ tone. He pulls me back, sees my red face, and concern, rage, and fire burn in his eyes.
“Did he rape you?”
“WHAT? No! He wouldn’t ever do that. I… can we just go inside? I’m fine. You don’t have to know everything. Not right now. I just…,” I walk past them, up the stairs and into the house.
Burke jumps up and almost tackles me, but I just wrap my hands around his neck and hug him tight.
That’s when I hear their voices a few feet behind me.
“He will be coming here, Mr. Mason.”
“Call me Luke, Alann. And he’ll be met with the business end of a sawn-off twenty if he thinks he’s going to get near her.” I’ve never heard him threaten someone before and while I’m happy he’d be willing to protect me like that, I won’t let him hurt Gabriel. The sentiment that Uncle Luke still cares, still wants me safe and happy, means everything to me.
“You’ll do no such thing. If… yes, Alann, if, he comes here, I’ll deal with him myself.”
I walk into the kitchen, grab a k-cup from the cupboard and place it in the machine. I don’t want to continue talking about this anymore
. I’m wiped out. Tapped out. Exhausted.
“She’s a handful, isn’t she?”
“What can I say, Alann? She’s a Mason.”
“That she is. Who knew a small-town girl could have so much sass?”
I turn, give them both a fake-glare and flip them off by pretending to rub my nose.
“Oh, the savage has begun speaking in gestures.” Uncle Luke winks, but I can see he’s trying hard not to pry. He’s keeping it locked down. I’ve always known when he’s ready to explode though. He’s not there yet. It’s the reason why I’m not going to tell him what happened between Gabriel and myself.
He’s never really had to be the kind of dad who has a sawn-off shotgun to protect his little girl from the wolves, and now I’m in a situation where my feelings are hurt, he wants to be that dad. And I love him for it. Looking at him now, I can see he’s keeping a lid on his emotions, but deep down, he’s got strong emotions. He’d go to hell and back for me if I needed him to.
When I turned a certain age, I became responsible for myself. He never had to worry about me. He knew every cop who lived here in Brisbon, so he had connections. Before he became my parent, he was a police officer in Houston. He’s always been protective of me, but he also believes to learn some lessons, you have to live them. Live through them and learn how to cope with them and do your best to live your true self. He’s been an amazing parent and I kind of feel like bundling up against him and just crying it all out, but I won’t. I’m not the kind of girl who does hysterics. Although when I got here, I came really close.
Maybe because Gabriel means so much to me? With Pete, I felt like he was more of a best friend. We kissed. He touched me, above the bra, and touched my butt over my clothes, but nothing more than that. Even when he came back that summer and became this hot, sexy guy—or at least I thought he was hot and sexy. Seeing him next to Gabriel, they’re worlds apart. Pete is all lean muscle and long, wavy blond hair. Gabriel?
Yeah, I totally sigh every time I think about him. I don’t know if that’s ever going to go away. He’s so dreamy. Jet black hair, cat-like eyes the color of the ocean and a sharp, angular jaw and thick, broad shoulders. His chest is wide and muscular, and he’s got this six-pac that just makes a girl go dumb. Thick thighs. Big feet. Big hands. And they both correlate the myth about guys who have big hands, big feet, big… everywhere else. And I get to call him mine. I turn away from them and fresh tears want to spill again. I take a deep breath and will them away.
“While your cup is brewing, I’m going to go change.”
“Yeah, make sure you put—
“Alann.” I shoot him a glare and yeah, I do have tears glistening in my eyes, but I control them enough not to shed them.
“Zipping my mouth.”
“Good.” I don’t bother looking at Uncle Luke because he’s still looking like he might want to kill someone, and I don’t want to start crying in front of him. I weave around them and when I get to the stairs, I run up to my room, close the door behind me and rummage through my top drawer for some panties.
“Thank God.” I hate not wearing underwear. I chuck my skirt and the crop top, along with my strapless bra and the briefs Alann gave me somewhere to the side and grab the extra-long tee that hits the bottom of my thighs and breathe deep. Home. Everything smells like home.
And like a stack of bricks, I fall to the floor and let it all pour out of me. More than I did when I first saw the house and Uncle Luke. Here, it’s my private place. Uncle Luke rarely came to my room.
“Goddammit, Willow-Tree. What did he do, sweetheart?”
My head spins to see Uncle Luke had peeked inside and seeing me on the floor, had taken the few steps to me and I push up, and throw myself in his arms.
“I love him, Uncle Luke.”
“Oh, honey. Breathe.”
“It doesn’t feel like I can.”
“Yes. You can. Look at me.” He sets me away from him and his hands cup my cheeks wiping my tears. “Breathe. You had to know the moment you left with Alann; Gabriel would be coming here.”
“He doesn’t know how to get here.”
“I’m sure that’s not going to stop him, sweetheart. Whatever happened… whatever you feel, don’t be afraid of it. Embrace it. It only hurts if it’s real. Just… tell me he didn’t hurt you physically.”
“No! He’d never… no. He just… I almost told him I loved him and it just… I didn’t say it and he reacted… angrily.”
“He was angry because you didn’t tell him you loved him?”
“Yeah. I think so. I don’t know if he figured out what I was going to say, but—
“So why didn’t you?”
“Because… because… what if he doesn’t love me back? Why do I feel so strongly about him? I just… I don’t know.”
“It’s okay. You’re young, sweetheart. But I also know you. You don’t feel something you don’t mean. You’re so much like your daddy like that. He didn’t speak his feelings unless he truly felt them. It’s okay to be scared, you know?”
I wipe my face, take a deep breath and ask, “And you? I think I’m a lot like you, aren’t I? You know, completely amazing and wonderful.”
A wide smile lights up his face. “Yeah, well… that’s a given. Now, come on. I need coffee or a beer. And since you already put coffee on, go make my cup, woman.” He kisses my temple and walks from the room. I take a deep breath, wipe my tears, and walk down the stairs and back into the kitchen where Alann is looking around at the rustic furnishings my uncle and his family have collected over the generations.
He sees me, stands straight when he sees my red face, but I gently lift my hand, shake my head. Alann crunches his brow, but otherwise stays silent. The Keurig chimes and I make Uncle Luke his cup, the way he always liked it. Turning the mug, I see I grabbed the one I made for him two years ago when I was sixteen. It reads, Dick, Private Dick, at your service. Which he always laughs at. When I give it to him, he looks down to me, looks me over, but instead of giving me grief, he looks down at the mug and rolls his eyes.
“We have dozens of mugs, Willow-Tree.”
“Yeah, true. But this one is my favorite.”
He laughs, sips his drink before going to the island and taking a seat.
I turn to Alann, who almost looks out of place, being so big, broad and new here. “Would you like some, Alann?”
He comes over and chooses the Pumpkin Spice cup and winks at me before scooching me aside. “I got it, Will. No need to take care of me. I’m a big boy.”
I hear Uncle snort and I turn to see him looking anywhere but at us.
Curious.
After Alann’s cup is ready and he adds his desired condiments, I make myself a decaf, French-vanilla one and the guys follow me to the living room. Uncle Luke sits back in his recliner, and Alann sits down next to me on the sofa. We do our best to ignore the elephant in the room. The reason why Alann and I are here. An instead of grilling me some more, Uncle Luke puts all that on the table for now.
“So, want to continue watching Van Helsing?”
I bite my lip, instantly relieved. I nod, thankful I don't have to go into anything right now. I don’t know if I can keep it all together if I divulge all my anxieties regarding Gabriel. My insecurities.
I’m also exhausted. I close my eyes for a second, but it doesn’t matter because I’m out like a light.
Twelve
Gabriel
My pulse races as I leave Willow in my truck, half-naked and wanting. I should turn around and fucking finish us both. Fuck, my cock aches like a bitch. Her pussy is the only thing which completely satisfy all my dark urges.
She was about to tell me she loves me. I just know she was. It was in her blazing blue eyes.
Of course, I’ve heard it before. Plenty of times. With every chick I’ve fucked, I heard it eventually. It’s not anything new. I knew though, with Willow, it would be different. It is different. Each and every time we fuck, we have sex… we… make love—Go
d, I know I sound like a pussy, but what happens when I slide my dick deep into her heat, it’s all fucking three at the same time.
Then she stopped herself and looked back at me terrified. She recovered quickly, but for a moment I saw in her eyes all the deep emotion before it was replaced with terror and then blankness. Which I fucking hate. I got blank with all the other bitches I fucked over the years. I won’t take that shit from her. I want every emotion racing through her veins. They’re mine.
I want Willow to say it to me. Because I know she’ll fucking mean every word. Maybe because deep down, I feel the exact same way and the thought scares me more than anything else ever had. And being scared is not an emotion I have very often, if at all. But with Willow, it’s like she’s changing me little by little. Letting me be myself, but I’m not selfish like I was before she came along.
Fuck! Why did I leave her there? I stop, turn around, and take a few steps back, knowing I shouldn’t have left in the first place when Lock calls out to me.
“Hey, Gabe, get the fuck back here. You’re not leaving us to bang your bitch. The second half is about to start.” He calls her my bitch and I know he means well, but I want to clock him one for saying it anyway.
I still taste her on my tongue. Feel her pussy wrapped around my cock and it’s still hard as fuck. I could leave. Take Willow and go back to the house. But I’m also mad she shied away from telling me her feelings.
Do I want her love? Fuck yeah, I do. Selfish? Maybe. Do I love her back? The thought used to stop me dead in my tracks any time I thought about it. One thing that’s the absolute truth is she’s got me tied up in so many knots I can’t think straight. It’s why I turn and head back to the stadium. We both need to cool off.
“Yeah, yeah. Calm your cock, man. I’m coming.”
Duncan and Judas are standing next to Lock with drinks and snacks loaded in their arms and Duncan passes me two Dr. Peppers and we make our way back into the stands. She’ll come back in after she’s calmed down and collected herself.
“Where’s Willow?” Duncan asks and my heart races at the sound of her name.