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I did and I don’t feel one bit bad about it. Well, maybe a little. But I needed to see his reaction to know it definitely wasn’t his doing. Plus, this is the first time she hasn’t denied that someone tried to drown her, so I’m making progress. I’ll wear her down eventually.
“And that he and Cooper are doing a shitty job of keeping you two safe,” I add. May as well get it all out in the open.
“Oh, Chase.” Leah sounds pained, and her groan tells me all I need to know. She’s not happy.
Shrugging, I don’t get why it’s such a big deal. My delivery may have been insensitive, but I stand by what I said. They have been doing a shitty job. Hayley and Leah haven’t been kept out of harm’s way and everyone knows it. It’s not my fault the truth hurts.
I finally feel a twinge of guilt when she lifts her chin, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You think he doesn’t feel bad enough already? Rex almost drowned himself trying to pull me out of the water, and he couldn’t look at me in the hospital. He blamed himself. He still does.”
Good is the uncharitable word that jumps to mind, but I keep it to myself. Any good husband would feel bad, and would put his life on the line for his wife.
“Who do you think you are, coming here and making him feel even worse?” Leah’s voice is quiet but deadly.
Uh oh. She’s standing now, hands on her hips, defending her man. It’s obvious they care about each other. Tripp would say they belong together, the old romantic in him making him soft. And, maybe, I’d agree if Leah hadn’t nearly died at the bottom of a river.
“I’m not saying he doesn’t feel guilty; I’m saying the cause came from him. If you weren’t with him, it never would have happened to you. Who’s to say it won’t happen again?”
Leah doesn’t deny anything I’ve said but shakes her head sadly, like I’m missing the point entirely. As she approaches me, I see her watery eyes and wobbling bottom lip, and I curse, pulling her to me and wrapping my arms around her.
“All I want is for you to be safe. Who’s going to put up with me if something happens to you guys?” It’s meant to sound like a joke, but it’s not. All I have is my family.
“Listen to me, Chase. Really listen. Whatever was going on, I promise it’s over. Isn’t that enough? Can’t you just trust me?”
Holding her out at arms-length, I look at her, trying to get her to see that I’m not trying to hurt anyone. She’s telling the truth, but Rex could be feeding her lies to make sure she sticks around. If he’s tangled up with some bad people, there’s always a chance Leah could be caught in the cross-fire again.
“No,” I state firmly, ignoring Leah’s exasperated groan and continuing to argue my point. “I trust you, I really do, but it’s not enough. Leah, you’re not stupid. If Rex and Cooper are embroiled in something bigger than them, maybe with this Leon guy, tell me.”
She blanches, so I decide to try and press my advantage. “If you all went to the police, told them what you know, about what Leon’s been doing and who attacked you, I’m sure they’d go easy on the guys. They probably didn’t understand what they were getting caught up in.” I’m not sure that’s true but it’s clear Leah will do anything to protect Rex. She won’t want to believe he could be involved. “I’ll get you out of this. But you need to help me to help you.”
Ignoring the truth in my statement, Leah squeezes her hands into cute little fists and presses her lips together. If we were still kids, she’d have thumped me by now. She might, yet.
“You are impossible,” she hisses, “and to think I came here to invite you to the brewery tonight. I thought you might want to join in. Get to know everyone.”
Eyeing her dubiously, I know she’s not telling me the entire story. “Join in with what?”
“I don’t know, being sociable? Catching up with your family? Getting to know your new brothers-in-law. Seeing for yourself they’re not the evil criminals you’ve convinced yourself they are.” She looks at me expectantly.
“Thanks, but no thanks,” I mutter, frustrated at her stubborn refusal to admit anything is wrong. Leah raises her eyes to the heavens. “Listen, I’ll be more charming when I know who I can trust. Until everyone stops lying to me, I’m not going on playdates just to keep you happy.”
Leah glowers at me. “Yes, your charm is making quite the impression on the locals of Grey Ridge. How is Natalie by the way? Still despising you?”
Did she tell Leah she despises me?
I haven’t done anything that wrong, or not that she knows about anyway. A more-than-complete background check probably crosses a line for most people.
Not that I care.
“What Deputy Lennox thinks of me is none of my business.” The idea she was giving out about me bothers me more than I care to admit. Shoving down my reaction to wonder why it is I want her to like me, I refocus on making sure my sister leaves me out of her plans for the evening.
“Thanks for the invite, but no thanks. Bars, lots of people, it’s just not my thing.” Small talk with strangers is my idea of hell.
“Fine, but you’re going to have to spend time with Rex and Cooper at some point, Chase. I love you, but I love him, too. You’d like them if you just give them a chance.”
Gritting my teeth, I say nothing, just fold my arms over my chest stubbornly and wait for her to leave.
In a final act of childish defiance, she grips the corner of the duvet and throws it up, ruining the bed, again, before flouncing out the door.
CHAPTER 14
