Page 57 of The Scars We Heal

I stood, needing to put some space between myself and the group. Deciding to take a lap, I started walking around the campground, passing by horse trailers and holding corrals.

I wondered if Caitlin actually took her solo trip. After our conversation the other night around the fire pit, I’d gone ahead and booked her one night at a cabin outside of Bozeman. I figured this would be the perfect weekend for her to go since we were all out of town, and her mom was more than willing to take Whitley for a couple days, so I really hoped she went.

On my second lap around, I was so deep in thought, so in my head about Caitlin and the bucket list and what she was doing, that I was completely unaware of what was in front of me.

“Oof,” I grunted as I collided with the person who was also not paying attention.

Unfortunately, they were carrying a tray of nachos. Emphasis on were. Because I was now carrying the nachos all over my shirt and jeans.

“I’m so sorry!” the girl apologized, panic written all over her face. But it was her voice that had my stomach in knots.

My mouth gaped. “Dania?”

“Jake?” Her expression morphed from alarm to something brighter as she pulled me in for a hug.

“Dania, you’re going to get nacho cheese all over yourself!” I laughed, trying to push her away.

“I don’t care,” she replied. “It’s been so long! What have you been up to?”

“I could ask the same about you. What are you doing here?”

Dania and I grew up together. When my parents were off participating in illegal activities, her parents took me in, so she was like a sister to me for many years. However, when we went our separate ways to college, we fell out of touch.

Guilt tore at me a little for not staying in contact, but my hometown—and, unfortunately, the people in it—were something I wanted to leave behind when I left. I didn’t really think about how it might affect the people who cared about me, but I also believed the phone worked both ways.

“My husband is competing.” She grinned. “You remember Trent, right?”

“Of course. How could I forget?”

Trent was Dania’s high school sweetheart, so it brought a smile to my face to hear that they’d stayed together and gotten married.

“All right, now answer my question. I haven’t heard from you in so long, what’s been going on in your life?” she asked again.

“Oh, you know. Just living the dream. Roping calves, traveling around for rodeos. I own some land and a house in Silver Creek and recently built a guest house for the property, too.” I rubbed the back of my neck.

“That’s wonderful. I’m glad to hear you’re doing well. I, uh, saw your parents the other week. They seem like they’re doing okay. They look…healthy.”

I turned around the corner into the living room but stopped in the hallway.

My dad stood by the counter, taking a long drag of a cigarette. His cheeks looked hollow, sunken in, and his eyes were bloodshot. He appeared as though he hadn’t slept in days. “Jacob?” he rasped. “That you?”

I didn’t answer, choosing to back down the hallway as quietly and quickly as I could to my bedroom, shutting the door and turning the lock. Interacting with my dad when he was using was a bit like playing Russian Roulette, and I didn’t like my odds.

I knew about his addiction—everyone in town did—but I didn’t think he was aware I knew about his dealings and the way he roped my mom into it, too. I wasn’t sure what he’d do if he found out about my knowledge.

My shoulders tensed at the mention of my estranged parents, and I was sure Dania could sense my hesitation because she changed the subject quickly.

“Are you with anyone? Have a family?”

I ran my tongue along my teeth, stifling an awkward laugh. “No, not yet.” I looked away, my cheeks heating.

“But there’s someone special to you, yeah?”

I nodded. “Yeah. You could say that.”

“Well, I’ll let you go. It was really good to catch up with you. I’m sorry about…” She gestured to my cheese-covered shirt.

“Thanks, it was good to see you. I hope everything is well back home.”