Page 19 of Out of Place

“Ok, well, call me if you need to talk. I’m here for you, babe!”

We say goodbye, and I plug my phone in next to the bed. The combination of a day in the sun and the cryfest I just had makes me fall asleep the instant my eyes close.

I’ll get through this hellhole one day at a time.

CHAPTER 7

Landon

After working four days straight, I’m more than ready for my day off. Cam, Benny, and I work four days in a row, and then Dottie has a few other guys work the next two days while we’re off. It’s a constant rotation and took a while to work out, but we’ve got it down.

I spend my morning doing laundry and cleaning up my house. I’ve got a small, two-bedroom, one-bathroom bungalow just off Main Street. It’s not much, but it’s mine.

When I graduated high school, I was so ready to move out of my parents’ house. Cam, Benny, and I all roomed together for a few years in a small house we rented. Then Benny had a daughter with his ex and needed a place of his own to be with her, so it was time for each of us to get our own place. We still live within walking distance of each other, though. It’s hard not to be so close in a town this small. And we like to be close to Dottie’s farm, just in case.

Cam texts me to meet them at Rick’s Rockin’ Diner for lunch. It’s impossible to turn down one of Rick’s milkshakes, even though I know Ellie will probably be there.

Ellie and I have dated on and off since we were sixteen. We’ve been off the last two years, and I plan on keeping it that way. She’s a great friend, but we’re just looking for different things. It wouldn’t be fair to keep stringing her along, but she’s having a hard time accepting that.

My group of friends is taking up one of the back booths in Rick’s. Music blares from the jukebox, and the distinct smell of French fries hits me. I love this place. We’ve all been coming here for years. It’s a staple in Thundersville.

I wave to the hostess as I walk to the table. Along with Cam, Benny, and Ellie, Cat and Laura are also here. The six of us have been friends since before I can remember. Even now, we all hang out at least once or twice a week, no matter how busy we are. It’s never been weird, even with the drama between me and Ellie. We can’t let it be awkward. We all need each other in this town.

“There he is,” Cam calls out when he sees me. I slide into the booth beside him.

“Landon, Cam was just telling us about your new farm hand,” Cat says with a laugh. I immediately tense. I’m tired of people laughing at Olivia. Cam has been a dick all week. She’s worked with us for three days and is doing a good job. She’s only been assigned to easy stuff so far, but we can’t just throw her into it. The day after I taught her how to do everything, she showed up right on time. She slid her gloves on and got to work without a word. Honestly, I was impressed.

But Cam has a stick up his ass about her. Benny hasn’t said much, but that’s to be expected. He pretty much keeps to himself. The less drama, the better.

“Oh yeah?” I answer, trying my best to keep my voice calm. I don’t really want to hear what Cam has been saying about her.

“Yeah. Do you know who she is?” Ellie asks. She’s looking at me like it’s a trick question.

“Uh, no? I don’t guess I do. I just thought she was Ms. Dottie’s niece.”

“No. Well, yeah, she is, but she’s also pretty famous and, like, not in a good way. Have you Googled her?”

“Why the hell would I do that? You know I hate that gossip shit,” I tell her.

“I know. You’re no fun. She’s the daughter of Jameson Sterling of Sterling’s department stores. She’s made a name for herself by partying and getting in trouble. She’s basically the definition of a hot mess.”

Cam laughs, and I’ve never wanted to punch my best friend as badly as I do right now. He hasn’t even given Olivia a fair chance. There’s something about her that intrigues me. Not only because she’s beautiful, but she’s got a fire in her eyes that makes me want to get to know her. The real Olivia. Not the act she puts on for everyone else.

“What kind of trouble?” I ask. Olivia is feisty, that’s for sure. But I can’t see her getting into too much trouble.

“Apparently, she has a drinking problem. A paparazzi got a picture of her nipple one night when she was leaving a club. She looked toasted. And it was on the cover of like every magazine,” Cat tells the table. The thought of the whole world seeing Olivia’s nipple makes me livid, but I keep my fists balled at my sides to hide it. Olivia is just a co-worker. A very hot co-worker. I have no claim on her. Yet.

“Yeah, and TMZ is saying her parents sent her here to get her life together,” Laura finished.

“That makes sense,” Cam adds. “You should see her. She looks like she’s about to cry at the end of every day.”

“Shut up, man. She’s trying.” She does look like she’s about to cry every day. I try to talk to her, but she walks right past me. I’m sure she’s tired. It takes time to get used to this lifestyle.

Ellie squints at me like she’s trying to figure something out. I look away. Ellie has a weird way of seeing right through me. Probably because she’s known me for so long. I hate it.

“Speak of the devil, is that her?” Cat looks out the window of the diner. I follow her gaze until I see Olivia.

Her long chestnut hair is braided back today, starkly contrasting the messy ponytails she’s had the past few days. She’s wearing her jeans and boots, but she’s got on some sort of tight tank top that shows off her stomach.