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“Can’t wait to return the favor for you and your girl.”
Wyatt grumbles something under his breath, then tells me to get my ass on a plane. I already have my ticket purchased by the time we hang up.
I’m coming for you, darlin’,I promise Monty.And this time, I won’t let you get away.
ELEVEN
Monty
“So,are you going to tell me about Griz?” Tilly asks as she folds one of Mom’s shirts and places it in the box for stuff to donate.
My stomach twists at the mention of his name. I left my heart with Griz in California, and I don’t know if I’ll ever get it back.
He was so sweet, so understanding, and I threw his generosity in his face and left without hardly speaking a word. What must he think of me?
It’s for the best,that familiar, unhelpful voice in the back of my mind insists. Looking around the decrepit trailer Tilly and I grew up in, I’m reminded that not all love stories end in a happily ever after.
Piles of dirty laundry are scattered across the small space, and half-empty take-out containers and fast food bags litter every inch of the kitchen. A cockroach crawls out from under an old magazine, making its way to the smorgasbord of rotting food on the fold-out table in the kitchen.
Every wall in this place displays at least one hole, the perfect size for a fist. I close my eyes against the memories threatening to pull me under, but it’s no use. I remember coming home from school most days, walking in on egg shells. If there was yelling or loud music, Tilly and I would find somewhere else to hang out until the fight was over or the party burnt itself out.
I always found the silence more terrifying, however. Creeping into the trailer, praying that our parents were passed out in their room, but knowing it would only be a matter of time before they woke up.
“Hey,” Tilly says softly, bringing me back into the present. “Do you need to take a break? We can be done after packing up the living room. There really isn’t much left to do. The cleaning lady is coming tomorrow, then we can return the keys to the owner.”
“I’m okay,” I say weakly, hating the crack in my voice. “Sorry. I’m just…” I sigh, leaning against the nearest wall. It shakes, letting me know it’s about to fall apart.
Same, buddy. Same.
“Talk to me,” my sister encourages, nudging me with her elbow as she tosses a few more things into the donation box.
“Did I screw up by leaving Griz?” I blurt out.
“If he’s anything like my Ledger, then I think you’ll be just fine,” she says with a knowing smile.
“What do you mean?”
“Just that there’s nothing I could do to send him away. He’s always going to be there for me. The man is possessive and a little crazy, but I love him.” Tilly smiles, the look on her face so sweet and genuine.
“But maybe my love story isn’t like yours. Maybe it’s more like Mom and Dad.”
“Oh, Monty, no,” Tilly rushes to say. She takes my hand in hers, squeezing my fingers to get her point across. “I had a hard time believing good things could happen, and an even harder time trusting that they would last.” I nod my head, feeling the exact same way. “But you found yourself a good man.”
“How do you know? You haven’t even met Griz?”
“Maybe not, but–”
She’s cut off by a knock at the screen door. Tilly looks up, a smile spreading across her face. My sister looks back at me with a wink.
“Monty?”
My eyes go wide at the sound of his voice.
Griz.
I give Tilly a questioning look, but she shrugs, giving me a secretive little smile. I have no doubt she had something to do with the man of my dreams showing up at the door. “Go on,” she stage whispers, tilting her head toward Griz.
I don’t hesitate.
