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Troy drops his spoon, and it clangs against the china. “You always take his side. Why do you do this?”
“I’m not taking sides, son. You judge people too harshly. Jace was a good boy who found himself in a bad situation. Resilience and hard work are the keys to survival in this cruel world. Something you have failed to learn.”
The legs of Troy’s chair screech along the floor. He jumps to his feet and slams his napkin into his bowl of half-eaten soup. “Excuse me.”
My stomach clenches as he storms from the room. I scan the bewildered faces sitting before me. Troy’s father doesn’t make any attempt to go after him. He sips his drink and continues as if his son didn’t just throw a tantrum right in front of him. “I should go talk to him.”
I follow Troy’s path through the kitchen and find him standing in the corner. His gaze trained on the floor, he doesn’t look up as I approach.
“What was that all about?”
“My father always liked Jace better than me.”
“I’m sure that’s not true.” I slip my fingertips against his palm.
He wrenches from my grasp. “You think I’m blind or just stupid? You like Jace better than me, too. You avoided me for weeks just so you could stay home and play house with that psychopath.”
I blanche. “Are we back on this again? I told you his mom was sick.”
He squares his stance. “I don’t believe you.”
“Well, then, I guess we’re done here.” I turn on my heel and head for the open set of French doors.
“It’s a long walk back to Hell’s Bend.”
I turn back around, my glare like daggers. “Take me home, Troy.”
He fits his finger inside the knot around his neck and pulls it down. “This was a stupid idea. I thought you being here would take the heat off me, but I should have known better.” He flings the tie onto the counter, stepping toward me.
“Let’s get one thing straight. I am a very forgiving person, but I am no one’s doormat. I came here because you asked me to, and you’ve been an insufferable jerk all night.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Good. ’Cause I’ve had it up to here with people thinking they could push me around for their own amusement.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he says with a smirk. He takes me by the waist and pulls me closer. “You’re getting a little twang there, city girl.”
“Oh, shut up.” I laugh. My stomach rumbles.
“You’re hungry. Why don't we get outta here and grab a burger or something?”
I stare up into his olive eyes, hoping to see a spark, some tiny connection that keeps me coming back, but there’s nothing there. I don’t love Troy. I think I’m falling in love with Jace.
If that’s true, I better find a way to un-fall in love with him, stat.
***
The whisper of Cindy’s sneakers pads down the hall. Her shadow darkens the crevice of my open door. “It’s past three, hun. What are ya doin’ up so late?”
“Couldn’t sleep.”
The edge of the mattress dips under her weight. “You the one responsible for all those purty flowers out front?”
Warmth pools in my chest. “I wanted to do something nice for you after the way I acted.”
She dismisses me with a wave. “Already forgotten.”
I pull my knees up to my chest and rest my back along the wall. “How was work?”
