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“So we could ruin our parents’ lives just by not getting married?” Nina asks.
“I don’t know if ruin is the right word, but they could be disinherited. Do they have their own assets? Jobs? Are they financially stable?”
“Yes. My dad has a great job.” They might not have the kind of wealth I got lucky enough to stumble into, but they’re fine. “They’d be fine.”
“I don’t know,” Nina whispers. She sounds small, like her voice is coming from miles away. Some random, rebellious part of me wants to comfort her again, even if it’s just a single word of encouragement. “I thought so, but…I didn’t know about this either. There could be so much more that they’re keeping from me. Even if they are stable, who wants to be the cause of something like that?”
“After the incident with the cameras, I wouldn’t mind.”
Brock takes notice. “What incident with the cameras?”
I know full well that doing something like that isn’t legal. I know I could cause a lot of problems for my family, and I could get them out of my hair for good. I could even likely get a restraining order after that unlawful surveillance deal. But…but even I’m willing to admit there are limits. My mom and grandma might take things too far, but I know they love me. I’ve never questioned it. Well, almost never. I do believe they truly think a rabid bunny or wolves are going to devour me where I am. They’re notout-of-the-citykinds of people.
Part of me wants to force their hand, just so they make good on their threats to buy the land beside mine and make my life hell. It would be hilarious, for one. But the other part of me, the one that respects my dad and grandpa too much and does love my mom and grandma, doesn’t want to see them give up a life they love in the city just because I want to be an asshole and see them suffer as they rough it out, knowing they did it to themselves. It will only be funny for a hot minute before it becomes awful to the power of horrendous.
“Nothing.” I slide a hand over my jaw as Nina’s eyes widen. “But we’re not going to be forced to be married? There’s nothing they can do legally?”
“Just the disowning of yourselves and your parents. Marriage is your own choice. They can’t legally force you into it. Drawing up a contract with another person’s name on it for this kind of thing is already heinous. I can’t see anyone in their right mind upholding this.”
“Heinous.” Nina giggles, then slaps a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. That word just always sounds so close to anus.”
“The disowning part will leave your parents stewing in their own juices. I won’t be surprised if things get nasty. If they do, please feel free to get in touch with me. We’ll discuss what you can both do to protect yourselves.”
Anus and parents and them stewing in their own juices becomes too much for a few sentences. My head starts to swim, and my stomach lurches, thinking about the stupid pieces of paper on Brock’s desk, thinking about all this.
“I hope that won’t be necessary,” Nina says, pulling me out of it.
Thank god. I needed to come out of my own mind.
“It will most likely be necessary. The whole thing’s been a shitshow. I’ll be in contact the minute I need to be.” I hope I don’t have to, but I also know that hoping for things doesn’t get you very far in life or anything else.
Brock stands up and offers us his hand before he shows us out of his office, which is very modern. He has other people working here, but it’s his name on the wall, and he’s clearly spearheading the place.
Once we get outside, I stare at the white stone that makes up the bottom layer of the two-story building.
“Can you believe that—” Nina starts, but she’s cut off by my phone. I forgot to put it on silent, and now it’s ringing at the very moment we stepped outside.
Sometimes timing really does work out.
“Thaddius,” I answer, the same curt way I always answer my phone. Nina’s brows shoot up, and I swallow back a curse. “I mean, hello, this is Thaddius.”
“Thaddius. This is John from the autobody shop. You sent me a car here late last night?”
“I did, yes.” John knows me. He’s done work for me on my truck and a few of the tractors I have at the acreage. He’s one of the only mechanics around here, but he’s a great one. Even though he’s pushing sixty, I doubt he’s going to retire anytime soon. He’s one of those guys who actually loves what he does. It’s more than just making a living for him. His name isn’t up on the shop’s wall, but it should be. I know he owns the place.
“We had a look at her first thing this morning, and I’m sorry to say, the whole drive shaft is shot. That’s the real issue. It’s going to take over a week to get one in. The front driver tire also needs to be replaced, and the rim isn’t looking so healthy.”
What’s wrong with me that the sharp heat I feel isn’t just instant annoyance? It might also be the slightest bit of warm relief. “That’s fine.” It’s probably just because I want to settle this for good, and if Nina is here, then it’s easier. We’ll use this week to figure things out, and then we’ll never have to see each other again. “You can order it. I’ll pay for everything it needs.”
“Thanks, will do. Have a great day.”
“You too.”
Nina is leaning forward so eagerly that it looks like she’s going to tip right over. I try not to notice how adorable she looks with her hair all wavy and clean, her clothes washed from yesterday, and wearing those terrible, scary flip-flops because she doesn’t have anything else at the moment. But really, it’s her smile that makes her adorable. Not the way her clothes fit her curves just right, the few flecks of cinnamon dotted over her nose, or the glistening shine of hopefulness in her eyes.
I can’t tell if this endless optimism of hers is wearing thin or wearing me down. Was it really just yesterday that she showed up? It feels like it’s been eight million centuries.
“Is everything okay?”
