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She’s the one that got away. Slipped right through my fingers like sand, and the worst part is that I don’t even know where it all went wrong. I don’t know what I could have done to make her love me. All I know is that she didn’t.
It makes me cringe, knowing that if Grady were to find out, he’d have my balls dangling from the back of his vehicle. He’s always been very protective of Nina, and I love him for it. He’s a good brother, but I’m just not sure I can be the knight he expects me to be.
When I finally roll up to my parents’ house, the sun is just starting to set. The sky is an explosion of color, and while I’m not really the mushy type or sunset lover that most people are, I still take time to admire the beauty of nature. Brilliant shades of pink, gold, purple, and blue mix and mingle to create a breathtaking work of art among the clouds.
My dad rushes out of the house and toward the car, coming to a stop at my passenger side door. He’s not even stopped a second before he starts tapping his foot.
“What’s up, Dad?” I say, getting out of the car.
“I wanted to call you before you got here, but we’ve had a bit of a situation.” He scratches at the back of his head.
“What?” I have no idea where this conversation is going.
“Your cousin, Lindsie, just showed up with her boyfriend. They both lost their jobs last month and got kicked out of their apartment… so… they don’t have anywhere to stay. Your mom told them they could stay here, so they weren’t on the street. In your room, to clarify,” he explains as we walk toward the house.
“Dad,” I groan because, really, what the hell? “I’m your son, your only son. I should get priority over my cousin.”
Opening the front door, he looks away, “Well, I know. But you know how your mom is about Lins, she’s always had a soft spot for her. Besides, Trent has been giving them a hard time, and they are short on cash. I’m just going to put you up in a hotel, for now, it will be fine.”
“I can stay on the couch, you know?” We step into the hallway, and the familiar smell of my family home surrounds me.
“Yeah, but do you really want to? With Lins here?”
“I heard that,” Lindsie snaps from the living room door. With a pout on her face and her arms folded in front of her, she continues, “I’m telling Aunt Simone.”
My cousin looks almost exactly like my uncle Trent with wide shoulders, long blonde hair and big, brown eyes. His hair is almost as long as hers, only he never washes his. He’s the polar opposite of my clean-cut father, who doesn’t drink anymore, typical all-American male.
My uncle Trent could be a bit of an ass and especially when he falls off the wagon, so I understand, but still. I’m his son. Without question, my dad takes out his checkbook and a pen. He does some figuring in his head, sticking his tongue out and then writes me a check.
I look at the number. One thousand, two hundred dollars.
Is he high?
Pinching the check between two fingers, I tell him, “This is too much for a hotel, Dad.”
“I’m also paying you for your help. You won’t be able to work while you’re here, so this is your payment.”
“Dad, you don’t have to pay me to help you. That’s the whole reason I came here, so you don’t have to pay a contractor.”
Shaking his head, he insists, “Just take it, already. Get a nice hotel on me, with a hot tub and stuff. Clear out the minibar and order some strippers.”
“Dad!” I chuckle and shake my head. Not that I’m against any of that. I take the check and put it in my pocket, knowing that he won’t take no for an answer. Still, he can’t make me cash it, and I probably won’t. I’ve got a nice cushion from the last contracting job I did, and there is no reason for me to take my dad’s money.
“Fine, but seriously, I would have been happy to stay here on the couch,” I say, not really wanting to figure out sleeping arrangements at this time of night. My mind flashes back to Grady’s phone call, but I don’t think long on it and instead shove that thought out of my mind faster than a winning racehorse. There’s no way in hell I can take a trip down that road. Even if it is temporary. I don’t know if I’d survive. Nina can be a bit of a force to be reckoned with, and I really don’t know if I have that kind of energy. Plus, if she’s as hot as I remember, there is no way I can stay away from her. Definitely not my hands.
“Just go find a hotel and then come back for dinner,” Dad suggests, “Mom is making goulash.”
“Can I at least get a shower? I hate the after-car gunk I have going on.” I gesture to myself as we walk through the house and into the kitchen.
“You could, sweetie,” Mom says, rushing through the house, her arms wrapping around my middle. “But Brian clogged up the toilet and caused a flood. There’s shit everywhere,” she says in a monotone way as if she is telling me about the printer ink being on low. My mother swears so casually she can make it sound classy.
Releasing me, she shoves me back toward my car, “Now, hurry along, so you can be back for dinner.”
“Wait... who the hell is Brian?” I’m so confused.
Lindsie sneers from where she’s standing, “Brian is with me, but he’s napping right now so you can’t meet him.”
“I’m heartbroken,” I answer sarcastically. My mouth is going to get me into trouble if I don’t figure out how to put a filter on it.
