Page 73 of You Shouldn't Have Come Here

I looked at him, my eyes skimming over his weathered skin. A silver medical bracelet hung loosely on his wrist—just a sick, drunk old man, that’s what Albert was.

“What’s that for?” I motioned to his piece of jewelry.

He glanced down, holding his hand out. “Oh, that.” The sunlight reflected off of the metal. “List of things I can’t have. Like I said, I got a lot of demons. Things I can’t have and things I have too much of.” He chuckled while he held up his beer. “I’m what Darwin would call ‘not nature’s winner.’”

I let on a small smile. “What can’t you have?”

“Shellfish, nuts, bees, eggs, strawberries. You name it. I can’t have it. That’s why my diet is a steady stream of red meat and booze. And that’s just fine by me.” Albert chuckled again. He set his empty bottle on the table beside him.

“What brought you here?” I closed up my book and gave him my full attention.

“A lot of bad decisions over a lifetime, I suppose. But sometimes after trying to always take the road less traveled, ya just go where it’s easiest, ya know?” He glanced over at me.

“I think I know what you’re saying.”

“What about you? Why you here?” he asked, bringing the beer bottle back to his lips. He clearly forgot it was empty.

“Still taking the road less traveled, I guess.”

He sucked on air and then pulled the bottle from his mouth. “Stay on it because it eventually runs out.”

“You’re not so bad, Albert.”

He and I weren’t so different after all. He too traveled alone, had his own vices to deal with, and was forever searching for the things that kept life interesting.

“I’m not so good either.” He smirked, holding up his beer. “I’ma get me another one of these.” Several of his bones creaked and cracked as he got to his feet. “You want one?”

“Yeah.” I nodded.

He shuffled down the porch, disappearing inside the house. No more than a moment later, Calvin’s truck rolled up with a police vehicle following closely behind. I knew this place was trouble. I felt it as soon as I stepped foot here.

38.

Calvin

Grace rocked back and forth on the porch. I wished every day I came home I could see her. The big blue skies surrounded us like it was our own perfectmini-universe, just for her and me. She was a vision. Her blond hair was tied up in a messy bun. I imagined unraveling it and watching her locks fall around her face. I was happy she’d left her room. A car engine shut off behind me. I didn’t even notice anyone following. Wyatt climbed out of his cruiser.

“Hey, man,” I said.

His face was beet red, and his fists were clenched by his side. A thick, angry vein in the center of his forehead throbbed, and it looked as though it could burst at any moment. In three large steps, he was right in front of me. Rather than his usual friendly salutation, his fist did the talking. The force pushed me backward, and for me, the sun wasn’t the only star in the sky now. My cheek throbbed, but I stood tall.

“What the hell, Wyatt!”

Before he came at me again to deliver another greeting, Grace was between us with her hands on both of our chests. She asked me if I was all right. I knew then she still cared for me. And if she didn’t, she would eventually.

He puffed out his chest and raised his chin. “What’d you do to Charlotte?” Wyatt spat.

“What? What did she tell you?”

Grace’s hands were still up, separating us from one another. I kept a close eye on the gun that sat on Wyatt’s hip. Would he shoot me dead right here? He looked angry enough to do it.

“I saw what you did to her. I saw the gash on the back of her head!”

I blew out my cheeks. My eyes went to Grace then Wyatt. Char wasn’t lying. I had done that. I didn’t mean to. If I had really intended to hurt her, I would have. It was purely an accident. She told Wyatt because she was using him. That much was obvious.

“Is it true?” he yelled. “Did you do that? If you did, I’m going to make sure she presses charges.”

“No!” Grace yelled. She squared up with Wyatt, and he took a quick step back like he was afraid of her.

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