Page 8 of Unveiled Wounds

Walking into the garage, I took off my sweatshirt and pulled the supplies from the back cabinet. Gloves on my hands, I grabbed the sand paper and happily made small circles like Grizz had taught me. The noise was soothing as I lost myself in the monotony.

I didn’t hear Grizz, but I saw a gigantic shadow moving around out of the corner of my eye. I stopped, stood up, and watched him plop his ass on the counter. “Hey,” I called softly.

“Hey, baby.” He leaned against the wall, dangling his legs over the edge.

“Is that sturdy enough? You’re a big boy.” I had never shied away from the size jokes, so I didn’t see any reason to start now. Grizz was huge, bearlike, but it wasn’t how he had earned his road name.

He pushed his hands down onto the counter like he was checking. “It could use a shock test.”

I walked towards him, dropping the sandpaper and taking off the gloves. “Have you test driven it? There are plenty of short skirts in the clubhouse who would be willing,” I said, standing between his legs with my hands on his thighs.

He slid closer to the edge and wrapped his tree trunks around my hips. “Is this what it feels like?” he asked me. “Baby, this is sexier when you do it.”

I didn’t respond.

He tried to slide further down the back wall, but he was so large, it only pushed his legs away from me. It wouldn’t happen, but he tried a few more positions before giving up, eventually wrapping his arms around me in a bear hug. “Much better.”

“Do you want to help me?” I asked, pointing towards the desk.

“Nah. I was thinking you could tell me about you.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Everything.”

I turned away from him, sliding the gloves back on. I wasn’t sure I was ready for this conversation, but he had told me his history the last time we were out here, and so it was only fair to tell him mine. Picking up the sandpaper from the floor, I went back to work before the words flowed.

“You know I lost my mom at five. I don’t remember what she looked like without a picture. There are other things too, like the way she laughed. I can’t pinpoint the sound without home videos. Sometimes I wonder if the few memories I have are real or based on what I was told, and there’s no point in asking my dad or my aunt. It would just cause them pain.”

“I don’t think Aunt E would see it like that. Have you talked to her recently about your mom?”

“No. I won’t drop any more of this trauma into her lap. She has enough of her own shit going on.” I continued to sand, watching the dust fall through the air like snowflakes.

“You have friends, Mer,” he pushed. “Hell, Grace might like to reminisce.”

“Smooth, Romeo. I can’t deal with Grace’s feelings while I’m trying to get my head back on straight. I know it hurts her, but it’s too much for me. One day, I’ll open that door, but for now, it’s a no.”

“Okay, but what about Stella and Charlie? You’re the third musketeer, and they hound me for updates. I didn’t know what to say, so I just told them you weren’t doing well. If I don’t send at least one proof of life picture a week, they call.” Grizz chuckled.

“Sounds like them. After my mom died, I hardly spoke, thinking that if I was good, she’d come back. My dad didn’t push me, but that didn’t sit well with my first grade teacher. She tried everything to get me to talk, including sitting Stella next to me. Stella’s too nice to be ignored, and every day she’d talk my ear off, even if I didn’t respond. She did it so long, I cracked. Stella and Charlie were next-door neighbors, so they adopted me as the third wheel.” I sighed. “Please don’t let them visit.”

“I won’t, but you’re going to have to give them something soon before they show up at the gate. If they do, I won’t turn them away.” He slid his neck back, further leaning against the back wall. “I’m not sure I won’t explode, but I want to know about Brandon.”

“Why?” Brandon was the past, and I had buried the shit six-feet deep.

“I need to know what came before me, so that there’s never anyone after me. You’re mine, and I know it’s rough now, but it won’t always be like this.”

“Are you sure? What if it is?” I stopped pretending to work and stared at him. I couldn’t move closer, but I didn’t feel like we were miles apart.

“It won’t be. I’m here to support you however you need.” He cracked his knuckles, placing them across his stomach as he stared at me.

His confidence in us sparked something deep within my chest. “Emily’s nice.” She’d been better than I expected.

“Yeah, she is, but she’s Zook’s, before you get any bright ideas. You’re still mine, baby.”

“I talked to her about my situation. There’s no change with the bank, and she said you’ve been paying for the condo. Thank you.” We stared at each other from across the garage. “I’m not sure where this is all going, but I wanted you to know I’m trying.” I took a step forward and then stopped. “Do you honestly want to know about Brandon? I’ll tell you, but you can’t lose your shit. I mean it, Grizz,” I said, not sure where the words had come from. Brandon wasn’t a topic I ever wanted to discuss again.

“I want to know how I can help you move forward, and he’s a part of the unresolved past. Kind of wish I would have gotten the chance to beat his ass, but a little too late now.”

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