Page 76 of The One With the Mountain Man

"But you're the oldest. Shouldn'tyoube, like, their pride and joy? The heir or some shit like that?" My family truly confused Digger.

Which made sense. He and his pops were best friends.

I hated my father.

Well, hate might be too strong a word. When I was twenty it was definitely how I felt. But now? I was just indifferent to the man who raised me. There was no love there. I couldn't remember the last time he hugged me. Had he ever?

Did he ever like me?

Did I ever like him?

"Naw, Nora's the heir. I'm their..." Well, I wasn't sure what I was to them. Their disappointment? "Ollie is who they wish I was. He's extroverted and smart and likable. He's a doting husband and father, and a pillar of the community. I'm not."

Travis frowned harder. "You're all those things. Well, not extroverted or doting but fuck that."

My parents wanted me to be obedient. To revere them. But to feel that I'd have to respect them, which I did not. They cast me aside early on because I'd already filled a very different role. "They need someone to blame for their misery. If it wasn't me, it would be Nora or Ollie or Karis. One of us would have wound up in their crosshairs. Have you met my parents? They can't process their emotions let alone take the blame for them. I'm glad it's me."

"Well I'm not." Scottie poured another beer for Digger. "What I don't get is why they keep heaping it on you. You're not even around most of the time. What do they do, store it up?"

"Pretty much. If they moved on to another kid and did half the shit they do to me, someone would start catching on." Although Sharon knew, but as meddling as she could be, she cared and kept my secret. "And they can't have that. Plus when I say something they can pretend I'm off my rocker and making up stories. If they were so awful surely the other kids would say so." But I shielded them from it as kids and even goaded Dad into keeping his anger focused on me in adulthood. At this point it was a damn sport.

"I'm glad you're getting out of town for a few days," Travis said. "Enjoy some time with Marley."

That pit returned to my stomach. "I'm not sure how much time we'll get to have."

"Why?" Scottie asked.

I didn't want to out Marley. I didn't want my suspicions to be true. So I bent the truth. "It's work for her and she has a pretty tight schedule. I'd rather be at Golden Hour." Spending the day with Marley had become my favorite way to spend a day. I was as comfortable around her as I was with these guys. But she came with a hell of a lot more benefits.

"I know your family sucks, but have you noticed how little you see them in town?" Scottie added. "When you get back, don't be a stranger."

"We should have that poker night already!" Digger slapped the bar.

They were both right. I never saw my family in town and my guys deserved a poker night. "Who's hosting?"

"You. I'll bring the beer." Scottie knocked the bar with his knuckles.

"I've got the poker chips and cards." Digger rubbed his hands together.

"I'll smoke some brisket and bring food," Travis offered.

"Brisket..." Scottie mumbled, his eyes un-focusing as I was sure he was dreaming up a new menu item.

"I'll send out a text when I get back." I stood up, hugging each of them. "Thanks for having my back."

Digger groaned. "Get out of here. We know you like her better than us. It's gross and disgusting and I hate it."

Travis shook his head. "So jealous, this one. Always so jealous."

Digger threw his hand at Scottie. "First him. Now Huk. At least I know Travis will never abandon me."

Travis shrugged, but the smile on his face was tight. I made a note to spend some time with him outside of work when I got back because something was wrong. Between his fighting with Joanne and now this?

But my first priority was Marley. "See ya, gentlemen. Don't get into too much trouble while I'm gone."

Marley must not have heardme pull up because when I took the side steps onto the deck, she had that damn photograph in her hands. She didn't turn as I walked towards her. I wasn't quiet either.

I wanted to ask who those people were. Was one Charley? Elora or Eric? Did something happen to them or was it a good memory? I couldn't make sense of it. "Hey," I said quietly so I wouldn't scare her.

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