Page 249 of Remiss
“Yeah, help me with the cooking and cleaning. This was your menu.”
Spinach stuffed pork tenderloin, basmati rice with mushroom chutney, grilled broccolini and charred lemon, a big salad, and huckleberries with fresh cream. Luckily, Mom had gone shopping Friday so they had all kinds of food to choose from. After talking to DeLuca last week, Rory had come up with the plan that he and Mattie cook today so Mom wouldn’t have to, finding the perfect recipes and making sure she bought what he needed. It was as easy as going with her and pointing out what he craved.
She’d given the go-ahead for Rory and Mattie to cook though she had no idea it would be so extravagant.
“I wanted to prepare a simpler meal.”
“Since when is Mom simple?” Rory scoffed, frustrated that he wasted time arguing with his little sister.
She sniffed but didn’t dispute him. “Where are you going?”
“I have an errand to run,” he said, refusing to draw her into the drama, especially if Bash was there. He didn’t want him setting eyes on her. “I’ll be as quick as possible. I promise.”
“Fine. Just hurry back.”
He hugged her, kissing her cheek when she hugged him back. “Call Harley. She might enjoy helping you.”
“Her play is Friday. She had to go to school for a final run-through or fitting. I can’t remember which, since this coming week will be insane for her.”
“How is she?”
“Different.”
“I won’t be long, Matt,” he promised again, kissed her cheek, and headed to the clubhouse to ask one of the guys for a ride.
As he walked through the forest, Rory thought Harley’s problems superseded Uncle Mort’s marital issues. He didn’t blame Mattie for the lapse in judgment. Dad had made her so self-conscious. She second-guessed everything. But Grant? That fuckhead was twenty-two.
CJ had tried to make contact with Harley. She rejected his calls or didn’t answer his texts. Somehow, she avoided Rory and the Triplets at school. Ryan and Devon had reached a turning point with Ryan not talking and Devon backing him up.
Rory had been on edge about the meeting and whether Bash returned Molly. He hadn’t been able to focus on much else these past days, but today wasEureka! Soon, he’d know if his shot in the dark worked.
Then, he could focus on what Mattie said about Harley.
As he passed the log cabin, the door opened, and Ryan walked out. Rory lowkey liked the peacoat and knit hat he wore. He’d have to look the pieces up online and purchase them for himself.
“Where are you off to so early, cuckhead?” Ryan smiled at his own stupid play on words.
Rory flipped him off and continued walking.
“Wait!”
“Fuck off, Ryan.”
“I’m sorry, okay?”
Rory slowed down but didn’t completely halt. Ryan caught up to him, though.
“Where are you going?”
“Somewhere,” Rory said, having zero intentions of sharing. At least not until he knew which way the wind was blowing. “Where are you going?”
“For a walk.” He stopped and pointed in the direction they’d come. “That way.”
Rory paused and shook his head. “I’d say not. Unless you’re directionally challenged, fuckface.”
“Is that even a thing?”
“Fuck, probably. Who knows? It doesn’t matter.”
