Page 52 of Butter You Up
Next to me, Lia squeaks. We’ve all gathered in the grass across the driveway to watch. Colleen’s concern about wrestling seems unfounded since Alex just wants to get out of here. Ethel’s face is drawn, and she clenches her hands into one fist at her breastbone. Lia covers her face with her hands.
“You okay?” I ask quietly while Alex starts his truck, and Ethan keeps yelling.
“Yeah, just totally inappropriately thinking about how hot it was that Ethan jumped into the truck like that. What is wrong with me?”
“ALEX!” Ethan bellows. Ethel walks up to the truck bed, and I can barely hear her placating tone over the rumble of the truck.
The door flies open again, and Alex steps out. His face is shockingly calm, and Ethan stills in the truck bed.
“Grandad wasn’t pissy about it because it was his idea.”
“What?” Ethan’s voice rises with incredulity.
“Grandad told me to go. I didn’t leave. He told me it was going to be your farm and we couldn’t keep fighting over every little thing. So don’t act like you made some enormous sacrifice when you ended up getting everything I ever wanted.”
Alex’s delivery is stony, too calm in Ethan’s anger. In an instant, everything snaps and sizzles away like a drop of water on a hot frying pan. The two brothers stare at each other.
“Alex,” I say gently, reaching out to touch his shoulder. He flinches as if he’d completely forgotten I was there, spinning to face me.
“Are you happy now?” he bites out. “You stuck your nose in our business. I hope you and Gran are satisfied with the way it all worked out.”
I recoil, and behind me, Ethel gasps.
“It’s yourfamily, Alex,” I whisper.
“And what do you know about family? You’re here alone, Molly.” He spreads his arms wide. “Easy to get along with them when you leave them behind, isn’t it?”
I can’t even answer, I just stare at him. This time, when Alex climbs into his truck, Ethan jumps off the bed and into the dirt. Alex peels out of the driveway and careens toward home.
CHAPTER30
ALEX
I drive rightpast Udderly Creamy, barely even noticing the dark farm shop. A few minutes later I have to turn my headlights on, and the instinctual movement jolts me out of my head and makes me focus on what I’m doing.
I take a deep breath, attempting to relax my hold on the steering wheel, and shake my shoulders out. The truck is running west and I realize my body pointed me exactly where I wanted to go on autopilot: Here.
Sensing the mood shift, Trixie whines from the backseat and puts her paws on the armrest, bringing her head high enough to lick my ear. “Easy, girl,” I say. “We’re fine. We’re going to be okay.” I reach back and rub the scruff of her neck, my fingers running through her springy hair and feeling the rapid heartbeat underneath.
An hour or so later, I pull into Kit’s parents’ driveway. I don’t even turn the truck off before the door opens and Kit strides out. He climbs into the passenger seat, greeting Trixie enthusiastically before buckling his seatbelt.
“Where to, buddy?” he asks me.
“Anywhere but Fork Lick,” I say, sliding the truck into reverse and pulling out.
“I think the expression is supposed to be anywhere but here, though that sounds like a diss on my hometown, so I’ll let it slide.”
There’s a beat of quiet. “How did you know I was coming?”
“Molly called.”
I glance at him over Trixie’s head. She’s standing on the center console, which I don’t normally let her do, but she also knows I’m a sucker for her, especially when I’m in a bad mood.
“She’s worried about you and gave me the rundown.”
I don’t say anything but turn onto Here’s Main Street. Here used to be a tiny run-down town, but lately it’s become a popular tourist destination—at least in the winter when skiers come to the old lodge. The summer’s are quieter, and even though it’s a beautiful mild June Sunday evening, it’s dead downtown.
“What do you want? A drink? Some food? Sit outside?”
