Page 5 of Timber's Line
“Not since his last fight.”
“Oh.” I know there is more to the story, but I’m not going to push it. I’d only met him once, though I did follow his career. He’s really nice, or he was to me. I wonder what happened.
“Just go on back inside. I’ll be up in a few minutes.”
I head inside and wonder at the decorating Ever did. She should go into business.
“Who the fuck are you?” I spin around and come face-to-face with Dayton.
“Timber,” I say meekly.
“Why are you here? You can’t just walk in here.” Okay, I was wrong about him being nice.
“Dayton, she’s with me. I texted you about the BBQ,” Ever chides him.
“So, you’re the girl on the show this season?” He almost sneers at me. What did I do to him?
“I am,” I say sweetly.
“Have fun,” he says and saunters off and out of the room.
“He’s having a hard time.” Ever makes an excuse for him.
“I can see that.”
What’s happened since I first met him that’s made him do a one-eighty? He’s turned into a big jerk.
“Where’s the bathroom?”
Ever points at a door, and I scurry down the hall, needing to breathe.
Dayton might be gorgeous, but wow, he’s a dick. Whatever his demons are, they have him by the throat. Maybe he sees me for who I am—a slut. A girl who swoons at pretty words and uses her mouth to please a guy. I haven’t done that in a long time. I think I’ve gotten smarter.
Oh, who am I kidding? I’m a fat blob, and those guys just want their fame. Love on these shows doesn’t work out.
Thinking this, I’m in panic mode . . . and only one thing soothes me. I search through cabinets and find it. It’s so shiny and silver. In a way, this has become my savior over the years. It makes me feel like a human being. I take my jeans off and set them to the side, finding peace, if only for a little while. I take the blade and dig into my leg, watching the blood run. And then I cry.
CHAPTERTWO
DAYTON
“Why are you such a dick?” Ever finds me on the upper porch drinking a beer.
“I just am. Maybe that’s who I always was,” I reply.
“No, this isn’t who you are or were.”
“Why do you care? You found your happily ever after. Making babies and shit. Mine went down the drain.”
“Have you ever taken the time to think about what led to that?”
Every damn day. I know what she’s getting at. I messed up. I will live with that for the rest of my life.
“It is what it is,” I reply and head into the house.
“Someday, you’re going to explode, D. You keep your feelings bottled up. I know you think this shit work you’re doing is just that . . . shit. But there is a purpose to it. You won’t know what that is until you let go.”
I turn on her in a second, furious.
