Page 57 of Rough
Wilder is laughing at him, and as I walk out the door, I hear him tease, “Glad it was you rather than me. No babies for Remington Landry in the near future, I guess. Your momma is gonna be brokenhearted.”
I don’t hear Remy’s response because I’m running to catch up. Her dog is laying on the porch when I take the steps two at a time, jumping over her to follow Betsy inside.
When I find her, she’s standing at her kitchen table, staring down. Her hair is hanging around her face and her shoulders are up to her ears. I know she hears me, but she doesn’t look up. Instead, in a soft voice, she says, “This… It’s too much, Billy.” Then she winces when she hears what she’s called me.
Her use of the nickname she assigned me when we were younger does something to ease the worry I’ve had over trying to repair shit with her. I’m careful as I ease around the table to the other side, opposite of her, and sit down. I don’t want her to kick me out, so if I can prevent her from feeling like I’m cornering her, I’ll take it.
“It’s still not enough, Country.”
Her hand holding the check drops heavily to her side as she finally looks at me. “I’m not takin’ two hundred and fiftythousanddollars from you. How do ya’ll even have this much money?”
My eyes roll at her question. Not because it’s weird for her to ask, but because of the reason why. “Apparently, bein’ popular online has its benefits. We got more, so if that doesn’t fix what we destroyed, you let me know and I’ll make sure you get every penny owed.”
“I’mnotacceptin’ this.” Her hand clenches around the flimsy paper and as soon as she realizes what she did, with wide eyes, she slams it onto the table and starts straightening it out. “Fuck. Take it back!” Her fingers are scrambling to fix the crumpled paper and I swear to God, I think she’s starting to panic. “I don’t need this.”
“Country,” I coo. Moving slowly to her side, I place a hand over her working fingers. “Stop messin’ with the check and look at me for a minute, would ya?”
Her eyes fly up to mine, and they’re filled to the brim with tears. As soon as her lower lip starts trembling, I cup her cheeks and make her focus on me, pressing our foreheads together. Closing my eyes, I enjoy the moment of nearness while she tolerates it and breathe her in.
“Listen to me. Wewantyou to have this. Everythin’ we’ve done since we showed up has made your life so much fuckin’ harder.” I lean down and kiss her cheek, but before she can say anything, I keep going. “I’msorry, Country. It’s not an excuse, but I swear to you, we would never have messed up your program if we’d been thinkin’ in our right minds. And I’m even more sorry for leavin’ you and not keepin’ in touch like I should’ve. From me personally, I think I was embarrassed for you to find out what we were doin’.”
I let her go when she steps away from me, hugging herself, then wincing when she accidentally grabs hold of her bandaged arm.
“I never should’ve left you. Not after—”
A knock on the door stops the words in my throat. What I wanted to say was,Not after the night at the pond.But Trina’s voice rings out from the front door, and the moment is lost when Betsy’s face goes blank.
“Clyde, are you in there? I got the guys here, but I need to talk to you!”
Another knock rattles the front door, and my shoulders deflate when Betsy fortifies herself. “Your gal is callin’. Best see what she needs. My advice would be gettin’ her outta here before I start hurlin’ manure at her.” Her voice is so cold, I know now isn’t the time to argue.
“We’ll get her out of here. Just… cash the check, Country. Please?”
Crossing her arms across her chest, she nods once. “I’ll cash it. But I’m gonna have my lawyer draw up paperwork to give thefarm back to Remy. Tell him he can come get his stuff whenever he wants.”
“I don’t think that’s what he wants.”
“I don’t give a shit if that’s what he wants. I’m not takin’ that much money without separatin’ our shit out.” Lowering her voice in case they can hear us, she adds, “And I’m not keepin’ all that cash. I’ll take my damages and the cost of his farm out of it, but then I’m givin’ the rest back. If ya’ll won’t take it, I’ll give it to Renee, andshe’llmake sure it goes back to you. Fuck, I already told David I was in.”
“David?” I ask, but don’t get my answer when we hear the pounding again on the door.
“Clyde!Should I come in?”
Betsy hisses in annoyance and stomps toward the door, swinging it open just as Trina’s fist is about to come down again. Trina tries to look around her, but Betsy blocks her view from me. “Thought you said you got the boys with you? I’m gonna have to ask you to stop hammerin’ on my door like a psychopath and leave before I grab my Pap’s shotgun.”
Trina’s jaw drops as she takes a step back. “They’re out in the barn and heading over soon.” She pushes up on her toes until she spies me over her shoulder. “Clyde,” she breathes out, then eyes Betsy with a sneer like she’s contaminated or something. “Will you come out here? We’ve got someseriousbusiness to discuss.”
“Ooh, business. I’m sure that’s way too complicated for lil’ ol’ me and my country brain. Clyde?” Betsy blinks slowly up at me, fawning like she’s dumb as rocks. “Sounds like you got some business to attend to. Lemme hold the door for you.”
I know she wants Trina gone, which is the only reason I’m even leaving. As I pass her, I lean over to press my lips against her ear, whispering, “I’ll get rid of her as soon as I can, but I ain’t leavin’ yet, Country.”
Without waiting for her response, I guide Trina down the porch and toward the barn where Wilder and Remy are. Before we get inside, the two of them come out, the former walking awkwardly, still obviously sore from Betsy’s knee. The sight of him struggling really makes me happy for some reason, one I’m not going to worry too much about.
“You’re smiling. Holy shit, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile!” Trina gushes, and I let it fall away immediately. Nudging me with her shoulder, she asks, “Is it because I got you out of that house in one piece?”
“No.”
My short answer takes her by surprise, but she brushes it off, running toward the other two. “So, I’ve got an idea on how we can bring viewers back and regain some traction you all lost with that video. What if we—”
