Page 227 of Story of My Life
“Nowhe wants to talk,” Junior observed.
Cam turned to face the room. “Swear to God, I will fight every last one of you.”
Ms. Patsy stood and started swinging her purse in circles over her head like it was a lasso. “I’d like to see you try, whippersnapper.”
“Except you,” Cam said, pointing at her. “I don’t trust that purse.”
Gage and Levi reluctantly came to stand behind Cam. I wasn’t sure if they were there to protect him from everyone or everyone from him. Though judging from their grim expressions, there was also the possibility that the brothers wanted to ensure that they got in the first punches.
“No one is fighting anyone unless it’s Hazel punching Cam,” Levi announced.
Disappointed muttering was quickly squelched by a steely look from the chief of police.
Cam turned back to me, his eyes pleading. “Five minutes. Away from these jackasses.”
“No.”
“You had your five minutes. She’s moved on, buddy,” Zoey said smugly.
“Oh good! We didn’t miss it,” Frank said from the door.
“I thought they’d be covered in blood by now,” Pep said, tossing the first aid kit down on the nearest pub table. “Beer us, Rusty.”
“If you think brawling in a town bar is going to be some grand gesture, you are sorely mistaken,” I informed Cam.
“I kinda thought I’d work my way up to a grand gesture. But it’s tough with you dating every single man in town.”
“Dating? I’m not dating!”
“Oh, like we weren’t dating? I suppose this was just Bronson Vanderbeek holding the door for you at the bookstore. Hedoesn’t even read, Hazel. And how about this cozy little lunch with Darius’s cousin Scott? Or going kayaking with Scooter?”
He showed me the screen of his phone, scrolling through photos of me smiling at other men.
My mouth fell open as I realized what had happened.
I’d beenWeekend at Bernied by the entire town.
“Garland!” I barked.
49
YOU SMELL LIKE A FISH
CAMPBELL
My face,fists, and ribs hurt. Lake water sloshed out of my shoes with every step as I limped down Main Street.
I had no hair left on my wrists from the duct tape Levi had used in lieu of handcuffs.
I’d fought for her, been my brother’s first official arrest, and gotten slapped with an eye-watering fine for destruction of public property, and Mom and Dad had paid my bail.
But I’d proven to myself and to Story Lake that I wasn’t going to give up without a fight.
And I was ready for round two.
I straightened my shoulders when Hazel’s house came into view. The porch light was on, but the sitting room and parlor lights were off. But it was just after ten and I knew there was no way she’d gone to bed yet.
I opened the gate and marched up the walk. There was an eighty-five percent chance she wouldn’t answer the door if I rang the bell and a one hundred percent chance she wouldn’t let me inside to drip lake water and blood all over her newly refinished floors.
