Page 38 of Walk on the Wilde Side
Zander has peeled himself off from the others. He's standing under the long, thick branches of a tree looking like a lost little boy. I take a deep breath and walk over to him. He lifts his blue eyes. Wilde boys don't cry. At least I'd never seen a tear from any of them, but Zander looks as close to it as I've ever seen. I open my mouth to speak, to thank them for coming, but I don't get past the first syllable before he pulls me into his arms. We hold each other tightly and for so long, it seems neither of us will let go first. The first thing I notice, even through my hurricane of grief, is how right it feels to be standing in his arms. His embrace helps relieve some of the pain I'm feeling, and I hope having me in his arms does the same for him. His strength, his warmth, his incredible power surrounds me, and all I can think is that I feel protected standing in his arms, as if nothing, not even my despair, can hurt me.
Neither of us want to be the first to let go, so we manage a sort of mutual release. Instantly, I feel sadder and less stable than I did in his arms. My throat is still painfully tight and dry, but I manage to get a few words out. "Thanks for coming. It means a lot."
Zander glances around at the crowd. "Looks like the whole town came." He looks back at me, and I fight the urge to throw myself back into his arms. "I'm sorry I didn't call or text. To be honest, I was having a helluva time believing she was gone. I didn't want to believe it."
The truth is I was hurt that he hadn't called. I hadn't heard from him at all until right now.
"I still don't want to believe it," I say. "Guess we're going to have to count on each other to keep ourselves out of trouble now," I say with a chuckle.
"I guess so, and since you are such a hard-ass troublemaker, Nevada Mason, I've got my work cut out."
We laugh quietly, and in that moment, I realize, aside from Nana and Kinsley, Zander has always been the most significant person in my life.
"I should mingle," I say. "Thanks again for coming." I turn to leave. He takes my hand and holds it for a few seconds before releasing it. I walk away with that same huge lump in my throat.
seventeen
Zander
Jameson and I are plotting out our next work area when Hoffman pulls up in his slick car. A cloud of dust circles him as he steps out in his crisp black suit. "Wilde, get the fucking water truck over here. There's way too much dust."
"That's cuz you drove up here like Mario fucking Andretti," I say under my breath. I look at Jameson. "I think he's talking to you."
"Uh, last I checked we both answer to the name Wilde."
"Yeah, but he sounds pissy, and he likes me better than you," I say.
Jameson laughs. "Right. Forgot that." He rolls his eyes. "Is it me or has he seemed extra 'stick up my rich pathetic ass' these last few days?"
"It's not you. He's definitely walking around like he's constipated and waiting for his laxative to work."
Jameson gives me a puzzled look.
"You know, like he's squeezing his asshole tight while he walks," I explain.
Jameson laughs as he heads toward the water truck. Hoffman leans his head out of the trailer. "And not one fucking drop of water on my car, got it?" he says sharply.
Jameson gives him a sarcastic salute and looks back at me over his shoulder.
I nod. "Lots of laxative, I think."
I climb up into the excavator, a spot that gives me a nice view of the whole site. We're two thirds of the way finished, and today, Hoffman will send us money, the last payment before the final one. My checking account is running dry, and I'm looking forward to having some cash again. A night at the Gold Rush with a pitcher of beer and Harry's famous pizza bites is on the books.
Jameson is running the watering truck while Jorge and Gus are moving piles of dirt with Bobcats. It's an hour until quitting time, and now that I've set my sights on beer and pizza bites, that's all I can think about.
I finish up the last section of the dig while Jameson shuts down and locks up the rest of the equipment. Jorge and Gus are cleaning up as well. They're waiting for their paychecks, too.
Jameson is checking his phone as he walks over. "Guess he forgot it was payday. We better go remind him."
"Yep."
Jorge whistles to get our attention. "We're taking off. You going to send the money today?" he asks.
"Just as soon as we get it," Jameson says. "See you later."
Hoffman's angry tone comes through the thin walls of the trailer as we approach it. "That guy spends a lot of time yelling on his phone," Jameson notes. "Hey, by the way, Indi says that he and Nev are finished. Guess they broke up last week."
"Great fucking news. He wasn't good enough for her." Inside I'm doing a crazy-ass happy dance, but I keep my cool in front of Jameson because he loves to tease me about Nev.
