Page 86 of Heartless
Rhett waters Blueberry and then gives her a kind pat. “Way to show up the fancy horses, Blue. That’s the Eaton way.”
I watch through the window of my trailer, but Rhett catches me. “You’re lucky she tolerates you.” He chucks his chin at me as he says it.
“Blue?” I ask.
My brother shakes his head and turns away to toss the bucket of water out of the trailer while I latch up the doors. I’m still waiting for him to respond to my question but the asshole doesn’t.
For all the years he’s spent running his mouth, he’s got nothing to say to me right now.
“See you at home?” I call out as he heads over to Jasper’s vehicle.
“Yup.” He waves over his shoulder.
“Tell Summer to keep those goddamn snakeskin boots to herself!” I call, hoping to engage him. I’d rather argue with Rhett than get his cold shoulder. He’s spent his entire life bitching at me, and I want him to keep going.
When he gets to the passenger’s side door, he turns and glares back at me, a faint tip to his lips. “I don’t tell Summer what to do. Wouldn’t listen if I tried. That’s the best kind of woman if you ask me.” He winks and hops in with Jasper. They peel away with a wave, and I’m sure they’ll gossip like little biddies about me on their drive back to Chestnut Springs.
The ladies in town have nothing on them.
Assholes.
Luke is still asleep when I hop in the truck, which means it’s just me and my vicious thoughts on the drive.
Me and my regrets.
Luke wakes when we hit the gravel roads and begs to spend the night with Grandpa, like a psycho toy that got plugged in for an hour after running out of batteries and is now charged and ready to terrorize more adults.
I drop him off. Love him as I do, I’m not in the mood to play and be fun.
When I get home, there’s no laughter. There’s no music. There’s no Willa and Luke dancing and singing in the kitchen while cookies bake in the oven.
It’s quiet. And I’m lonely.
Deeply lonely.
And angry I sent her away. Angry she’s having fun with another guy right now. Multiple guys probably.
I drop my bag and start cleaning to busy myself, scouring corners that no one will ever see. Scrubbing to take out my frustration, to keep away the jealousy that is scorching me from the inside out. It’s raging through my veins, searing every nerve ending.
It’s fucking consuming.
When my hands hurt, I stop and take a shower. My dick is hard, but I’m too pissed off to jerk it, so when I get back out, I’m more agitated.
Stomping around my house, I opt to pour myself a bourbon and go sit on the front porch. I know why I’m going there, but I refuse to admit it. I tell myself the view is good from here, but when I take a seat on the top step and glance to the side, I see little doodles painted on the railings. Suns and stars. Happy faces and XOXO.
And hearts.
Willa drew hearts on my front porch, and now I’m stuck sitting here, drowning in the thought that the real reason I’m out here is that I’m waiting for her to get home.
I’m too sick with jealousy to do anything else.
21
Willa
Summer:Are you okay?
Willa:Yeah. Why?
