Page 9 of The Second Deal

Dadgives a curt nod, picking another weed.

Themargarita is delicious, but goddamn it, if the guilt that keeps rolling in doesn’t coat my tongue in bitterness.

BeforeIleft, his dark hair was a little salt and peppery.Now, it’s more salt than pepper with only a few dark streaks left.Hestill wears his rattyChucks, though, and aBlackSabbathT-shirt that he’ll probably request to be buried in.

“Ilove you,”Ipipe up.

Aglimmer of happiness finally appears on his face. “Loveyou, too, sweet pea.Reallyam glad to have you home.”Hegives the area one last sweep before stepping away. “IknowDaveandTyloved having you around, butI’mglad to have you back full time at the festival.”

Deepdown,I’llmiss working at my dad’s best friend’s recording studio with my oldest childhood friend.ButI’mexcited to be back working full time atNewYear’sBallcalling the shots.

Dadslips away to join in on horseshoes asBrandycurls up in the corner and decides for me whereIshould sit.She’sattentive to the game and ignores my presence, like she’s sitting with me out of obligation and would rather be anywhere else but beside me.

Iwhip out my phone.It’saround the time we would call it quits at the studio and meet up with a few musician friends for dinner and drinks at a food truck park.

Y’alldon’t have too much fun without me tonight.

Thinbranches and twigs snap.Bushesrustle.

Shadowsmove in the corner of my eye.

Thedin of cicadas and crickets goes silent.

“Holyshit.Nobodymove!”

Chapter4

Buckout Road

–Concrete Dream

WhenDadyellsfor everyone to stop in their tracks, you do as you’re told.Especiallywhen a black figure moves against the backdrop of dusky trees and shrubs.

Themixed stench of wet dog and musky horse announces its presence.Twotiny little dark lights glitter in the bushes, moving closer.

Ablack deer with a hell of a rack comes into view.

“Shit,”Dadwhispers. “Theone timeIdon’t have my damn gun out here…”

Thedeer stands completely still and watches us, as if it understands the threat.Itdoesn’t even twitch an ear when something rustles in the bushes.

Butnothing else follows—just the ever-present curtain of trees and bushes and cactus that obscures the shadows.

Mystomach flips, bile nipping at the bottom of my throat.

Thedeer finally takes one step forward, as if testing to see if anyone will move.Whenno one does, it ambles off to the other side of the yard, pausing to bend its neck and sniff the grass.Gradually, it disappears into the trees.

Aviolent shiver rushes through me despite being at least ninety degrees out here.

“Gah, that was a gorgeous ten-pointer!”Dadexclaims breathlessly.

Brandyshakes her head, sinking further into her seat as she grips her glass of iced water tightly. “Somethin’ wasn’t right about that thing.”

Robbiestares into the trees after the deer.Hisbearded face slowly sinks into a grimace, contorting in confusion.Heshakes out of it a moment later, and when he notices me watching, he crosses his eyes and sticks out his pierced tongue.

Cicadasand crickets start singing again the second my chortle cuts through the silence.

“Ibetter git toKrisandDrea,”Shannonsays.Footstepssound behind me, and a boney arm wraps around my shoulders. “Comeby and see the new place tomorrow.Ourgirl’s been begging to seeAbby.”

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