Me:I didn't like leaving her there with Adam and Chase.
Kenzie:OMG, everyone is staring at me because I literally laughed out loud.These two are like protective mother hens or like weird older brothers with her.
Kenzie:It's not like she's with either of them.
Kenzie:Well, not anymore.And I am pretty sure she and Chase only fucked once or twice.
Me:Kenzie, WTF
Me:You are joking, right?
Me:Kenzie...
Me:You better be joking
Kenzie:What's that?Gotta go, big bro.I am being called to join the orgy
Me:Fuck...Kenzie, I need you to be serious with me
Kenzie:Night, Nate
I barely slept last night and then dragged my ass out of bed at 4:30 to get a run in before we came to my family's farm today.Kenzie's texts, mixed with Chase's words on Canada Day, replayed in my mind.Does it matter if something happened with Chase if it's over?Fuck I can't judge, but something in me burns up at the thought of her with anyone else.And I am having a hard time wrapping my head around why.
I take in another cool centring breath.Dad wouldn't take my calls, and Mom told me to give it time.But I didn't want to, not after hearing Tessa's story last night.It was like she was sharing her pain as a cautionary tale for me personally.Like she could see that I was on the edge of no return with my family, with reality, really.It was like she was bleeding out her pain for only me to hear.I couldn't ignore it.I couldn't wait.I knew I needed to be here today to help make up for what went down yesterday.
The guys wanted to chip in and help, well, all but Colby, who said he had to get back to his life in the city.Reeves had taken a very shaken-up Olivia home and told me to let him know when Tessa was up for visitors.
I am not sure what is on today's schedule, so the guys and I are waiting by the work trucks for Eli or Dad to come out and assign work.
It's like the asshole was making me wait it out.I know they heard the trucks pull up.
Eli's the first out with a scowl on his face.Mom follows behind him, and then Dad,who doesn't even look up at me.He walks straight to the barn.
Mom looks at me with a sad expression, then follows Eli to where we are standing.
"What are you doing here, Nate?"
Eli's bark has bite, and it makes McKenna shift and fidget.
It makes me want to bite back, "Last time I checked, I was a part of this family too.We wanted to help after yesterday."
Eli takes a step towards me, trying to be intimidating, but it just makes me want to punch him in his smug face."Your help is what caused all our problems yesterday."
Mom moves between us, reaching up and placing a palm in the middle of each of our chests."Kenzie is going to stay with Tessa today.Chase and Adam moved things around last night and built her a makeshift bedroom.But she can barely move on her own."
That makes Eli's nostrils flare, and Jensen clears his throat like he is going to say something, but Mom keeps going."So we are short-handed.I think it's great that all these boys want to take time out of their busy schedules to help."
Eli looks away but then nods.No one says no to Mom."Fine, but I don't have Tessa and Kenzie here to babysit, so you guys’ better listen and keep up."
He turns to McKenna, who’s smiling like he’s on a school field trip.“You.You’re on muck duty.That’s the polite term for shovelling shit.”
McKenna blinks.“Like… actual shit?”
Eli deadpans, “Is there another kind?”
Anders laughs so hard he chokes on his coffee.“Welcome to the big leagues, rookie.”
“Jensen, you’re with me,” Eli continues, ignoring the laughter.“We’re checking the south fence line and fixing the bent panels from yesterday.Anders, you’re hauling posts and rolling wire.Nate,” he turns to me, that hard glint still in his eyes, “you’re running the tractor today.You remember how, or are your hands only good for signing autographs now?”
