“We may have to settle for a couple of beers,” I said, opening the shop’s fridge.
“Even better,” Rocky replied.
I procured us two bottles, before opening them both, and handing one to Rocky.
“I’ll call Hatch and see if he’s got a set of rods on hand that he can overnight us,” Rocky said.
“You talk to him recently?” I asked.
“Who, Hatch? Sure. We usually catch up every week or two. How ’bout you?”
“No. Not since I left Portland. I probably should,” I said, taking a long pull from my beer.
“And what about Harmon?” Rock asked, carefully.
“What about Harmon?” I snapped. “Fuck Harmon. That’s what. How ’bout that?”
“Okay, okay,” Rocky said, waving a hand of surrender in the air.
“I’m sorry,” I rushed to say. “I shouldn’t have...I was out of line. I would never disrespect you. I—”
“Forget it, kid. I know that,” Rocky said with a sympathetic smile. “What you went through was as rough as it gets.”
I nodded.
“But you’re not the only one, you know?”
“Rocky,” I began to argue. “That motherfucker should have—”
“Should have what? It was an accident, kid. An accident that could have happened to any one of us.”
“It wouldn’t have happened to me,” I replied.
“Maybe, maybe not. But at some point, you’re gonna need to—”
“Don’t you dare fuckin’ say that I have to forgive Harmon, because that shit ain’t ever going to happen,” I snapped.
“I was gonna say you’re gonna need to forgiveher.”
I respected Rocky as much or more than anyone on the planet and his words burned deep into my heart, but I just wasn’t willing to face any of that right now.
It was the reason I’d gotten out of Dodge, so to speak. If I was buried in enough shit that distracted me, I didn’t need to face any of it.
Rocky laid a hand on my shoulder. “I’ve got your back, brother. Never doubt it. You need to talk it out. It doesn’t have to be to me, but it needs to be someone.”
“Didn’t realize you were in therapy,” I spat out.
“Did I say therapy?” he challenged. “You can’t hold this shit in, brother or it’ll eat you alive.”
“I’ll take your opinion under advisement.”
He slapped my shoulder and nodded. “Let’s head inside. Can’t do anything until I get those parts.”
I nodded and followed him into the cabin, my heart and soul heavier than it had been in a long time. I hated that he was right. Itwaseating me alive.
