I am doing that, aren’t I?
“You’re right,” I whisper, blinking slowly. “I give them too much power.”
Tally smiles. “And you shouldn’t do that. Let’s backtrack a little. If the Jones boys didn’t exist, if you just came here, got to know your friends,me, would you stay?”
I take a moment to think about it. If I got here, looked for a job, and got to know Tally and Tim and the van gave out, would I have put so much effort and thought into getting back on the road?
Probably not.
I was so done living on the road and being alone that when I got here I was aching for a change. I like Lubec. It’s beautiful, and it feels homey. I always wanted to live in a town rather than a city. Tim, Tally, and Mac are the first friends I’ve ever had, and they mean a lot to me. I would have put my efforts into finding an apartment rather than fixing the van.
I would have tried to make it possible without them seeing my weirdness.
I would have stayed, as long as they had let me.
But the Jones boys do exist.
And it’stheirtown.
“It’s not that easy—” I start, only for her to cut me off.
“It fuckingisthat easy. Yes, they will bug you. I guarantee you that. They will show up, apologize, and try everything they can to get you back because you, girl, are special, and they know what they lost. Maybe you’ll forgive them and find your happy ever after with three hot-as-fuck brothers. A terrible option, I might add.” Her tone is sarcastic, and I shoot her a glare. “Option two, you will not forgive them. They will stop bugging you after a few weeks, maybe months, and soon, it will be like they never existed. You can live a happy little life with us.”
“You make it sound like a no-brainer.” I sigh, and the knot in my stomach lessens slightly.
“Becauseit is. You’re welcome here. You’re wanted. Why would you go anywhere else if you love it here? They don’t decidewho you are and where you’re going.Youdecide your future, nobody else. And let them grovel, as they should.”
“I’m not going to let them suffer for the fun of it,” I huff out, thinking about North and Nash’s stricken faces yesterday as they apologized. At first, I enjoyed that they looked sad, but I don’t want them to hurt.
At least not for long.
I’m a decent human most of the time.
“Why the hell not? They deserve it. Girl, you’re so damn in love with them, you would rather leave everything behind than face those feelings.” There’s a knowing flicker in her eyes.
“They would make me choose, Tally. I can’t. I won’t choose one of them. So even if I am in love, nothing will ever come from this, even if I could forgive them, which I can’t. Fuck, it’s just all so damn messed up.” I let my head fall into my hands while I release a long breath.
Tally reaches out to pat my hand. “Sorry, let’s put a pin in this conversation. The important part is, you’re going to stay, right?”
I deflate. “And then what? The winters here are brutal. Even if I’m able to fix the van before it snows again, it’s not made to be lived in at such low temperatures.”
“We’re going to find you a nice little room or apartment.” Tally shrugs, prompting me to scrunch up my nose. “For the fact that you’re living in a rusty van, you’re a pampered princess.” She laughs. “We’ll find you a room first, then you can work, and after a while, you can buy a damn house.”
I chuckle. “Not complaining, but it will be many years before I can afford a house with only my waitressing pay.” Tally gave me my paycheck yesterday, and while it’s fair pay for what I’m doing, it’s not enough for anything. “Fuck, working for Satan would help a lot with this.”
Tally cringes. “Yeah, well, William is back, so that wouldn’t be an option anyway.”That at least explains why nobody camebegging me to fix some more boats. Tally scrunches up her nose in thought. “Open a shop. People from a two-hour radius would come to you to fix their cars. I bet that would be lucrative.”
“Open a shop with what money?” I ask, but my mood is getting lighter by the second.
Talking about money problems is better than talking about Jones’ problems.
“You can start it in the restaurant parking lot. You have your own tools, right? Maybe not the big jobs, but small ones? Changing the tires out for winter will be good money in a month or so.” I can practically see the wheels turning in her head, searching for solutions and options, and I love her for it. “You could do some paid readings too.” I’m about to open my mouth, but she holds up a hand. “I know, I know, okay? You don’t want to take money for your gift. I get it, but tough times require tough measures.”
I would never take money for what was gifted to me. I understand where she’s coming from, though.
But she doesn’t know the whole story.
“Tally, I don’t do readings anymore. Not for money, and not for free.”
