Of all the asses in Fairy Bush, this fucker had the audacity to touchmine?!
Final straw. Final fucking straw.
Before I even realize what’s happening, the pitcher of ice cold lemonade is rising up and tipping over Mr. Drummond’s greasy head.
He shrieks loudly as the freshly-squeezed citrus starts to burn his eyes. “What the f—?!”
I let out a cackle when he starts flailing his arms, rubbing at his eyes, and yelling unintelligibly.
“Get—get—get out!” he screams between his obnoxious hyperventilating breaths. “You’re fired! F-f-fired! You hear me?”
“Loud and clear, perv-wad!”
I roughly shove the empty pitcher into his chest, grab my leather jacket from a nearby cubby and stride straight for the front door of the restaurant. All eyes in the crowded dining room are on me, trying to figure out the commotion. So I make sure to swing my hips with extra exaggeration for greater effect. Lincoln is staring slack-jawed from his table and that makes my dramatic exitthat muchsweeter.
When I step out onto the pavement and the breeze hits my face, I feel an instant wave of relief. I’m finally able to breathefor the first time in months. I didn’t realize how much that Drummond creep bothered me. Even when we weren’t in the same room, I’d always be tense and anxious about the next sleazy thing he’d say to me or the other girls.
It’s just too bad that standing up to that pig had to cost me my job. Still, it was worth it. Absolutely worth it.
I climb onto my moped, blast my favorite angry-girl music from my phone’s speaker and start to make my way home. But as I cruise through the quiet streets of Fairy Bush at a time of day that I’m not normally out and about, the adrenaline starts to fade.
My triumph is short-lived, and my own Negative Nancy reminds me of all my problems. Old panic seeps in.
A few days ago, I basically lost my shot at accessing my trust fund. Now, I also just eliminated my sole source of income in a fit of rage. I needed that job. My T-shirt business is barely bringing in enough to buy me a burger and a milkshake every month. I can’t survive off of that.
I hear that tiny, holier-than-thou voice inside my head again.Oh, you are so completely and utterly screwed.
9
LINCOLN
“Dammit!” I yell, pounding my steering wheel with both fists when the bells start ringing, the lights start flashing and the red and white striped gates start lowering at the railway crossing up ahead.
I’d been hoping to make it past the tracks before the mid-afternoon freight train rolled into town. But after the day from hell I’ve had, here I am, at a complete standstill in the endless line of cars stuck behind the train. I’d forgotten how life in small town Fairy Bush revolves around the stupid railway tracks.
I should have called it quits on that pointless business meeting much sooner. I need to pick up Cameron from school. Then I need to get home, make dinner, help with homework and get some work finished before bedtime. Now that I don’t have a babysitter anymore, every moment counts.
Realizing that I have no chance of getting to the other side of town before the elementary school pickup time, I shoot a desperate text message into my family group chat.
Me: Can anyone help me out? I’ve got to get Cameron from school in the next fifteen minutes and I’m stuck at the damn train crossing
Within a minute or two, the replies start rolling in.
Easton:Sorry, bro. I’m at an away game tonight, remember? About to kick some Mountaineers ass in a few hours. Wish me luck
Last hockey season, an ankle injury put Easton out of the game for several months. That’s how he ended up hiding out here in Fairy Bush, healing up, moping around and falling in love with Alba.
But now, he’s finally back on the ice as a defenseman for the Sin Valley Saints, and he’s as enthusiastic about the sport as he used to be during his rookie year. I’m glad that my brother is passionate about his life, but in moments like right now, it just shines a spotlight on how very chaotic my own life is.
Another incoming message makes my phone ding.
Oliver: Out of town for work
End of story.
We all know better than to ask our youngest brother what that means. He’s in private security now that he’s left the military, that much I know. But as far as the specifics of what’s going on in his world? Oliver is super secretive about, well,everything.
At this point, I think I’m kind of scared to know what my youngest brother is actually up to in life.
