“Maybe, when I’ve downed a bottle of something potent and sliced open a vein.”
“That bad?”
“Worse.”
“Okay then, well, my ears are yours when you need them, and FYI, Howling has adopted you, so it’s too late to pull back.”
“They can do that?”
“Can and will. Branna and her dad are in, but that’s because they’re famous, and we’re pretty shallow when it comes to that kind of thing.”
“It’s gonna be hard to see them together. I’m not going to lie about it, McBride. They’re both superstars in my book, and I have a serious case of hero worship going on.”
Jake just rolled his eyes.
“Anyway, I’ll try not to embarrass you by gushing, okay? I’ll play it cool and stuff, now that we’re all citizens of Howling, that is.”
“The head doctor said I need to express my feelings more, let out the angst and let people see the real me,” Jake said.
“Yeah, well, don’t go crying next, or I’m out, no matter who your girlfriend and future father-in-law are.”
“Not my thing, all that emotional sharing stuff, but it has to be said that I need to be a bit more open with Mom and Dad, and definitely Branna, and maybe Buster. But, you know how he is, Ethan, the goddess never shuts up, hard to get a word in at the best of times.”
“Well, fuck, Jake, the man bakes for a living, hardly surprising he’s made of Jell-O, is it?”
“Who we kidding? Buster Griffin makes us look like Oprah. The man never uses two words when one will suffice,” Jake said.
“There you go with those big words again, McBride.”
“I’m going to call Branna.” Jake pulled out his cell phone and punched in the numbers. He listened as it rang, and then he heard her voice on the voicemail.
“Branna, I’m coming home in the morning early…” What the hell else should he say? “I love you.” Ending the call, he shoved it back in his pocket. Jake then got to his feet, ignoring the wide smile on Ethan’s face, and headed for the bathroom. Once there, he washed up and cleaned his teeth, all the while thinking about Branna. He felt on edge suddenly, as if his hair was all standing on end, and he had no idea why.
After the day he’d just had, it was possible this was just the after-effects of baring his soul, but something uneasy was settling in his stomach. Getting out his phone again, he called Branna, and there was still no answer. This time, he asked her to call him when she got the message and made an apology for the way he’d left suddenly.
After saying goodnight to Ethan, he got into his bed and lay there for long hours, staring into the dark. So much had changed since Branna had come to Howling, and there was still so much change to go. He knew that now, understood that he needed to continue seeing the psychiatrist to ensure he was whole again. Branna deserved the best of him, just as his family and friends did, just as he did.
When his eyes began to close, he tried Branna one last time, but still no answer. Sleep pulled him under, and his last thought was for the woman he loved. The woman he would one day marry, if she’d have him, the woman whom, God willing, he would have a family with. The soft smile on his lips was for her as sleep finally claimed him.
Chapter20
Branna pulled the van as close to the house as she could. The lights were still on, which meant her father was up.
“Macy, my father’s here, but he won’t say anything to anyone, I promise. H-he’s a good person, okay?”
“A-are we hidden here? Can any passing cars see us?” Macy slowly pulled herself back up on the seat, every movement seemed to cause her pain.
“No one can see the house or van from the road.” Branna jumped out after those words, ran around to the passenger’s door, and opened it. “I’m going to help you out now. You lean on me as much as you need.”
Macy yelped in pain as she swung her legs toward the ground, and Branna winced as she tried to slide off the seat.
“Branna?” her dad called from the porch.
“Come quick, Dad! I need your help.”
“What’s happened, love?” He was at her side in seconds, his hand warm on her back.
“Sh-she’s hurt. I know Macy from school, and I found her like this.”
