Three minutes later, Austin disconnected the call with Decker’s mechanic. Their only tow truck was out on a call and wouldn’t be available for two hours. Rolling his neck, he dialed the number for Knight’s.
“Knight’s Repair Shop,” A deep voice answered on the fourth ring.
Scott.
Austin had only ever heard Debbie’s linebacker of a brother say a dozen words, but he was sure it was him on the other end of the line.
He cleared his throat. “Yes, I need a tow truck. I’m about fifteen miles south of Providence, Northbound, on highway 395.”
Scott rattled off several questions, wanting to know the make and model of his vehicle and the reason for needing a tow.
Austin paced beside his truck as he supplied the information Scott needed. When Debbie’s brother asked for his name, he froze.
It’s a small town. You’re bound to run into Debbie’s family eventually.
“This is Austin Reed.”
You know, the man who used your sister and broke her heart?
Silence filled the line for a long moment, and Austin feared Scott might refuse to help him.
“Give me fifteen minutes,” Scott said, then the line went dead.
Half an hour later, after listening to Scott do lots of muttering about the condition of his tires and watching him shake his head while he inspected the broken bolt, Austin found himself riding in the tow truck with the mechanic.
The radio played a country station on a low enough volume that it should have been easy to converse, but Austin couldn’t think of a single thing to say, especially around the tightness in his chest and abdomen.
And Scott was hardly a great conversationalist.
Finally, as they exited the freeway, Austin couldn’t stand the silence anymore. “If you’ve got something you want to say to me, let’s hear it.”
“What do you want me to say?” Scott’s voice was deeper than it had been while he’d been muttering about the tires, as though he repressed some emotion.
Probably anger.At me.
Austin shrugged. “I figured you’d have something to say about what happened between me and your sister.”
Scott’s grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles turned white. “I don’t know exactly what happened between you and Debbie, but I figure if you can’t love her for who she is, she’s better off without you.”
“I do love who she is. I love how generous and giving she is. I love how patient she is with my kids.” The words were out before Austin could stop them. He’d never said the “L” word aloud in conjunction with Debbie. He tried to backpedal. “But I can’t…”
Scott shot him a quick glance before returning his gaze to the road. “Can’t what? Man up and admit that you need her?”
“I don’t need her money,” Austin said with force.
“I never said anything about her money.” The other man looked at him again, longer this time, before making the turn onto the road that would lead them into Providence. “That’s your problem right there.”
“What do you mean?”
“You can’t separate your feelings for Debbie from her money. And you seem to think accepting her and her money as a package deal manifests some sort of weakness in you. You say you love how generous and giving she is. Her money helps her to be that way. And she’s able to be patient because she doesn’t have to worry about how she’s going to provide food, shelter, clothing, and a college education for your kids like you are.”
Austin stared at Scott. He’d never heard the man speak so many words at once. The linebacker had a wisdom that belied his quiet nature.
“Why are you making a relationship with Debbie one-sided? Did you ever stop to think about what you have to offer her?”
Austin snorted. “Like what?”
Scott shrugged. “Don’t you think she ever gets lonely or scared living all alone in that big house out on the remote highway? Maybe she’d appreciate having a competent man around so she wouldn’t have to call her dad or brothers every time she wants a piece of furniture moved or has a leaky faucet or a clogged drain.”
