Francie shrugs and sips from her tea as she sits behind the circulation desk. “Don’t overthink it. If your aunt asked for this dinner, I’m sure she’ll be polite.”
Owen crosses his arms. “Well, I might have pressured her a bit.”
“I see.”
“She kept asking me questions and telling me how much she was concerned, so I told her to at least meet with Will instead of bugging me about him.”
Francie takes another sip. “As I said, I’m sure it will be a lovely dinner.”
Owen grunts and goes to arrange some of the newer books they’ve got in the library. He’s helping out during Francie’s shift because she’s covering most of his shift so he can get home early and help cook before Will arrives. He has no doubt that right now, Will is second-guessing this whole thing. Maybe it was unfair to ask him right after they climaxed, but since they are bothcommitted to making this work, Owen wants his aunt’s blessing.
As it has been for the last few days, the library is light on visitors, but at least those who do come don’t give Owen a hard time. Some are less friendly than usual, but he can handle that.
“I’d better be off,” he says to Francie at five thirty. “Will should arrive at seven.”
“Go on, then. And try to let things happen on their own. You can’t fix every awkward silence or make people suddenly like each other.”
“Yeah, I know.” Though he can picture himself trying too hard because he feels an obligation to make this dinner a success. “See you tomorrow.”
*
The days are longer now that summer is fast approaching, though the breeze in the evenings is still on the colder side. Owen carries flowers he bought for his aunt as a thank-you for agreeing to do this. Ever since they had that intense talk about him dating Will, he has started noticing a change in the way she speaks about him. Maybe she needed the opportunity to do some soul-searching to realize that what she had been told didn’t add up.
He walks on the quiet path leading to Justin Avenue. He likes being surrounded by nature; it helps histhoughts flow like a steady stream. He wonders what his aunt will make for dinner. She’s not a great cook, but she can manage a decent steak if she wants to. He hopes it won’t be too rude of him to leave after dinner with Will and spend the night at his place. He doesn’t delude himself that they can stay at his aunt’s.
Occupied by thoughts, Owen barely notices the sound of the approaching van. Since he’s walking on the side of the road, he’s not worried about getting hit, and there’s also enough light for him to be seen by drivers. The black van passes him by, then it stops with screeching tires.
His initial thought is that something might have happened to the driver. Before he can walk over to check, the back door of the van slides open, and a large man jumps out. It takes Owen a second to recognize Joe’s brother, Carlos. His stomach drops to the floor when he catches the dark look in the man’s eyes. With only moments to react, he drops the flowers and turns to dash away. His legs are long, but he needs a few seconds to pick up speed, which he doesn’t get.
Hands grip his shirt from behind, pulling him back with such force that he trips and crashes to the ground, raising a cloud of dust. He opens his mouth to scream for help, but a kick to his guts cuts him off. He gasps, his insides pulsing in pain. Through the ringing in his ears, he hears Carlos say, “You think you can put me in prison, little bitch?”
“I don’t! Please, let me exp—”
Another kick, this time to his shoulder, turning him onto his back. He watches the crimson sky through burning pain. He should try to scream for help again, but he doesn’t want another kick.
How did they find out?He thinks he knows, but he can’t imagine Nate doing something like that. It’s unfathomable for anyone to hate him so much.
Carlos grabs Owen’s shirt and pulls him up as the van drives backward toward them.
“Get inside,” Carlos hisses and shakes Owen. “Not a fucking word.”
He glimpses the sky one more time before he’s thrown into the back of the van.
Chapter 21
Will
For Owen, he keeps telling himself.I’m doing this for Owen.He repeats these words in his head as he drives toward Justin Avenue. The world seems peaceful with the setting of the sun, but Will is too nervous to appreciate it.
He drives past a bouquet someone left on the side of the road. He wonders if he should stop and pick it up instead of coming empty-handed, but he dismisses the idea since going over there is the biggest gesture he can possibly make. He hopes he’ll be able to eat with how tense he feels.
He parks in front of Sheryl’s house, remembering being there once when Sheryl had a birthday party and Joel invited him to join. They were officially a couple back then, and people were wary around them, but the sheriff was there, so everyone was careful not to act disrespectfully.
Will climbs out of the truck and takes a deep breath.He’s wearing his regular clothes—flannel and jeans. He thought of dressing up, but he’s not here to make an impression. Either Sheryl accepts him as he is, or she can go to hell.
He walks toward the porch when the front door opens. Sheryl did dress up, or at least put on some makeup, which Will can’t remember her doing often. Her hair is tied back in a tight ponytail.
“Isn’t he with you?”
