The Summer I Fell (The Six Series) Page 18

  “You coming?” he asked when he opened his door.

  I shook my head to clear it and shut the truck off. Seeing Seth’s mom’s face transform at the sight of her son made me realized how lucky he was. He had a mom that loved him so much that the sight of him made her face go from worn and tired to happy and proud.

  I got out of the truck and climbed the porch steps, introducing myself to her.

  For as dirty as Seth was, his mom still put her arm around his shoulder and held him close.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Riley. I’m Cindy. Seth talks about you all the time.”

  I watched as a tinge of red touched his cheeks. “It’s nice to meet you, Cindy. If you have a few minutes, I’d like to talk to you.”

  “Sure. Seth, why don’t you head on in and get cleaned up while Riley and I talk?”

  Seth shoved his hand in his pocket as he stepped forward and pulled out the money Old Man Willis had given him. He gestured for me to take it. “That way she knows where it came from,” he explained before he headed inside to get cleaned up.

  Cindy gave me an odd look, but she waited for me to explain to her why Seth had money.

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I took him out to Old Man Willis’ today to help me.”

  Understanding dawned on her face. “Well, that sure explains why he’s covered in dirt from head to toe.”

  “He’s a hard worker, your son. Old Man Willis offered him a job on the farm. It wouldn’t be all the time, but it would give Seth a chance at earning some money. If it’s okay with you, that is.”

  Cindy worried her lip between her teeth. “He’s had a rough time of it lately. Schools been… tough, and he’s been trying to find his place, I guess is the best way to put it. But you, Riley, you’ve made such a difference in him in these last couple of weeks. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”

  Seth was probably one of the easiest kids to be around. Knowing he’d had trouble with school made me feel an even deeper connection with him. It was like watching myself when I was younger, before the Six. Before I knew what friendship and loyalty meant. I could only hope Seth found the same kind of friends I had.

  “Seth’s a great kid. I’m glad to have him around,” I held my hand out and placed the folded bills in her hand. “He made some money today. I guess he wanted me to give it to you.”

  Her hand closed around the bills, and a look of happiness lit up her face. “Well, I guess that means he’ll need a bank account.”

  “Looks that way. I’ll give Seth Old Man Willis’ number. That way you can speak to him if you’d like,” I said, turning to leave.

  “Would you like to stay for dinner?” Cindy called out to me as I stepped off the porch.

  I appreciated the offer, but I promised Paige I’d call her as soon as I was on my way home. From the sound of her voice earlier, I didn’t want to make her wait any longer. “Thank you, but I promised a friend I’d meet up with them. Tell Seth I’ll see him tomorrow.”

  I waved as I fired up my truck and headed home.

  My thoughts lingered back to what Seth’s mom had said about school being tough for him, and an idea hit me. Josh’s little brother was about the same age as Seth. I picked up the phone and called Paige, leaving her a message that I was on my way home, but I had to pop into Josh’s for a minute.

  I was in luck. Josh’s brother was outside when I pulled into my driveway.

  “Hey, Aaron!”

  He picked up his hand and waved as he walked across the yard. “Hey, Riles.”

  He favored his brother and if he continued growing like he had, he’d be the same size as Josh, if not taller. “Hey, what do you have planned for tomorrow?”

  He kicked at the ground and sighed. “Nothing. This summer blows already.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at him. He gave me a dirty look and grumbled, “It’s not funny. Everyone is doing something, and I get to sit at home.”

  Perfect. “How about helping me out at Dr. Anderson’s office and maybe even out at Old Man Willis’ place when he needs a hand?”

  He scrunched his eyes up at me. “I’m not stickin’ my hand up no cows butt.”

  I swatted him. “You sound just like Josh.”

  His hands went to his hips, and his head tipped back on a laugh.

  “So how ’bout it?”

  “Sure. I got nuthin’ better to do.”

  “Awesome. I’ll be ready to go at seven tomorrow morning. You think you can get your lazy self outta bed that early?”

  He rolled his eyes. “I’m up at that time all school year. I think I can handle it.”

  His hand came up to shade his eyes, and he pointed at Paige’s car as it rolled to a stop in my driveway. “You got company. See ya tomorrow.”

  He took off across his yard before I could reply.

  I waited for Paige to get out of her car. When she just sat there, I walked over and opened her door. Her head was resting on the steering wheel, and silent sobs shook her shoulders. “Holy shit, Paige. What’s wrong?”

  She pushed away from the steering wheel and swiped at her tears. Her anger was evident with each jerky movement. “Everything, Riley. Every. Fuckin’. Thing.”

  I stepped back, so she could get out of the car. I’d seen Paige upset before. I’d seen her fighting mad, but I’d never seen her like that. Her entire body trembled. Each movement she made seemed measured, as if it were the only thing keeping her from exploding.

  “Let’s go inside and you can tell me what’s got you so upset.”

  She walked beside me in silence, and I feared when she finally let go, it would be impressive.

  Inside the kitchen, she pulled out a chair and sat with her hands clasped on the table. Her knuckles turned white from the pressure she put on them.

  “Spill it. What’s got you so angry?” I said, sitting down to face her.

  “Angry? Oh, I’m so much more than angry right now.”

  “I can see that. What happened?”

  “They’re not hiring me. I worked,” her words caught on a sob, “so hard. So many hours, just wasted. And they hired some girl who’s been on the floor for a week. A fuckin’ week!”

  I had no idea what to say, but I was right there with Paige. The hospital hiring someone brand new over her was complete bullshit.

  I shot up from my chair and took off towards the stairs.

  “Where the hell are you going?” Paige shouted after me.

  My hand wrapped around the wooden baseball bat I kept behind my door. I slapped it against my palm as I came down the stairs and stopped a few feet from her. “Let’s go break her legs or fuck up her car. I don’t care which one. You pick, and I’ll swing.”

  She was out the door before me and jumped in my truck. I peeled out of my driveway and took off down the road.

  We passed by the hospital, and she laughed. “Ice cream, huh?”

  “Duh, neither of us is going to jail tonight. We can break her legs tomorrow or something.”

  Paige laughed at me and rested her head against the seat. “I’d be so lost without you, Riley. Thanks for at least pretending that we’d give her the beat down of her life.”

  I turned into the parking lot of the local ice cream stand, Twisters, and shut my truck off. “Maybe you weren’t meant to stay there. Maybe this is just a sign that this isn’t the right path for you.”

  She turned on the bench seat and dropped her hands in her lap. “Being a nurse is all that I know, Riley. I’m not letting this stop me. I just have to figure out what’s next.”

  We got out of the truck and placed our orders at the window. As we waited, I thought about how to bring up Mark.

  The kid behind the counter handed us our dishes loaded with every topping available, and we sat down at one of the tables.

  Paige dove in, and I patted myself on the back for being such a good friend. The thought of the girl who stole Paige’s dream out from under her still made me want to take my baseball bat to her, but the re
ality of it was I just wasn’t that type of person, and Paige knew it.

  I licked my spoon clean and groaned as I clutched at my stomach. “I can’t eat another bite.”

  Paige scraped the bottom of her plastic dish as if it would reveal more. “Dang, Paige. Where do you put it all?”

  She jabbed at the dish with a frown. “I’m angry, and food helps.”

  “It’s a good thing you don’t get angry very often. I’d have to tote you around in a wheelbarrow from all the ice cream you’d consume.”

  She dropped the bowl and spoon on the table. “What the hell am I supposed to do, Riley?”

  I grabbed both our bowls, got up from the table, and dumped them in the garbage. “Well, for starters, you need to decide if staying here in Opp is what you want.”

  She pushed herself from the table, and we walked back to my truck. “I feel like this place is sucking out my soul.”

  It was the answer I’d been waiting for. “So get out of here. Maybe you should take Mark up on his offer.” I said it in an easygoing tone. One she couldn’t get mad at me for.

  She didn’t answer me until we’d pulled out of the parking lot of Twisters. “You don’t think that makes me look weak? Like I can’t do it on my own, and I need him?”

  Her questions were valid. I could understand what she meant, because Paige always counted on herself for things. No one ever had to hold her hand or help her. She preferred it that way.

  “Weak? No, not in the least bit. If anything, it makes you smart. Use the opportunity to do something better for you. Having Mark around would just be a bonus.”

  She turned her head and looked out the window. “That’s what scares me the most. I’ve never felt so drawn to a person before.”

  I rolled my window down, letting the warm air rush through the cab of the truck. “Sometimes the things that scare us most are the things that make us stronger.”

  That brought a jittery laugh from her. “Yeah, we’ll see.”

  At least she wasn’t ready to fly apart anymore. And if she weren’t working day in and day out at the hospital, she’d be free to go with me to Jared’s concert. “I guess that means you’ll be free next week?”

  She huffed at me. “I guess so.”

  I turned the radio on, turning the volume low enough to talk. “Good, because you and I are going to a concert next week in Montgomery.”

  “What concert?” she asked, rolling her head along the back of the seat to look at me.

  I shot her a grin. “Jared’s band is playing at the Montgomery Music Fest, and we’re going.” I wouldn’t take no for an answer.

  “Great. I’ll break out the hooker heels and goth makeup.” Her tone was snarky, but I knew deep down, she wanted to go see Jared play just as much as I did.

  WHEN WE GOT BACK TO my house, Paige walked over to her car. “I’m gonna head home and get some sleep.”

  I kept my thoughts to myself. The chances of Paige going home and sleeping were about the same chances of me sprouting wings to fly. I could almost guarantee she’d be getting in touch with Mark. Paige was a driven person. She wanted decisions made and then carried out. Cut and dry. Over and done. If anything could be said about Paige, it was that she wasn’t a wishy-washy person.

  I let myself into the house, locked the door behind me, and trudged up the stairs. I’d eaten way too much ice cream, and my stomach protested against me for it.

  My thoughts flipped back over the conversation I’d had with Paige, and it hit me. If Paige decided to move to New York with Mark, I’d be the only one that stayed in Opp. Did that mean I was the small-town girl trapped in the small-town life? After boot camp, would Ace still feel the same about me? About us? Surely, his experiences away from home would change how he looked at things. And what if he missed out on a chance to see the world, like Aiden? Was I that selfish to hold him back?

  Sitting down on the edge of my bed, I toed my boots off. I hadn’t even taken a shower. My clothes were filthy and stained with sweat. I grabbed the bottom of my shirt, tugged it over my head, and tossed it in my hamper. Shucking my jeans, I grabbed a change of clothes and headed for the shower.

  I WAS SO EXCITED TO get out of the rut I’d found myself in. When Dr. Anderson made it back, I gladly handed over his phone and keys. It didn’t take long before his phone rang off the hook, and it was back to business as usual for him. Most days, I tagged along, and other days, I stopped out at Old Man Willis’ house to check in on how things were going.

  More often than not, Aaron and Seth could be found working on something together. Old Man Willis’ farm hadn’t looked that good in years. It was nice to see a younger generation picking up the reins and carrying on where Ace and I left off.

  I missed Ace. I missed the way life was before adulthood had swept us all in different directions.

  Each day rolled into the next until Jared’s concert.

  My bags had been packed for three days, and I booked a hotel room close to where the music fest would take place. We’d be able to walk to the concert and not have to fight with traffic. In only a handful of hours, I’d get to see Jared.

  “We’re taking my car.” Paige’s voice snapped me out of my wayward thoughts.

  “Of course we’re taking your car. My truck probably wouldn’t make it,” I said, lifting up my duffel bag when Paige popped her trunk open.

  “HOLY SHIT CAN YOU BELIEVE the people here?” Paige’s mouth hung open, as she took in the crowd of people around us.

  I grabbed her by the hand and pulled her along behind me, as I searched for the best spot to watch the concert. I hadn’t heard anything from Jared since we’d talked the last time, and he’d told me that he’d be there. It wasn’t for lack of trying. I’d called him the last three days, but he never picked up.

  Paige tugged against the tight hold I had on her. “Where are you going? You’ve led us in so many circles that even the drunk people think we’re crazy!”

  I came to an abrupt stop, and Paige bounced off me. “I’m looking for a spot that Jared will be able to see us when he comes on stage!”

  “Seriously, Riles,” she groaned as she leaned in closer to me, so that I could hear her without her having to shout. “Just pick a spot! It’s a sea of damn people. There’s no way he’d pick us out of this crowd.”

  I sighed. She was right.

  “Oh, look! Over there seems to have enough room, and they don’t look completely wasted yet. Perfect.” Paige latched onto my wrist and pulled me through a gap in the crowd until we reached a spot where we could stand side by side without the fear of being crushed.

  In moving us, she’d put us left of center stage. The band playing was one I hadn’t heard before, but the crowd seemed to love them. Even Paige nodded her head along to the beat.

  The band closed their set with a newly released song that made the crowd go insane, shifting closer to the stage, carrying Paige and me closer as they moved in behind us. This massive guy slopped his drink down Paige’s back because of the surge of people shifting around us.

  “Hey!” Paige’s arm flew back as she gut-checked the guy behind her.

  “Oh shit, I’m so sorry!” He actually looked embarrassed.

  Paige bared her teeth at him, and he chuckled. “I’ll make it up to you, I swear! Next band—my shoulders. Sound good?”

  Paige laughed in his face. “Are you for real? Why would I want my crotch up close and personal with the back of your neck?” He blushed all the way to the tips of his crew cut. The red was so deep on his pale skin that it looked like a sunburn. He rubbed his hand against the back of his neck and looked down at the ground.

  I jabbed Paige with my elbow.

  “What?” she snapped at me.

  “Jeez, he was just trying to be nice. At least it was just soda and you’re not covered in beer,” I said as I flicked a gaze over at him. “Think about it. If he lifted you up, you could get Jared’s attention.”

  She looked at me in total disbelief. “My entire back
is soaked! You want Jared’s attention, then you get up on his shoulders.”

  She turned her back on me, facing forward, ignoring both me and the blushing man behind her.

  “I’m really sorry,” he said, flicking his eyes at Paige’s ramrod-straight back.

  “No harm done. She’s just not good with crowds. They make her testy,” I said, giving him a reassuring smile.

  He tilted his head and squinted. “If she doesn’t like this type of crowd, why did she come? I mean, wow… that sounded harsh. What I meant is…”

  I held my hand up and waved off the explanation. “A good friend of ours is playing next. She came with me, so that I wouldn’t be alone.”

  “No shit, you know one of the guys from Destroying Doubt?”

  I couldn’t hold back the huge grin spreading across my face. “Yeah, I went to school with Jared. He’s one of my best friends.”

  He leaned down and shouted to be heard over the screaming when Jared’s band was introduced. “Does he know you’re here?”

  “Yeah, but there’s no way he’d be able to find us in this,” I said, gesturing to the press of bodies around us.

  “He will if you stand on my shoulders! It’ll put you higher up than anyone here.” He was a tall man and standing on his shoulders would be a long fall. I wasn’t coordinated enough to do that.

  “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass.”

  He flexed his arm, patting it with a smirk on his face. “Do you honestly think these would drop you?”

  I swallowed the constricted feeling in my throat.

  “Trust me…” He leaned in, waiting for me to tell him my name.

  I leaned back, and he laughed. “I’m Oliver, and you’re a smart girl. I didn’t mean to scare you. The offer’s there if you want. Just let me know.”

  Before he could turn away from me, I held my hand out. “Riley.”

  He enveloped my hand in his. “Nice to meet you, Riley.”

  The crowd around us exploded, and Paige turned to look back at me. When she saw my hand in Oliver’s, she shot me a dirty look and pointed at the stage.