Maybe This Time(59)

My mouth dropped open and I snapped it shut. Then I managed to speak again. “Wh-what?” I stuttered out. “Why would you say that? I thought we talked about this. I’ve been distracted with my portfolio and my future, but that doesn’t mean I think people who want to stay here are losers.”

“Then why don’t you give anyone around here a chance?” She shot a pointed look at Andrew, as if the only reason I was hanging out with him at all was because he wasn’t a local. “It’s like you think the fewer connections you have here, the easier it will be to leave it all behind.”

“What?” I didn’t know what else to say. I shook my head, searching for the right words. “I—of course I wouldn’t leave it behind. My mom and my brother are here. You’re here.”

“Your dad didn’t seem to have a problem leaving everything. He left without looking back.”

“My dad?”

“Yes, that man who never visits. Not once since he left.”

I felt shock bubbling up in me. “And you have an issue with this?” I demanded, staring Micah down. “You, with your perfect family life, are not allowed to have issues because of my dad. Those aren’t yours to claim.”

“Well, I’ve claimed them because I sense that you are exactly like him,” Micah said defiantly. And just like that, she turned on her heel and was gone.

I moved to follow her, hurt and anger competing to take hold of my emotions, when Andrew grabbed my arm.

“Just give it a minute,” he said. “That’s the kind of speech that needs a little thinking space.”

I yanked my arm out of his grip. “You know my best friend better than me now?”

“I meant space for you.”

Tears stung my eyes. I put my palm to my forehead. He was right. I didn’t want him to be but he was. I needed to think before I reacted. What had just happened?

“My dad can have dreams,” I said. “He shouldn’t have to give up everything.”

He didn’t say a word.

“And I don’t hate Rockside,” I went on. “I mean, there are things I hate about this place, but there are things everyone hates about the town they live in, right?”

“Yes,” he said.

“And I definitely don’t hate Micah. She’s everything.” I walked three steps one way and then back three steps. “Sure, sometimes I’m judgmental. And maybe occasionally I’ve been condescending and …” I gasped. “Oh no.” I looked at Andrew. “I’ve been you.”

“Thanks,” he said.

“Oh, you know what I mean.”

He gave a half smile. “Yes, I do.”

“But what she said—”

A loud crashing sound to my left rang out, followed by Jett Hart yelling a string of curses. My head whipped over. The first thing I saw was the deep fryer on the ground, steam rising from the hot oil that was now all over the dirt. The second thing I saw was my brother, standing there with his head down and his hands to his chest. I turned and ran to him.





By the time I reached my brother, Jett was on another round of yelling.

“You are an irresponsible, hyperactive child who needs to be watched at all times! Where is your mother?”

I reached Gunnar’s side and knelt down, looking him over. “Are you hurt?” I asked. “Did you get burned?”

He shook his head no, his eyes watering.

“Of course he didn’t get hurt,” Jett growled. “But he destroyed the entire booth!”

I looked around for Mr. Williams, but he was busy asking Lance to bring over a trash can.

I stood and faced Jett. “He’s just a child and it was an accident.”

“Ah. Your brother.” He raised one eyebrow. “How could I have forgotten? You will pay for this damage, Ms. Evans! It’s about time you had to face some consequences. People seem to handle you with kid gloves around here.”

“Dad.” Andrew’s voice cut in low but hard. I hadn’t even seen him come up beside me. “Stop.”

“Son, this is none of your business. Help Mr. Williams clean up and take that delinquent to his mother.”

I balled my hands into fists and was about to say something, but then Andrew spoke again.

“It is my business,” he said, “because these are my friends, and how you’re acting is not okay. You have a temper problem.”

Jett’s expression hardened. “Walk away, boy, before you say something you regret.”

“Pretty sure I’ve lived my whole life regretting the things I didn’t say.”

“Andrew,” I said. I didn’t want me or my brother to be the reason that he and his dad had a falling out.

Andrew held up his hand but continued to stare his dad in the eyes. “He’s just a kid. A young kid who has no way to defend himself against you. You can’t expect him to be a mini adult who has all the answers and does everything exactly the way you would do it.”

I was beginning to wonder if Andrew was still talking about Gunnar.

“I can certainly expect a kid not to run through a cooking site and trip over all the cords,” Jett snapped.

“If he tripped over the cords, that’s on you,” Andrew said.