Hold (Gentry Boys, #5)(54)

Despite the shadow that hung over the day we relaxed for a while, hanging out in old Elmore’s crypt like we’d done on more than a few occasions as kids. We talked about the past, we imagined the future, and we gave each other a hard time, like always. By the time Creed stretched and announced he was due for another meal the light was getting softer as the sun began to relax.

We took our time getting down the butte and Cord suggested that we go get some dinner at the Emblem Diner on Main Street. Our ladies weren’t expecting us home until nightfall anyway so there was plenty of time. Still, I thought Creed would balk at the idea of running into town regulars and accepting a bunch of thoughts and prayers for our mother’s death.

But when he just shrugged and said, “Sounds good,” I couldn’t come up with a single argument to the contrary.

“Guys,” Cord said as we reached the truck. “I was thinking maybe we could ask the young Gentry boys if they want to come stay up in Tempe for a week or two this summer. We’ve got an extra bedroom at the house.”

It wasn’t a bad idea. We could take them to the museums in Phoenix, take them on a tour of the university. Maybe that would be enough motivation to get them to think of school more seriously.

But despite all that I couldn’t make myself answer cheerfully because I knew something I hadn’t told Cord or Creed. Things were about to get rough between the brothers, if what I’d seen as we drove away from their house earlier was any clue. Stone had been acting strangely evasive, then there was a heated exchange with a girl that looked like it was apt to end in the bedroom.

There would have been nothing awful about it, just teenage drama bullshit, except for the fact that I recognized her. I recognized her right away because I’d met her before. She was Erin, the girl next door. She was Conway’s girl.





CHAPTER NINETEEN


CORD



It had seemed like a good idea when I suggested it, but now that we were actually walking into the Emblem Diner I started feeling uneasy. The dark interior was a stark contrast to the blazing world outside but maybe it made the place feel cooler or something. My brothers seemed comfortable just pushing right in, but I hung back, a little wary as my eyes adjusted to the darkness. There wasn’t really a reason to be wary. It was extremely unlikely we’d find Benton hanging out in here since he gravitated toward hard drinking holes rather than family restaurants. Plus, we’d all watched him get carted home by one of Emblem’s finest. Still, I would rather be able to clearly see what I was walking into.

A few of the patrons looked us over but most showed no interest. I relaxed a little as I realized even the familiar faces were only going to nod briefly and then return to their drinks. There was nothing to worry about in here.

Creed and Chase headed for a table in the corner and I automatically followed. It wasn’t more than a few seconds before a waitress in a tube top approached. I wasn’t surprised to recognize her.

“Oh my god, is it really you guys?” she squealed.

Kelly Barnes had been in the class after ours and had lost some of the hopeful prettiness of her youth. I realized she was watching me in particular.

“Hi Kel,” I answered, feeling rather uncomfortable by the memory of just how well I had once known her. “How have you been?”

“Amazing.” She laughed. Her laugh sounded like a dry dog bark. “You know, I’ve only got a few hours before my shift ends. You guys have got to let me take you out for a round of drinks.”

“Ah, thanks Kelly, but I promised my wife I’d be home early.”

“Wife.” She screwed up her pretty face. Poor Kelly, she wore her thoughts out loud. She clicked her pen and stared real hard at her notepad. “What’ll you have?” she asked in a much less enthusiastic voice.

“Burger and a coke,” I told her.

“A Coke?” She was puzzled.

“Please,” I said with a straight face.

“Burgers and cokes all around,” Chase grinned with a wink. “And a bowl of those salted peanuts if you got ‘em.”

“Whatever you say,” Kelly grumbled before retreating.

Creed was watching me tap my fingers on the table. He frowned. “Something wrong?”

“Maybe we should have just pointed our noses toward home.”

“Not too late,” Chase offered. “We can get something to eat in Queen Creek.”

I shook my head. I was just being paranoid.

Creed snapped his fingers. “Cord, someone’s watching you.”

“I think Kelly already got the picture.”

“It’s not Kelly.”

I didn’t want to turn around. This had been a mistake. I turned slowly, half expecting to be eye to eye with another ancient conquest. Instead I found myself looking into the face of my father-in-law.

He was sitting by himself at the restaurant bar with a half empty pint of beer in front of him. He had evidently just come from his guard shift at the prison; he’d rolled up the sleeves of his wrinkled work shirt but still had his nametag on.

John McCann’s face was tired but not unfriendly as he gave me a nod of acknowledgement and waited to see what I would do.

“Invite him over,” Chase suggested but I hesitated. If Saylor’s dad had wanted to keep company with us he would have climbed off the bar stool and made his way over here himself.