Chapter Twenty-Four

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Dusty

“Your boyfriend hasn’t been back to see our father even once since he moved in with you,” Rhett says instead of hello when he sits at the restaurant table. We’re in a quiet corner, but he still speaks softly so no one hears.

“Can you blame him? And why do you do this? Why do you complain about Morgan to me? Can’t we have a nice lunch?” Rhett doesn’t have it in him not to complain. It’s just not the way he is. Partly it’s his insecurity, partly his way of finding out more about Morgan without asking. This way, it’s easier to pretend he doesn’t care.

“Dad was the whole point in him coming back here. He only cares about himself.”

The waitress comes over, and we rattle off a quick order of burgers and fries.

“That’s not true and you know it. And I’d like to think that what will come out of this is a better relationship between you, Morgan, and East.”

Rhett huffs. “That’ll never happen. Maybe between the two of them, but I’m always the one they blame for everything. They’ve already decided who I am and that they don’t like that person.”

“The way you’ve done to them?”

Rhett flinches. “I don’t want to talk about this. When do you leave?”

I look at him. It’s not like I expected Morgan to tell him, even if it hadn’t only been a few days since the decision was made. They don’t talk unless they have to, but I also hate being the one to do it, though what I have to say is ultimately a good thing. “We’re not. We decided to stay. Morgan called and gave his notice. He has to go back and work for a few weeks to tie things up, but we’ve decided to stay.”

Rhett doesn’t move, just sits there looking at me, his dark eyes staring into mine. I can see the shock there, the confusion too, mixed with uncertainty and maybe a little sadness. The last one I assume is because Morgan didn’t tell Rhett himself, but if the situation were reversed, Rhett wouldn’t have been the one to tell Morgan either.

“How did you get him to do that?” he finally asks.

“It was his idea.”

“Because he knows he’s not worthy of you. He’ll end up blaming you just like he did when I left for college. He—”

“That’s enough!” I cut him off. Rhett’s gaze darts around to make sure no one is looking. “I’m not going to do this anymore. I’m not going to be the go-between for you and Morgan. If you have something to say to him, say it to him. I know it’s partly my fault for trying to bridge that gap, but I can’t do it anymore. I’m telling him the same thing. So if you can’t spend time with me without making it about Morgan…well, then we can’t spend time together.” I’m so tired of this. Not just for me, but for them too. It’s not supposed to be this way. Family isn’t supposed to be this way. “Can you respect that?”

Rhett leans back in the booth. For a moment, I think he’ll get up and leave, but instead he nods. “I’m running for mayor.”

His words make my pulse stumble. “You don’t want to be mayor.” I know he doesn’t. That’s never been one of Rhett’s goals, and even if it had been, I would have known it’s not something he chose for himself. “Jesus, Rhett. He wants you to, doesn’t he? Since he’s retiring, he wants you to run. You can’t live your life around—”

“You can’t have it both ways, Dusty. If Morgan is off-limits between us, then so is my dad.”

He’s got me there. As much as I want to tell him to wake the fuck up and stop letting his father run his life, I don’t. And as much as I want to reach across this table and wring his neck, I don’t do that either. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” is all I say. It’s Rhett’s life. No one can teach him these lessons. He’s either going to learn them on his own or he won’t.

The waitress comes with our food then. We immediately change the subject, the tension around us thick, like it has been every time we’ve seen each other since Morgan came home.

We eat and chat. Rhett insists on paying the bill, and I don’t have it in me to argue.

Outside, we say our goodbyes, Rhett beginning to walk toward his car, when I say, “Hey, Rhett?”

“Yes?” He turns to look at me, everything about him in place like it always is. “I love you, ya know that? And I’ll always be here for you.”

He sighs. “You can’t fix us, Dusty. It’ll just kill you to try, but I love you too, man.”

I watch as he gets into his car and drives away.

My chest feels heavier on my walk back to the shop than it did on my way here.

Morgan is at the shop, kneeling next to East as he explains something to Morgan about the underside of the car they’re looking at. I can’t help but stand back and watch them, enjoying the moment between them, but also, it’s two brothers when it should be three. They’re all equally to blame too. Rhett is upset that East and Morgan are getting closer, but he’s never tried to get close to East himself. All he does is look down on him. But in Rhett’s defense, I think both Morgan and East look at Rhett and see their dad.

“Hey, handsome,” Morgan says when he notices me. “Thought I’d stop in and say hi.”

“I had lunch with Rhett. He called.”

Morgan nods, and if he has strong feelings about it, he doesn’t show them. Just to make sure he knows I’m his, I walk over and claim his mouth in a scorching kiss.

“Well, shit, Dusty. I didn’t know you had it in ya,” East teases, and I flip him off over Morgan’s shoulder.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I tell Morgan.

“I was bored as fuck at home.”

This is going to be a problem. I’d love Morgan at the shop every day if this was where he wanted to be, but I know it’s not. He’ll need to find something that’s his, figure out what the fuck he wants in Birchbark other than me. If he can’t find it, this will be a disaster.

“How’s Rhett?” he asks, teeth only slightly gritted.

I nod toward the hallway, and Morgan follows. “I told him we’re staying.”

“Is this where you tell me that I should have been the one to do it?” He quirks a brow.

“No, baby. This is where I tell you I’m done.” His face goes hard, and it takes me a moment to realize how my words sounded. “Not with you. God, never with you. Fuck, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking about how I worded that.”

“Jesus. You nearly gave me a heart attack.” He rubs a hand over his chest. “What are you done with, then?”

“Being the go-between with you and Rhett. I told him the same at lunch today. What’s between the two of you is between the two of you. I can’t keep running interference. I want what’s best for you all, but—”

“Shh.” Morgan places his fingers against my lips. “Our shit isn’t your problem. You don’t owe us anything, Dust. I’m just lucky you’re my man, and they’re lucky to have you as a friend. We’re not your responsibility. I mean, I can’t pretend we don’t need a referee, but you’ve more than done your part. It’s up to us now.”

Christ, I love this man. His words soothe all the worry inside me. I lick his finger, then suck it into my mouth.

“Don’t distract me. We can do that later. I just… I want to spend more time making you happy…giving you what you need. You give me so much, and I want to give you as much in return.”

“Sweet fucking man. You do.” I pull him in for a kiss, press his body against the wall, rub against him so my scent goes from me to him. “We’ll finish this later,” I say, agreeing with him. “Come and let us show you what we do with cars.”

Morgan grins. “Lead the way.”