22. Asher

CHAPTER 22

ASHER

By the timeI get to the Peachy Keen, I’m completely on edge. I walk into the place and instantly see my brothers sitting in the corner. Any time the Wild brothers are together, we sort of stand out.

I hesitate for just a minute before I walk toward them. There’s a part of me that’s happy about what’s happening next month, and there’s another part of me that dreads it. Grief is a hard thing, and before the mayor walked into the house today, I would say that I’m doing well and handling it all. Now I’m not so sure.

I’m about to drop a bombshell on them, and even though I know it’s going to be hard, it will be good for us to do it together.

Beau took the news rather well, and I’m hoping the rest of my brothers do the same. I order a round at the bar and then go to sit down with Fletch, Beau, and Colton.

“Hey, guys.”

They all nod, and Fletch and Colton look at me curiously. It looks like Beau hasn’t told them yet.

The bartender comes over and puts a pitcher on the table. “Look, boys, no fights today. You break it, you buy it.”

I nod. “Sure thing.”

As soon as he walks away, I laugh with my brothers. “We had one bar fight years ago, and they’re never going to let us live it down.”

Colton flexes his hands on the table. “Can we get on with this? Why did you summon us all here?”

Beau snorts out a laugh. “Geez, and I thought this guy was grumpy.” He points at me.

I look at my brother, and I know he’s hurting. He was a stuntman, and after he was injured, I knew it would be hard for him to come back home, so I ignore his attitude.

“Right, well, let’s just get it all on the table. The mayor came to visit me today and said the land deal has been finalized.”

Fletch is the first to respond. “So it’s done. The town owns the park now?”

I hadn’t really thought about it like that, but yeah, I guess they do. “Yeah, it’s done. The mayor did say that they are planning a memorial next month.” I clear my throat and try to rein in my emotions. “It will be the twentieth anniversary of Mom and Dad’s death.”

The men around the table are all silent as they take in the news. Beau is the youngest, and he’s already had time to process all this. I’m not sure about Colton and Fletch. I lean my arms on the table. “So can I count on you guys to be there?”

“I’ll be there.” Beau shrugs.

Fletch nods. “Count me in.”

I look at Colton, and he’s scowling, which is nothing new. I know he’s had a rough time coming back to town. “What about you?”

He grunts. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

“Colton, it’s next month, and I know how you don’t like to stay around in one place. This is something we need to do for Mom and Dad, but we ALL need to do it. They would want us to.”

If anything, his scowl deepens. “I said I’d be there.”

I breathe out a sigh of relief. “Okay, so that leaves Owen and Justice. I’m going to send them a text.”

I type out a text to my two brothers. Justice is the lead singer for Wild One’s and is probably on tour somewhere. Owen has his brewery in Silver Spoon Falls, but I’m thinking he’ll be able to get away for a few days.

“So how’s the new hire working out?” Fletch asks as I pocket my phone.

I roll my eyes. Living in a small town, it seems everyone knows everyone’s business. I should be used to it by now, and normally it wouldn’t bother me, but I’m over it today. “She does a real good job.”

Beau blurts out a laugh, and I glare at him.

“Madelyn really knows farming… we’re lucky to have her.”

Beau opens his mouth, and I shake my head. It’s not that I don’t want to tell my brothers about Madelyn because I do, but I don’t want them asking all the questions when I don’t have any answers. Hell, her clothes are still at the house, but who knows if she’s coming home today? I take a big gulp of the beer in front of me and wonder if she does come, who knows how long she’ll even be here. Fuck, she’ll probably turn in her notice, and I’ll have two weeks to figure out a way to keep her in my life one way or another.

And I can’t stop wondering if she’ll be home when I get there. One thing I’ve regretted all day is how I just let her leave without talking to her. I should have told her how I feel instead of letting her leave thinking that I wanted to end it all and this was just a fling. I didn’t say it like that, but I might as well have by the look of hurt on her face.

My brothers are talking about their lives, and I try to take part, but all I can think about is Madelyn. I fucked up, and I know I did.

Fletch slaps me on the back. “You okay?”

I nod. “Yep. I’m good.” I take a drink of my beer to try to act like everything is normal when in actuality I feel like my life is falling apart.

Fletch doesn’t believe me, though. “What’s up? Trouble at the orchard?”

I shake my head. “Nope. We’re going to have a good season.”

“Does that look on your face have anything to do with Madelyn?”

I glare at Beau, who’s talking to Colton and paying me no mind. “She left today. She’s interviewing with Evers Orchards.”

Fletch nods his head. “So I’m assuming since you’re all tore up about this that you like this girl.”

I snort. That’s putting it pretty lightly. “Yeah, something like that.”

Fletch tilts his head toward me. “Well, if she’s got you like this, then she must be something.”

I nod my head. “Yeah, she is.”

Fletch points at me. “Well, then don’t fuck it up.”

I nod. “Yeah, I got it.” But even saying that, I’m wondering if I already did.

My phone dings in my pocket, and I pull it out to look at it. “Owen and Justice texted back.”

That gets the attention of all my brothers. Beau is the first to respond. “What did they say?”

I read the texts and then look around the table at my brothers. “They’ll be here.”

My brothers smile, and I join them. It will be nice to have all my brothers back together again.