“Hey,” Mack said, striding toward me. “Got a call from my pop. She’s in Montana.”
“The fuck?” I asked, jerking my head back in surprise.
“Guess she flew up this morning and just got there,” Mack replied. “So, she’s safe, if you were worryin’ about that.”
“She plannin’ on stayin’ there?” I asked, anger making my movements jerky as I tore off my gloves. My arms were black all the way to my elbows, but from the wrist down, they looked clean, almost like a fucked up suntan.
“No idea,” Mack said with a shrug. “But she’s with my parents and she’s fine. Doubt she’ll be there very long, though. They live in a damn RV. You can’t turn around without bumping elbows with someone.”
“Thanks for lettin’ me know,” I replied.
“No problem.” He turned to go and then paused. “Not sure what’s goin’ on with you and my daughter,” he said, meeting my eyes. “But I know her. She was just killin’ time until you got out. Girl don’t wait that long if she’s not invested—you know what I’m sayin’?”
“I hear you,” I mumbled.
“You’ve got shit all over your face,” he said as he walked away. “Probably should clean it up before those scratches get infected and you look even worse.”
“Thanks,” I muttered under my breath.
She’d left the fucking state. She’d actually got on a plane and left the fucking state to get away from me. Mack could say whatever he wanted and I was sure that he thought he knew what he was talking about, but Kara sure as fuck wasn’t invested in shit.
“I’m in need of some rest and relaxation,” Charlie said tiredly as she met me next to my truck with Reb. “You in for pizza, beer, and a movie?”
“And enough snacks to make us sick?” Reb added.
I looked at Charlie’s sad eyes and Reb’s hopeful expression. “Sure,” I replied, even though I really didn’t want to hang out with anyone. “I need a shower first.”
“That’s fine,” Charlie said. “We’ll grab the supplies and meet you back at my apartment.”
“Where’s Kara?” Rebel asked.
“In Montana with her grandparents,” I replied. “You’ll just have to make do with us.”
“She what?” Charlie spat.
“Yup,” I replied shortly.
“I’m ridin’ with you,” Curt announced as he reached us.
“Movie and beer at my place,” Charlie told him, shooting me a look that said we’d talk later. “Be there or be square.” She grimaced. “I’m turning into my mother.”
“That’s okay,” Rebel told her seriously. “Your mom’s cool.”
“You’re my best friend in the entire world, Reb,” Charlie said with a smile, reaching for Reb’s hand. “Swear to God. You know that?”
“Of course,” Reb answered as they walked toward Charlie’s car holding hands. “We’re all best friends. The best friends ever.”
“Did you say that Kara went to Montana?” Curt asked me as we climbed into the truck. “What the fuck is she doin’ there?”
“Escapin’ the smoke,” I said sarcastically. The air was still shitty as hell and everyone had been wearing masks or bandanas over their faces on and off all day.
“She seriously took off?” Curt said, leaning back in his seat. “Jesus, what a time to do it.”
“No shit,” I spat as I started the truck. “Her best friend’s family home just fuckin’ burned to the ground and she took off without tellin’ anyone.”
Curt looked at me, but I ignored him.
My anger grew with each passing minute. How fucked up did you have to be to leave your best friend when she was dealing with something like that?
“And you,” Curt said, looking out the windshield. “She left you without a word, too.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re pissed,” he corrected. “Totally justified, man. Don’t just make it about Charlie—you got a right to be pissed.”
“Just leave it,” I replied. I wasn’t about to get into that discussion with Curt. We were on shaky ground as it was, and I didn’t want to break the fragile truce we’d come to because he said something stupid.
“Fine,” he said.
We rode into town in silence.
“I’m just sayin’,” he started, the minute we pulled into the parking lot.
“Don’t.”
He ignored me. “You’ve been givin’ her space or whatever all year. So, what? You’re just gonna keep doin’ that? I hate to say it, brother, but grow a pair.”
“Say what?” I snapped as I parked and Curtis immediately hopped out of the truck. I followed him out. “Did you just tell me to grow a pair?”
Curtis shrugged, facing me across the hood. “You need to figure that shit out unless you want to be moonin’ over some chick for the rest of your life—” He lifted his hand to stop me when I opened my mouth to tell him to shut the fuck up. “—even if that chick is Kara. It’s gotta end at some point.”
“So, I should be like you,” I said flatly. “Fuckin’ my way through every legal chick in Eugene.”