“Don’t thank me, son. Who do you think called my boys? I saw you pull in a little bit ago. My staff has been told to let me know whenever you show up on any of our properties. You’re just lucky you were at the wall and not in the MMA gym. Would have been bloodier, I gather. We couldn’t let you just stay in town without acknowledging what kind of state you decided to leave my daughter in.”
He claps his hands together and continues. “But, now, since that’s all out of the way, grab that nephew of yours and come to the ranch for some burgers. We have some things to discuss.” And with that, he walks out of the locker room, like the damn Godfather of Strutt’s Peak.
The only one missing was Law, and if I know him, he won’t be missing the next show.
__________________
“Mr. Riggs, this might be the best burger I’ve ever had, and that’s saying somethin’ ’cause I’ve had a lot of burgers in my life,” Benny confesses with a mouthful of what might be his third or fourth burger. To be fair, they are really good.
“Benny, you need to stop calling me Mr. Riggs. It’s just Asher to you.” He turns around from the grill and sits back on the bench to take another bite of his meal. “You just have to use good meat. You can taste if the cows have been mistreated,” he says.
Law just laughs, interrupting. “Oh please, old man.”
“It’s true. Good quality beef and a good amount of salt, pepper, and a little crushed red pepper for good measure will make the best burger of your life.”
“Jack, you want another?” Michael gets up and holds up his empty lager.
“Yeah, that’d be great.”
A few hours later, we’re sitting around the firepit enjoying the brisk evening. Law brought out the bourbon, and Ash cut some cigars for each of us. Michael and Benny made their way inside to talk about the summer program after graduation, leaving me out here with Henry, Law, and Ash.
“We heard about what’s going on with Kathryn. I hope she’s doing better,” Asher says in a concerned voice.
“She’s doing her best right now. She’s in a program down in Wyoming for the next couple of months. There’s a lot of work ahead of her, but my sister is a fighter.” I swirl the bourbon in my glass and meet their looks with a tight-lipped smile.
“You are too, from what I’ve gathered.” Asher looks at me, and I glance around the firepit. It’s clear that Law and Henry aren’t privy to the same information that Asher somehow is aware of, and I’m thankful for that.
I nod at him and take another sip.
Henry sits quietly, as usual, with his irritable presence hovering like a solemn bodyguard, making you aware it’s there, just in case it’s needed. Law relaxes in his chair, staring up at the sky, tapping his fingers on the edge of his glass as he puffs on the cigar.
Asher pulls my attention back with a clearing of his throat. And I imagine this is when he tells me to get out of dodge and stay away from his daughter. This is why his next few words throw me off a little.
“I like you, Jack.” He puffs his cigar.
I chime into the silence, “But?”
“But nothing. I like you. I like the kind of man I think you are. And more importantly, I like the way my daughter is when she’s around you.”
“How’s that?”
“Happy. And not in a way that she is when she’s with us or at work, but that kind of happy when you’ve found your partner, your other half. She’s a romantic deep down. She’s been waiting for someone like you. I’d hate for her to be disappointed.”
I’m not sure what to say to that, but I feel it too. I know it. She makes me feel that way too. I've just been too distracted to appreciate the importance of it.
“Jack, loving someone isn’t the hard part.” Asher takes a sip of his drink, and I know he’s about to unleash some wisdom on me that’s going to stick. What I wouldn’t give to have a father like this in my corner. “It’s not the love that’s hard. It’s staying.” He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and takes a puff of his cigar. “Life gets hard, messy, but you stay because it’s better when you’re doing it with someone who can set your soul on fire, cool you off when you need it, and make you laugh at the end of it all.”
“I hear you, sir.”
“Then make it right. She’s outpacing you, and if you don’t get your head out of your ass, she’s going to move on with someone who can.”
While I never expected this night to turn out like this, I’m happy that it did. After another hour and bringing the conversation back to business and the great response they've seen with the new brand roll-out, Benny and I shake hands with each of them and head out.
Law gives my hand a tighter shake and says, “I’d love nothing more than to be friends with you, man, but you continue to hurt my sister…” He drifts off, and then says, “Just make it right.”
I give him a curt nod. “Thanks for not hitting me, by the way. I would have taken it, but I appreciate it.”
“Oh, Jack, don’t misunderstand my lack of aggression. I want you to work it out with Ev, but she’s our moon, man. You’re going to have a long night ahead of you. Sorry, not sorry in advance.” And with that, he claps his hand on my shoulder, and my stomach rumbles.
Three hours later, I realize exactly what he was sorry, not sorry about. The fucker must have put something in my drink. I barely made it to the bathroom and haven’t left it since I got home. Good play. I can’t even be mad at them. I fucked their sister, fell in love with her, and then fucked it up. I’ll take the punishment and move forward with my plans to make it right. In the morning.