“She has to work. She acts like she’s a badass, but she’s actually really nice. She dealt with a lot of crap to make a name for herself.”
“If you say so, man.”
Marshall stands and holds his hand out to me. “Let’s get the last of the branches loaded up so we can set up the bonfire.”
Thirty minutes later and we’re pulling into the field. Dylan’s car is next to the massive pit we’ve built for the bonfire. I don’t see him or Randall, but I know they’re around here somewhere.
I pull up next to Dylan and put my truck in park just as they emerge from the woods. Randall is holding his hand. He most likely had to blow off some steam and hit a damn tree. He may be a pain in the ass but I know he’d rather hurt himself than anyone else, even when he isn’t in the wrong. He’s the total opposite of his dad in every way. And I have nothing but respect for him because of that.
I step out of the truck and Dylan stands in front of Randall, worried I’m going to attack him. “Hey man, can we talk?”
Dylan looks at Marshall but he doesn’t move until he gets some sort of signal that I’m not going to do anything rash.
Randall joins me at the front of the truck while Marshall and Dylan start unloading the brush.
“I’m sorry,” I say holding my hand out, hoping he grabs it.
He looks down at my hand before grabbing it and giving it a quick shake before putting his hands in his pockets. “It’s okay. I didn’t mean any harm.”
“I get it.”
“Get what?” he asks.
“Marshall told me how you felt about Tonya.” His face falls. “I’m not mad about it. And, I’m not in that same position. I know there’s no future with Tonya, and I don’t want to be with her anymore.”
“Then why the hell did you blow up back there?”
Marshall and Dylan are very slowly pulling the brush out of the bed of the truck. Lingering so they can overhear what we’re saying. I swear they are like a bunch of gossips just itching to know what’s going on.
I motion them away and turn back to Randall. “A bunch of irrational fears about Layla, and where that leaves me. But, I’m good now.”
“Dude, anyone who’s seen you with Layla knows you love her. And Tonya won’t be a bitch about letting you see her, married or not.”
“Thanks. We good?”
“Yeah,” he pats me on the back. “We’re good.”
We finish unloading the limbs, setting them up for optimal burning tomorrow night. It’s a good thing we got that rain earlier in the week or we wouldn’t even be able to have this bonfire.
It’s well after dark when everything is done. We’re sitting around reminiscing about the good old days when we didn’t have any worries, before I became a father, when my phone dings.
Charleigh:I made it home.
Jake: Good deal. Get some rest, I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.
Charleigh: You seem like you’re in a better mood.
Jake: My friends put me in my place.
Charleigh: Want to enlighten me?
Jake: Soon. You should sleep. I know you’ve been on your feet most of the day.
Charleigh: Okay…Goodnight
Jake: Goodnight, Beautiful
I’m notsure what time I make it home, but it feels good having that weight lifted off my shoulder. To know that my friends have my back, and that they believe everything will be okay.