Justin
Havingto work when I was supposed to be off is bullshit. The bag of feed I toss on the shelf hits with a thunk. I swear my boss has favorites, and I’m clearly not it. The person who was supposed to be working is already at the swimming hole, no doubt having the time of their life. It doesn’t help that he’s related to the store owner. I always draw the short straw when others want to go live their best life. It makes getting out of this podunk town so much more appealing. I’m leaving and never coming back.
My name blares through the intercom system and I groan. Another person needs help loading whatever it is they bought. I would like to know how the hell they get it unloaded. If they have someone at home to get it out, why can’t they bring that person to the store with them? The only reason I even have this shitty job is so I can have money to call my own. Something my dad can’t dictate how I spend.
I place the bag of feed, back on the pallet, and head toward the front counter with my orders. I round the corner and want to head right back to where I was. “Mrs. Murphy,” I fake a smile. “How are you today?”
“Oh, Justin,” she waves her hand at me. “I’m just fine.” Mrs. Murphy is a little old lady that runs the only animal rescue in town. She comes in at least once a week to pick up a massive amount of food for the animals she takes. I’ve always wondered how she pays for it all, but my dad says it’s none of my business. The only thing he will say is that she’s well off, especially after her husband passed. I also know for a fact that she has a perfectly healthy grandson that can help her with all the bags, but I’m guessing he’s also at the swimming hole.
“That’s good,” I nod. “The usual amount of food?” Is it bad that I know what she gets every week? Maybe, but I’m somehow always the one that has to help her when she comes in. I turn toward the warehouse where she’ll pull up in her truck.
“Yes, sir,” she grins. “But I also need a couple of salt blocks.”
That stops me in my tracks. “Okay,” I draw out.
“We got a couple of cows that were found on one of the back roads. I had Andy help me get them loaded up and moved to the farm before they got hurt, or hurt anyone else.”
“That’s smart.” I start back on my way to the warehouse, but call over my shoulder. “If you have any pictures, or a description, I’ll put some flyers by the register asking if anyone is missing some cattle.”
“You are such a sweetheart, Justin.”
Yeah right. I roll my eyes and keep on going. I only have like an hour left until I get to leave. I will not be talked into working longer than I’m supposed to. Audrey is waiting for me, and I know she can’t stand most of the people that will be there. The time needs to pass by quickly. My girl is waiting on me and there’s no telling what craziness Tiffany is getting into.
* * *
I almost got roped into working longer, but I punched out before the boss could ask. Even though, I said I wouldn’t, I’m a people pleaser, and would have done it anyway. I pull up to the swimming hole and try to find a place to park. I don’t know how some of my classmates plan on getting out of here. So many cars are blocked in and there’s no way in hell they can drive off without banging up another vehicle. I drive a little further until I’m in an area with no cars. I’m not a dumbass, and I won’t have to ask anyone to move their car so I can leave.
Now I just need to find Audrey and her cousins. If she was on her own, she’d be easy to spot because she’d be on the fringes of the group. Not willing to let herself get too close to anyone. With Tiffany and Stella with her, there’s no telling where she’ll be. I pass by small groups of people, and they call out my name in acknowledgement. While I’m not one of the popular kids, I’m on decent terms with almost everyone. Except those assholes that like to pick on Audrey because she likes things a certain way and has backup plans for her backup plans. She’s going to be a force to reckon with when we go to college.
“Tiffany, you’re going to get hurt,” I hear Audrey’s voice just as I reach the edge of the lake. I’m not sure I want to keep going forward to see what shenanigans her cousin is up to. Tiffany laughs in response and I’m not sure I want to know what shenanigans she’s getting into.
I push through the rest of the crowd and Audrey is glaring at her cousin with her hands on her hips, a spitting image of her mom when she’s pissed. Tiffany is swaying back and forth on the tire swing, prepared to jump. It’s too bad she’s not out far enough to keep from hitting her ass on the floor of the lake. The rest of our classmates are cheering her on, and this isn’t going to end well. Moving toward Audrey, I wrap my arms around her waist. “You know she’s not going to listen to you, right?”
“You’re finally here,” she leans into my chest. “Maybe you can talk some sense into her.”
A chuckle rumbles through my chest. “If you think that, I’m not sure you know your cousin all that well.” It’s hot as hell, but I’m not letting her go. I’ve waited all day to have her in my arms.
She shrugs and sighs. “I think I’ll let Stella deal with her. I can’t babysit her all the time. She’s going to have to learn how to survive without me when we head off to college.”
That seems so close and so far away at the same time. “So, you want to get away from everyone? We can go to the other side of the lake. And be alone for a bit.”
She looks around at all the people around us and pulls herself from my hold. Grabbing my hand, she pulls me away from everyone else. “Stella and Tiff will figure out I’m not over here…eventually. I just want to get away from here.”
Who am I to argue with her? I’ll follow her anywhere.