They both fell silent as a few customers passed. When the aisle was clear again, Ethan pushed off the case. “Austin confronted her again last night. Threatened her. He’s out of control. I have to do something, but if I do it wrong, I could make things worse. And the only solutions I can think of hurt either Delaney or Pops. Or both. And not knowing what to do, I let the first inspection appointment—a big one—roll by this morning without showing.”
“Ouch.” Caleb grimaced. “That’s gonna leave a mark.”
Guilt punched him in the gut again. “I feel like I’m locked in a vice and by doing nothing, I’m just making things worse. But how the hell do I make a decision knowing I’m going to hurt one or both?”
He turned, dropped back against the cold glass, and twisted the top on the tea.
“You know what really sucks?” Caleb asked.
Ethan rolled his head toward Caleb. “Yes. I do. But I have a feeling I’m not thinking what you’re thinking.”
“What sucks is that your misery is taking away all the fun in my I-told-you-so.” He shook his head and sighed. Ethan let Caleb have his victory, even though it went against his grain to stand down.
After a moment of silence Caleb asked, “Have you considered quitting your job? How about taking a hit out on Austin and your father? The latter is my personal favorite. And I could take up a community collection to help you fund it.”
“Jesus.” Ethan looked away and shook his head. “This is the support I get from my best buddy when I’m in a tight spot?”
“Hey. Are you really into her?” Caleb asked, voice lifting with surprise. “Holy shit. This is more than fun between the sheets for you?”
A lightning strike of fear cut through Ethan’s chest and belly. But all he had to do was pull the memory of the look in her eyes and the sincerity in her voice and the words you are so special.
He drank again, wishing he had a hit of vodka to go along with the tea.
“Are you sure you’re not still in that infuckuation stage? She’s only been in town three weeks, and all you’ve been doing is fu—”
“Do you remember the first time you fell for Shannon?” Ethan cut him off with a glare. “Because I do. The summer between freshman and sophomore year, the first time you saw her in cutoffs at the water hole. You’d never seen her before, never talked to her before—you didn’t even know her name. And you were gone over her. Are you really going to tell me how fast I can develop feelings for someone?”
“Oh-kay . . .” Caleb drew out the word and raked a hand through his hair. “I guess not. But if you’re so into her, why aren’t you talking to her about this? In fact, she and Harlan seem to get along great. They were all buddy-buddy at Heidi’s dog wash, and they came into Black Jack’s together the other night. Just sayin’. You know I’m all for anything that will get you to finally kick your dad and brother to the curb. Doing it now opens up all sorts of options.”
All the information, emotions, and problems whizzing around Ethan’s head like a galaxy on crack suddenly shut down as if everything had been sucked into a wormhole.
Options.
Ethan’s gaze blurred over the shelves of groceries. He’d never considered talking to her about this because he’d always seen her as the opposition. He’d been conditioned to think of her as the enemy. Trained to believe that any kind of relationship with her would have been a betrayal of his family.
But now Ethan knew better. Now none of that mattered.
Now everything was different.
The knot in his gut loosened, and the space filled with giddy jitters. He nodded as the rightness of it filled him. “Talk to her.”
Yes. He would definitely talk to her. About a lot of things. But first he needed to clear his schedule and get a few ducks in a row—the way Delaney would.
He pushed from the cooler with the ability to breathe deep again, and slapped Caleb on the shoulder. “Thanks, dude. Your next order’s on me.”
Ethan walked into the sheriff’s station fifteen minutes later with a few of Delaney’s cunning little tricks on tap.
“Hey, Ethan.” Tim Sanchez, one of Ethan’s high school classmates, manned the desk. “What’s up?”
“Hey, Tim. Is Austin here?”
“Yep.” He opened a door to allow Ethan behind the counter. “Should be in the break room. Or check his desk.”
A kaleidoscope of emotions swirled inside him as he wound through the hallways and back offices until he heard Austin’s laughter.
When he reached the lunchroom, he leaned in, located his brother, and said, “Austin, I need a minute.”
His brother welcomed Ethan the way he always did—with a false smile and insincere hospitality. He always had to look good in front of others. Just like Dad. “Well, come on in—”