Page 26 of Mountain Pine
Freezing in front of the mirror, I take a good look at myself…
“You’re a mess, Con.”
“You should see the other guy.” I wince when Taylor wipes something onto my chin that stings like a bitch.
“Conner, sweetheart. What did you do?”
I toss Taylor’s mom, Corrine, puppy dog eyes. “Nothing. Honest.”
She gives me the bestyou’re not fooling me but I love you anywaysmile and places a bag of frozen peas on my lap. “Put that on your noggin.”
Taylor’s eyes are the color of slate pavers today. Sometimes they have a little blue in them, but when she’s wearing all white, like today, they’re stone grey and I prefer them this color. They remind me of thunderheads that roll through the mountain holler in spring. “He’s just a nobody,Con. You didn’t have to fight him.”
“He didn’t have to disrespect you either. Guess everyone’s making wild decisions today.”
Her smile is tight, and her lips have pink gloss on them and I really, really, really want to know if they taste like strawberries.
“What the hell happened?” Russ barks from the doorway of their kitchen.
“Take a guess,” Corrine sighs as she places a box of band aids and a tube of antibacterial ointment on the table.
“I feel so special getting this much attention,” I joke. “Ouch. Damn, girl.”
Taylor frowns, not even a little sorry that she just pressed too hard on my black eye.
“Who threw the first punch?”
“Me, sir.”
That makes Russel look frustrated. “Why?”
“He said some things he shouldn’t have. Figured he needed a lesson in manners.”
“Hmph.”
“You know you can always just ignore the idiots, right?” Taylor opens the first band aid and covers the cut on my arm. Wayne seriously needs to cut his nails. Fucker had some eagle talons and wasn’t afraid to use them. Or his teeth.
Who fights like that? I probably need rabies shots now.
“It’s not in me to ignore someone disrespecting you.” I stare at her and for a moment, I think time stops. My gaze travels to her cute little pointy nose with freckles scattered over the bridge and then my eyes land on her mouth again. She’s biting her lip.
I’d like to bite her lip.
Shit. I’m getting a boner.
Oh no. No, no, no! I’m getting a—
“Seems reasonable to me,” Russel says before leaving the kitchen.
“You’re very unhelpful!” Corrine calls back at him. She sits down next to me and grabs my hand while Taylor slaps ointment on my busted lip next.
“This really isn’t necessary. I’m fine.”
“You look like a bear got you.” Corrine taps my arm. “Put those peas on your head.”
No way. They’re covering my dick and will hopefully kill my hard-on. “I’m good. I swear.”
Taylor’s busy with another band aid.
