Page 4 of Deviant
Is it so wrong that I want to be somewhere that I can be more than a problem? When I’m at college, nobody sees a black sheep they can judge. They just see me.
Passing the sign, I twist the throttle, zooming through the streets that look identical to how they did when I was a child. As if nothing here is allowed to change or it will become too difficult to fit in.
Turning left off the main road, I pull into the parking lot and kill the engine, scanning to see if I recognize any cars or anyoneinside. Seeing a couple I might know, I mentally prepare myself, taking my helmet off and placing it on my bike.
Before I can turn around, arms wrap around me. “Well aren’t you a sight for sore eyes, and in one piece? It has to be some kind of record!” My sister’s voice startles me. While, technically, Halle is my half sister, you’d never know with the way she’s always been there for me.
“Hey, Halle girl. I missed you something fierce,” I say softly, turning to hug her back.
She holds me hostage in her arms for a few more moments, squeezing me tight, as if she can keep me from slipping out of her arms and running, before she finally lets me go.
She’s not wrong to assume I might run, but I have a healthy fear when it comes to Aunt A. I wouldn’t take those chances.
“Come on. We better get you inside to see Aunt A before she comes out looking for you. She took tonight off to see you but is covering for me so I can also have a second.”
She ushers me inside, and I take in her new appearance, ignoring the wary glances I get when people see me come in. Her normally long, light-brown hair is now a bright shade of pink and significantly shorter than last time I saw her.
I guess we all cope in different ways.
We make our way to the end of the bar where Uncle Matt is, and I sit down next to him.
“Long time no see, don’t you think?” I grin, unable to contain my excitement at getting to see my favorite family members all in one place. Uncle Matt slaps an arm around my back.
“It’s good to see you home. Staying out of legal trouble I hope?” He chuckles, though his voice carries a subtle weight of concern.
I run my hand through my hair.
“I’ve been good this year.” I make an X over my heart in an attempt to convince us both that it’s the truth.
He just rolls his eyes as my aunt comes around the corner of the bar, engulfing me in her warm embrace.
“You? Behave? You are literally me reincarnated. I find you not raising some hell to be difficult. You always find trouble.” She squeezes me a little tighter, whispering, her voice full of quiet affection, “We missed you, hellion.” She lets me go, handing me a beer.
“I missed you too, Aunt A. I know it’s been a year, but how’s everyone been? Mom said you were able to find something for me out here, but she’s been so wrapped up in her own world, trying to start up that rescue farm, that she didn’t have much time to tell me the details.”
“Yeah. I thought she already told you. You’re working at Thornwood Ranch, just like your dad did when he was younger. You’ll get hands-on vet tech experience for your resume, you just have to keep your hours logged. Your dad seems to think it’ll keep you busy.”
Thornwood Ranch.
“That’s a—uhm…choice.” I clear my throat. “Is there anything else I can do besides work there?” I’m treading as carefully as I can, but Aunt A still catches onto the hesitation I’m trying to hide.
“There’s nothing wrong with working at that ranch, Colton. Not a damn thing. And you know it. So, what’s the real hang-up?” Her voice gets a little louder as she feels the need to defend her best friend.
Her eyes pierce me as I take a moment to find the right words.
The Thornwoods and my family have been close since before I was born. They are a founding family in Cedarbrook—your typical picture-perfect ranch family. I grew up with them, but that doesn’t mean I want to work for them this summer.
Proceeding with caution, and keeping my voice as even as I can, I say, “I know that it’s a good job, Aunt A. I know they all work so hard, but you know my history. I don’t think it’s smart for Rhett and me to work together. You guys have met me, right? Shit, they know me too.”
In offering up a solution, I hope she sees my effort.
“So, you think you’re going to fight, is that it?” Her eyes soften a fraction. “Colt, honey, you can’t write everyone off in this town for how you were treated in high school. People do change.” She gestures to me. “You’ve changed.”
Sighing, I push forward. “I know we’ll fight, Aunt A. This town has never exactly rolled out the welcome mat for me, and working with the Thornwoods isn’t going to change that. You know better than anyone why that ranch is the last place I should be.”
But she only doubles down. “Colton Lee Dawson, you listen to me. Quit letting what happened back then decide everything that comes after it. That’s not strength, baby, that’s just a different kind of hiding.” She holds my gaze and doesn’t blink. “This job is good for you—more than you know. So you’re going to walk onto that ranch, you’re going to do your job, and you’re going to stop letting one person have that much real estate in your head.”
Conceding, I raise both hands in defeat. Fuck it. If they wanna see it all crash and burn to understand how right I am, so be it.
