Page 11 of Back to Me
“Ah, so there is the real reason!”
“Not the main reason. I am just killing two birds with one stone.”
“Whatever you need to tell yourself, kid.” He chuckled and grabbed a rag to wipe his hands. We walked out of the garage, making small talk before he went to wash his hands. I went into the kitchen.
“Want to make yourself useful and add another place setting at the table?”
“Sure, did you need me to get drinks too?”
“If you are offering.” I quickly kissed her cheek and opened the bottom draw. Taking out a placemat and coaster, I closed the draw again and got a knife and fork from the top draw. Moving to the table, I set a place in my usual seat before going to the cupboard and taking out glasses. “Your father will just have a beer so no need to bother with one of those.” I nodded and put one of them back. Taking a beer out of the fridge, I poured drinks for me and Ma and put them all on the table. Pops joining us as I did. He took the bowl of salad from the counter that Ma pointed to, and he moved it to the table. I grabbed the other things she motioned to. My phone rang in my pocket, and I pulled it out. Seeing Ally’s name on the screen, I moved toward the back door.
“Sorry, I really need to take this.” Before they could argue, I stepped outside. “Hey, are you okay?”
“No, but I will be. What did Cash want?”
“To be an asshole, but that’s nothing new. I threatened to go to his boss and file harassment charges if he doesn’t cut it out.”
“Austin…” I heard her sigh and knew that nothing good was going to follow. “It took me almost two hours in the gym to calm down and clear my head. I don’t want this for you. I can’t be the reason for the fallout between you and your family. I could never live with myself.”
“Duchess, you aren’t. This is all on them. For so long I have been blind to them sticking their noses into my business. Granted with some things I should have listened, but I am not going to stand by and let them do this to you. Savannah never should have sent me into your shop without talking to you first. She never should have called you that night. Cash never should have said the things that he did or come to the shop today, but they did. Whatever happens between us, happens, but I don’t want you to regret coming back home and I know that you are.”
“I am right now, yeah.”
“Just promise me something.”
“Depends on what it is but ok.”
“Please don’t leave. I won’t survive seeing you go again, and I will follow you, so you can stay, and we sort this out together. Or we both leave and start over.” She was silent for a few minutes before quietly giving me her answer.
“I won’t go anywhere for now.”
“Thank you, Ally, I promise we will sort this out.”
“I trust you, Austin.”
We said our goodbyes and I put my phone back in my pocket. Taking a deep breath before turning around and found both my parents standing at the door. Fuck.
“How much did you hear?”
“All of it.” I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. “You better start talking, kid.” I knew that tone in my dad’s voice. He was pissed. Ma motioned for me come inside and sit down. Our family would have all our conversations at the dinner table. Whether it was serious or good news, we sat around this table. Ma placed a plate in front of me and Pops before sitting down with us.
“What’s going on, Austin?” I let out a breath.
“It started a couple of days ago, with me finding out that Ally was back.” I looked at Ma. “Though, I wasn’t told. Savannah sent me to her shop, blindsiding me. I didn’t take it well and ended up drinking at Tye’s bar. I was avoiding everyone after what Savannah had done. I guess she called Ally to see if she had seen me because I wasn’t answering my phone. Ally showed up at the bar, and we argued, then she argued with Dallas because she had no idea that she was home either and Ally left. I got Cash to come and get me so that I didn’t drive home after I had been drinking.
Later that night, Savannah called Ally to apologize but it ended in another argument. Cash got involved in that one, so it didn’t end well. Not that I blame Ally after being harassed by our family all day and dealing with Dallas.”
“Are you and Ally back together?”
“No, we are just working on a friendship right now. Not that we both don’t love each other still, I have just reopened my shop and she is just finding her feet.”
“Were you going to tell us what was going on?”
“I didn’t want to worry you. I hoped we could sort it out like adults but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”
“What happened today?”
“I went to Ally to make sure she was okay after yesterday and apologize for being an asshole when I was drinking. When I went to leave though, Cash was waiting outside of her shop despite me asking everyone not to call her, not to reach out to her in anyway or show up at the shop until she was ready. Beau and Belle agreed to it. Savannah hasn’t. She is insisting she was just trying to help and that Ally was out of line, and Cash pushed back as well. He accused Ally of being worse than Holly and called her a snake. She left because she didn’t want to say or do anything that would get her arrested, which is what he keeps threatening us both with.” Letting out a breath, I let all that sink in before continuing. “I don’t know what is wrong with them and why they can’t just stay out of it. It makes me wonder if I made a mistake taking over the shop next door. Are they always going to be in my business? If Ally leaves town again because of this, I am going to follow her this time. I made the mistake of not going after her once, I won’t do it again.”
