Page 13 of Back to Me
“You better hope she is worth giving up your family for, Austin.”
“In case you hadn’t noticed, Cash, it’s only you up my ass. No one else. Belle and Beau respected my wishes and even Savannah has stayed away from me and Ally.”
“You know that do you?”
“I do actually, we have talked every day since I found out she was home.”
“Is she coming tonight?”
“Do you honestly think I would subject her to that? You are dumber than I thought. Now leave and don’t let the door hit you on the way out.” I turned and walked back to my office. Sitting back down at my desk, I watched him walk out the door on the camera. I left it about ten minutes before I packed up my stuff and turned my computer off. Leaving the shop and locking the door behind me, I got into my truck. Ally asked me to stop by on my way over to Ma’s because she had something for them. She wanted to give it to them herself, but I didn’t want to subject her to anything and today just showed me that I was right. Pulling into a space in front of her shop, I got out of the truck and went inside. When she came out of the back room, her smile faded when she saw the look on my face.
“Oh no, what happened?”
“I just punched my brother. I knew the peace and quiet was too good to be true. He wanted me to play nice tonight like nothing is going on.”
“They don’t know what the meeting is about, do they?”
“He doesn’t, no. I’m not sure if they told Beau or not. It’s basically an intervention.” She nodded and moved over to me. Wrapping her arms around my waist, she hugged me. With a sigh, I felt my body relax and my arms went around her shoulders. I really wanted her there, to keep me calm at least but I would never subject her to that, no matter how badly I needed it.
“Are you busy tomorrow night?”
“Not that I know of, Duchess, why’s that?”
“I was wondering if you would come and hold my hand while I talk with Dallas. She called me today and wants me to go around. Tye told me to tell you to bring your ass with me because he hasn’t seen you in over a week almost.” I couldn’t help but snort.
“I can come with you, that’s no problem. Want me to pick you up after work and I will drive?”
“If you don’t want to drink, we can do that.”
“Nah, me and alcohol aren’t friends right now.”
“Okay, well if you change your mind, we can always grab a cab or something and leave your truck at Tye’s.” I nodded and gave her a squeeze.
“Sounds like a good plan to me. We will see how it goes through the night and make the call.” She leaned up and pressed her lips to my jaw. While we weren’t back together, we were headed in that direction. Me declaring that I would follow her anywhere did something to the cracks between us. If I wanted everyone to leave the past where it was, I needed to do the same and start with a clean slate. I couldn’t wonder what if or have doubts, because she would pick up on those. Ally pulled away from me and checked the time.
“Let me go grab the things for your ma. I’ll be right back.” She didn’t give me a chance to reply before she disappeared into the back room behind the curtain. I wanted to try and get to Ma and Pops before the others but who knows what Cash was running off to do. Little did he know, it would only solidify my argument. Sure, they aren’t going to be happy that I hit him but at least they knew it had been building, and he was lucky that it didn’t happen sooner. It had taken all my self-restraint to not do it before now. Taking a deep breath, I pushed it all down for now. I couldn’t be wound up tight when I got there, or I would snap at the first word out of his mouth.
Ally came out of the back room carrying a box and handed it to me. She opened it up and pointed to some of the desserts. “Those are for your ma and pops. Under no circumstance is anyone else to get those.”
“I will make certain of it, Duchess. I promise they will go from my hands to Ma’s with those exact instructions so she can hide them before the others get there.”
“Thank you!” She closed the box and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?” She nodded but she was now chewing on her lip. “I don’t believe that for a second. Spill or am I going to have to make you.” We hadn’t seen each other for years but she still had the same tells when she had something on her mind.
“I feel bad not coming with you tonight. I am the reason for it after all and I have just dropped you in it.”
“Firstly, you aren’t the reason for this. You came back home, that is not a crime or an excuse for this. Secondly, we have talked about this. I would not subject you to his bullshit. I’m not about to force you to put up with that.”
“I’m dividing your family, Austin! How can you say that I’m not the reason for this!”
“You aren’t doing it, Ally! Cash is pushing this. He is the one causing shit over nothing. He is the one who is showing up where he isn’t wanted and is the one with the stick up his ass about something. If he had just stayed out of it like I asked him to, none of this would have been happening. If Savannah had just told me or come and seen you first, this wouldn’t be happening. Beau and Belle left shit alone, I don’t see why they can’t too. If you really want to come though, I will wait while you close the shop and come with me. I won’t stop you if that’s what you want. I just don’t want you to be upset.” Ally was silent while she thought about it.
“You know if I come with you, it’s going to open up the door to a conversation we haven’t had yet, right?”
