Page 10 of Back to Me
“Better than nothing, thank you.” Turning off my music, I put my things to the side and took the gloves from her. Putting them on, I rolled my neck and took a deep breath.
“Do you want to talk about it? I don’t think I have seen you this stressed since you first moved back and were trying to sort the house and shop at the same time.”
“You know how I told you I made a cake for my ex-boyfriend’s brother’s wedding a few weeks back?” She nodded and I continued. “My ex’s mom told his sister-in-law, who thought it would be a good idea to send Austin into my shop completely blind and it’s created a shit storm. Yesterday I fought with him and my best friend, then Austin’s brother and sister-in-law last night. I was a bitch and said some horrible things that I wish I could take back but unfortunately, these two have the longest memory and remember everything. Austin came into my shop this afternoon and I think we managed to sort things out. When he was leaving the shop, he had things he had to do, we walked outside to his brother waiting by his truck. Austin had already warned his family to stay away from me, but this guy just didn’t care. He was baiting me, I’m sure of it. We got into yet another argument in which he called me a snake and I just walked away. Austin has been trying to talk to me but being the grown-up that I am, I am ignoring him for now.” She let out a breath and held up her hands.
“So, which one are we imagining?” I couldn’t help but laugh at that. For the next thirty minutes, I gave it everything I had left, listening to her instructions as I went. Once I was done, my head was clear enough to deal with the events of today. Only just.
ChapterSeven
Austin
I was goingto kill him. I didn’t care what the fallout from Ma would be, or even if I got arrested for it, as long as we were no longer breathing the same air. I watched Ally storm inside and lock the door behind her. Turning to face Cash, I closed my hand into a fist.
“Try it and see what happens, Austin.”
“Oh no, I am not stupid enough to do anything to you. With the way you are acting right now, I know you wouldn’t hesitate to have me arrested and put in jail for the night. You would also make it so I couldn’t call anyone because you know I am calling Ma and Pops to bail me out and that would open a whole set of problems for you and this little trip you are on so let’s get one thing straight. Youwillstay away from Ally. I am going to make sure of it. Whatever happens, it is between me, her, and Dallas. You and Savannah are fucking done! Mind your own business as mine no longer has anything to do with you. Not that it matters, but I came to Ally. She told me that she regrets what was said in your conversation and I didn’t ask what it was because I didn’t want to know. You do not get to stand there and call her a snake though. She is nothing like Holly, even on her worst day.”
“So, what, you are just going to forgive her like the last few years meant nothing?”
“Again, what I do is my business. We are done until you stop trying to interfere and take over my life. If Savannah can’t do the same, I will be blocking off her shop and mine. The insurance was enough to buy her out of her share, so she doesn’t own that anymore. I am an adult, Cash, let’s not forget that. Now get the fuck off my truck and leave me alone before I call your superior and file harassment charges.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Try me and see how far I am willing to take this. I tried to be nice about this, but you are the one pushing back.”
“I can’t believe you are letting her do this!” Taking my phone out of my pocket, I tried to call Ally. When she rejected my call, I looked up at Cash.
“I am not letting anyone do anything. I am just choosing not to be manipulated by my family anymore. Beau and Belle have agreed to stay out of it. You and Savannah will no longer be pulling my strings.” He went to open his mouth, and I held up my hand. “Do not even say what is about to come out of your mouth. Ally won’t be pulling them either.”
“I honestly don’t know what has gotten into you, Austin. I am disappointed in you.” There would have been a time where hearing that would have affected me but not anymore. He was my brother, not my father, and needed to start acting like it. My business was back up and running and doing well, I owned my house and my truck. I was solid.
“Well, that makes two of us. Beau and I used to look up to you growing up. We idolized our big brother. Then it came clear to me that you and Beau had your hero complex, and I was the odd one out. That’s when I found Dallas and Ally and didn’t feel alone in the world anymore. You have always looked down on me for following my own passion and not ending up in the same line as you and Beau. For the last few years, you have been acting like my father and telling me what to do, how to live my life. It was subtle and it has taken all this time for me to notice. Now I am done with it, and you don’t like it. That is too bad. Be disappointed in me. You no longer have the power to make me feel inferior.”
Taking my keys from my pocket, I walked toward my truck. Cash, finally doing the smart thing, moved away when I unlocked it. Opening the door and climbing behind the wheel, I started it up and pulled out of the parking space. I would try Ally again in a little bit to make sure she was okay. If she was rejecting my call, she obviously didn’t want to talk so I would respect that. I would go home and finish what I had to do and give her time.
A few hours later, with one design finished, another one started, and a multitude of missed calls that had me considering changing my number and only giving it to Ma and Pops, I finally surfaced. I needed to eat but had nothing in my house, because I hadn’t gone to supermarket. There was someone who I owed a visit that could kill two birds with one stone. After grabbing my keys and phone from my office, I locked the house, got in my truck, and headed across town. Turning down my parents’ street, I pulled into their driveway. I was met at the front door by my ma.
“Austin, are you okay?” I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her.
“I’m fine, Ma, just stopping by to say hello.”
“Boy, you don’t fool me. You are here for dinner, aren’t you?” I couldn’t help but laugh at that. She could always see through us.
“We can’t get anything past you, can we?”
“Nope!” She moved out of the way to let me through. “Well come on then before it goes cold. Go get your father from the garage on your way past.” Ma left me to go to the kitchen, so I stopped at the internal garage door and saw Pops at his workbench. I moved over to him and pressed my hand against his shoulder, giving it a squeeze.
“Hey, kid, what brings you round?”
“Stopped by to say hello. It’s been a few weeks since I checked in.”
“How’s the shop doing?”
“It’s going well, I have been busy most days and am thinking of hiring someone to do piercing so I can just focus on tattooing.”
“Good to hear.”
“Ma said that dinner was ready too by the way.”
