him family, and it stung to think he didn’t view us the same way.
A heavy sigh came from across the table, and when I looked at the man sitting across from me, I could see genuine sympathy on his craggy face.
“Huck, are you honestly worried this girl might have bad intentions toward you and your friends? Are you legitimately scared of her? Have you stopped to think why she’s worked so hard to get close to you? You’re a very smart guy, and you said you knew this girl from your childhood. You have to see there’s more going on here than meets the eye.” He gave me a pointed look. “If you are scared and truthfully believe she’s stalking you, get a restraining order. I support your right to do so. I don’t think it’ll make you look weak. If you do that, I won’t be able to uphold her lease. Legally I can break it. Bring me the paperwork, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
I was scared of her, but probably not for the reasons he suspected. “I don’t want to know why she tracked me down after all this time. I don’t want to know why she’s so desperate to get close to me again.” Back in the day, I protected her from everyone and everything. As a result, I lost all that mattered to me. “She attracts trouble like a magnet, and I don’t have time for that anymore.” Not when my life was finally on track and I was so close to making all my dreams come true.
“She’s just a girl, Huck. A girl in a tough spot. I know you, kiddo. You aren’t the type to turn your back on someone who’s just looking for a way out of a shitty situation. And it sounds to me like the two of you might have some unfinished business to discuss. It’s only a year. Suffer through and make amends before you graduate and start law school. It’ll be good for you. That’s the best option for everyone.” He picked up his mug, looking overly satisfied with himself.
“It’s the easiest option for you.” Looking backward was quite possibly the hardest thing he could ask me to do.
I’d threatened her with a restraining order already. Mr. Peters was using that as my out, and yet, I hadn’t reported her or gone to the police. The idea actually made my skin feel too tight, and I had a headache starting to throb behind my eyes. It was a simple solution, one I would be totally justified in doing. Only I couldn’t do it. And not only because I had a healthy distrust of the police and was skeptical about a legal system that was easy to manipulate.
Ollie and I didn’t have unfinished business. No, our business was dead and buried, just like any relationship we’d once had. I’d grieved and mourned the loss of what once was. I had no intention of being haunted by the ghosts of our pasts. Seeing Ollie’s face every single day had once been a given; now, it was my worst nightmare. I wanted to seriously injure Fisher for moving out and moving on with his life, leaving the door open for this current disaster. I made a mental note to give him a piece of my mind the next time we met up for a drink.
I jolted when a heavy, gnarled hand landed on top of the fist I wasn’t aware my hand had curled into on top of the table. I looked up and met the older man’s concerned gaze.
“Huck.” He paused for a long moment and sighed heavily. I hadn’t even noticed when he got up and walked over to me, which was saying something because he had a distinct limp and didn’t move quietly in the least. Ollie was already consuming all my thoughts and pulling my attention away from where it should be. Just like she had when we were younger. Mr. Peters had no idea how dangerous the girl could be. “I don’t have sons, but you boys come as close as I’ll ever get. I would never do anything to put you in danger. If I’m wrong about this girl, tell me. Be honest with me, and I’ll see what I can do to find a suitable solution for everyone.”
The words were on the tip of my tongue.
I wanted to tell him how I used to stand between Ollie and my family. How my half