she needed to do to get the information she wanted. I suppose now she thinks she’s found a cushy place to land and she doesn’t want to lose it.”
“Are you talking about living in our guesthouse?”
“It’s nice, especially to a woman like her. She’s never had much of anything so she’s hungry for some comfort and she’ll fuck the first guy who can give it to her.” It was the only explanation as to why she was still trying.
Adam’s eyes rolled. “Yeah, buddy. You’re a catch. You live in your brother’s guesthouse, have zero money saved, and don’t even own a car. She’s totally after your wealth.”
But Ally had a car. Between them they had a place to stay, a heap of junk car, and three and a quarter legs. Ally wouldn’t let him forget that quarter leg. It was an asset, she would say. Had she said it to get close to him?
“Fuck you, Adam.” He wasn’t going down that road again.
Adam nodded. “Yes, that’s better. Yell at me. Get it out. I know we were taught to shove everything down, but that’s not what we should do. You don’t cure a boil by pushing it under the skin. You lance that fucker and let it all hang out. That’s the only way you’re going to heal. Say it. Tell me how I screwed up your life.”
He shook his head stubbornly. “You didn’t. You helped me. Although I will admit you’re annoying me now. If you want me to leave, I wish you would say it.”
“Where would you go?”
“Home. I talked to Dad last night. He’s willing to offer me a job.”
Adam’s jaw dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re willing to go back there? To a father who dumped you at your lowest moment?” His brother’s expression was so hurt, Macon almost took the words back. “And you say you’re not angry with me.”
Adam shook his head and walked out toward the garage.
He didn’t understand. Adam had always been the smart one. He’d been the rebel, able to shove aside everything. Macon had given in. He’d chosen comfort over Adam when they were younger. He’d let Ronnie blow his own head off. He’d been stupid enough to believe Ally’s lies.
At least he could do one thing. He could break his silence with Ally. She hadn’t taken the hint. He clutched the pie and strode to the backdoor. All he could think about as he made it to the grass was telling Ally he didn’t need her damn pie. He could make his own pie. Hell, he could buy a pie if he really wanted one, but he wasn’t ever touching her pie again. He wasn’t going to taste her sweetness and eat a piece like a starving man. No. She’d ruined pie for him, or maybe it had been the numerous sexual references his brother seemed to make about pie, but it didn’t matter. Pie sucked. He didn’t eat pie any more so she could keep her fucking sweet ass pie to herself. Or give it away to the next idiot. He didn’t care.
He tripped, not looking where he was going, and cursed his fucking leg as he fell to the ground. His not leg. His fucked up, blown to shit body that only one woman had ever really wanted.
The pie fell to the ground, glass pan cracking and sending the insides all over the grass.
He tried to get up, but he stumbled again, his leg unable to move the way he needed it to.
“Macon!” Ally’s face suddenly loomed over him.
And he wanted to hurt her the way she’d hurt him.
* * * *
Ally had seen him walking across the yard like a man on a mission. She’d taken a deep breath because she’d been waiting for it. She’d been waiting for the moment when he finally confronted her. She’d thought it would go one of two ways. He’d either realize he forgave her and couldn’t stay away a moment longer or he would realize he couldn’t stand two more seconds without telling her what a lying bitch she was.
From the look in his eyes, she’d been willing to bet he’d chosen door number two.
But it hadn’t mattered what his intentions were once she’d seen him fall.
She threw open the door and raced across the space between them. She hadn’t cared that she was wearing nothing but a tank top and a pair of boxer shorts. She ran to get to him. “Macon!”
She dropped to her knees.
He