and honey, and what needs to be done for fall harvest. At first, my dad is skeptical, but something in his expression changes, morphs from disbelief to acceptance as I ramble on with enthusiasm.
“You really do like it here, don’t you?” he asks.
“I’m not doing it for the trust fund, Dad.” He smiles at me and gives a slow nod.
“I’m proud of you, Alyson.”
My insides soar, but deep down, I know it’s not his praise or approval I’ve been after all these years; it’s my own. I’m damn proud of myself. Damn proud to do a good hard day’s labor and fall asleep at night exhausted and knowing I’m being a productive member of society. My chest swells with the pride I have in myself.
My mother stifles a yawn. “It’s been a long day. How about we pick this conversation up tomorrow?” She stands and kisses the top of my head. “Is there a room for us?”
“I’ll show you,” I say, wanting to get them settled so I can sneak next door and talk to Jay, but my cell phone rings. My heart leaps, hoping it’s the honey farmer next door, but I don’t recognize the number. “Just give me a second,” I say and slide my finger across the screen.
I answer the call. “Hello.”
“Alyson, is that you?”
“Tyler?” I say, pushing to my feet as panic grips my stomach. He sounds…off. “What’s going on?”
“Can you come get me?” he slurs. “I can’t drive, and Jay will kill me if I call him.”
“Yes, I can come.” I pace the kitchen and clutch my car keys. “Where are you?”
He gives me directions, and I end the call. I crinkle my nose, tossing my parents an apologetic look.
“Sorry, a friend needs a lift. I’ll be back soon. Go get yourselves settled. Second door on the left, you’ll find another spare bedroom. I haven’t cleaned Jack’s things from his room yet.”
“This friend must be very important to you,” Dad says, and I nod. Unlike my friends, I can count on the guys next door, just like they can count on me. But like Tyler once said, we’re more than friends. We’re family.
“They are,” I say, ready to run outside when I realize I’m in my robe. I rush upstairs to change. Mom is rinsing the mugs when I come back down. “I’ll see you both in the morning.”
I hop into my rental and head out into the dark. I’ve gotten to know my way around town, so I can easily find the house where he’s hanging. I ease into the driveway and gasp when I see that Jay is already there, standing beside Tyler as Tyler vomits into a bush. I unbuckle quickly and rush up the driveway, but when the guy turns around, I realize it’s not Jay. It’s a guy I’ve never met before.
“Tyler,” I say and bend to check on him. “You okay?”
“He’s fine,” the guy beside him says with a hearty laugh. “Kid can’t hold his liquor.” My face burns with anger at his flippant remark.
“Come on, Tyler. Let’s get you home.”
“Won’t be home for long,” someone else yells, and I have no idea what he’s talking about.
I get Tyler into the car, and he groans and leans his head back against the seat. Once he’s buckled in, I slide into the driver’s seat, and the pungent smell of vomit and rum hit like a punch to the face. Gag reflexes kicking in, I roll my window down and negotiate the long driveway.
“I’m sorry, Alyson,” he slurs.
“We can talk about this in the morning,” I say, feeling for the kid. I used to be a party girl, so I understand exactly how he feels. “You need to sleep it off.”
“Jay’s an asshole,” he murmurs and presses his arm to his forehead.
I chuckle. “You sound like Capone.”
“Capone is right.”
“You shouldn’t talk about your brother like that. He’s really good to you.”
He snorts, coughs, and mumbles something I can’t comprehend.
“Who was that guy you were with?”
“Derek?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“He’s Shay’s older brother. He’s bad news.”
“Then why are you with him?”
“I like Shay.”
“What did he mean when he said it won’t be your home for long?”
A wounded animal sound crawls from his throat. “You’re family. How could Jay have done this to you?”
My pulse jumps in my throat, and I swallow as I carefully maneuver the dark roads. “What did he do?”
Ty’s head flops to the side, and he looks like he’s about to cry when he says, “He bet the goddamn farm.”
My chest