Chapter 27
TYSON
I must turn back around and walk up to her door ten times before I leave for good. I could see how shattered Jewels was, and I did that to her. Instead of it deterring my motivation, it amps me up to win her back. She needs to know how much I love her. I will do anything.
My blood is pumping fast and furious through my veins. I can’t help but think about our old punching bag. If I don’t hit something soon, I’m worried whom I may take my outburst on.
I head to my family home, the only one I have ever known. Walking in, I call out, “Mom! Dad!” but am met with silence. I don’t bother taking my shoes off as I walk through the main living area, reminding myself of the dancing Jewels and I shared that night. I consider that to be our start. Our relationship took off after that.
Going into the basement, I begin to take off my shirt. Lifting my arms above my head hurts. My ribs are tender and covered in purple, blue, and black bruises. I make sure the collar doesn’t touch the side of my face where I had to have stitches. It’s minor really. Four little things. If I had been awake I would have fought against it. Not because I’m vain like that, but it’s small. Seriously, it would have stopped with some applied pressure. For a moment the thought of being grateful if Richard had actually given me drugs passes through my mind. But there were no drugs.
Opening the door to our old workout room, I see nothing has changed. A punching bag sits in the middle of the floor with weights to the side. I go straight up to it, throwing a punch. Its thrust hits into me, I can feel it in every muscle.
I toss my weight to the other side and hit the bag again. This time I feel paralyzed by the pain. I can’t help but hunch over, feeling the bag’s weight ricochet into my arm.
“Hitting that bag won’t change anything.” William walks into the room and leans back into the wall like he did when we were kids. “Not many people get a second chance to live, like you.”
I stand up straighter, allowing the large bag to sway back and forth. “I will never be enough for you,” I respond. Growing up, I always had room to improve in his eyes.
He shakes his head. “You know that is not true.”
I know this tone. This is the tone of a lecture. I have had enough of them to know.
“Tyson, you just assume everything will be handed to you. The society isn’t going to fall into your lap because I am your father. It doesn’t work that way.” He pushes off the wall but doesn’t advance toward me. “I know you work hard and treat it like a baby of yours. But the thing is, babies grow up, and they need different things sometimes.” I turn from him and aim my attention back to the bag.
“Do you think my relationship with your mother comes without work?” I don’t have to look at him to know he’s moving closer, his voice increasing in tone. He stops in front of the bag, holding it still for me. I don’t say anything so he continues. “I had to learn how to put her needs before the society’s needs and my own. That is how I am able to keep our world together.”
I punch the bag again, only for something to do, regretting the decision as I feel my body revolting against the hit.
“Everyone has different realities for themselves. You have to decide if the path I followed is going to be the same for you.”
I’m breathing hard from hitting the bag in my weakened state and from my father’s wisdom he has bestowed to me. I hate that it makes sense and it fits perfectly into what is happening in my head right now.
I hate that he is right, and I hate that I don’t know what it means, or what I want it to mean. Is the right thing for me to not be a part of the society? Do I focus on my relationship with Jewels? Can I have the best of both worlds, keeping them both by my side?
I want to run my hands through my hair, but the motion hurts too much, instead, I tilt my head backward, closing my eyes as my body vibrates in frustration.
My worlds are spinning out of control. Each of them pushing against each other. Fucking shit.
I bend down cautiously to pick up my shirt I had dropped on the floor. I have to clear my head. Being in my parents’ house is clouding what I want and my thoughts. I don’t even bother to say goodbye as I walk out, leaving my dad standing in the room. The entrance door slams behind me and instantly I see Andrea leaning up against my car.
“Andrea, leave me the fuck alone.” I don’t need her bullshit right now.
“Leave you alone?” She acts hurt and put out. “You almost died last week, my father is still fighting for his life, and Richard was killed in my home.”
My steps slow as I hear the words come out of her mouth.
“You mind telling me what the hell you were doing with Richard in the first place?”
Her eyes narrow in on mine. She stands up from leaning against the car. “Tyson. That mistake at your house was mine.”
“No shit!” Instead of seeing a guy almost dying on my couch, my vision is of Jewels, wide eyed as she walked out of my door. I thought I had lost her then.
“I am trying to make it right. You don’t think I hear the rumbles? I know what people are saying behind my back. I am trying to revalidate myself. This is my life, too.”
“I’m still waiting on an answer.” My foot taps impatiently.
“You and I both did not trust that man. One of us had to keep an eye on him. You were too busy with Jewels to know what he was up to.” She points to herself. “I had to do your homework.”
“You had to do my homework?” I scoff. “He was hiding your father in your house. You’re telling me you weren’t in on that?”
“Don’t make this about me, Tyson. Do you know Richard is, or I guess was, a silent partner in that ranch Jewels is getting help from? The one her ex-boyfriend is very active in. Do you know she has been meeting with her ex here in town?”
What the fuck? I examine her face to see if she is lying. I have known her my whole life, and there are no tell signs that she is lying. I had told Jewels I would help her with the ranch, why didn’t she come to me? She has a smirk on her face, she damn well knew I had no idea about this.
I push down my thoughts and emotions and step right up to Andrea. I can feel my breath hit her skin. “Your time is coming, Andrea. Just because you are a woman doesn’t mean they will take mercy.” My eyes stare down onto her. I mean every last word. If she is guilty no one will be able to save her.
Taking a step back I walk past Andrea to the driver’s side door, slamming it once I get in.
I think it’s time Jewels’s brother and I met. My hand grips the steering wheel harder, making me regret the decision to not ride my bike.
My phone rings through my Bluetooth to see Chase’s number on it.
“Chase, sorry I haven’t called you in a while for an update,” I answer immediately, still too distracted to hear what all he has to say.
“We will get into that later. But for right now, I’m going to be the better brother than you for once in my life.” I freeze for a second, knowing his words ring true. Who sends their own brother back into the hometown he hated, the hometown that destroyed his life. I didn’t even have the balls to tell him the real reason I sent him. I had only been thinking about myself. I disregarded him completely when I sent him to Three Rivers. I should have told him the true reason for sending him back to his old stomping grounds.
“Luke Rogers needs a damn good lawyer right now. I thought you may want to know, since you had me look into him and all.” His voice is full of sarcasm.
My words to Jewels in the church come back to haunt me. I told her I would take care of him, too. Nothing I have touched has turned into anything good lately. I’ve been fucking up every way I turn. Something so out of character for me. All because I have been halfway in both of my worlds. The society world, then the world where I love Jewels. I have to choose.
“I’m on my way.”