Chapter 16

Jack

Much as I tried to convince Melissa to just stay a little while longer, she eventually had to go to work, leaving me alone. I had no idea what to do with myself. If I were at home and didn't have any work to do, this was usually the time that I'd do some work on the house. It was an old place, and probably wasn't worth the frustration of fixing it up, but I couldn't just let my mom's house rot. It wasn't right. Even if I ended up leaving Bell Springs for good, I would never let that house fall to pieces.

But I wasn't in Bell Springs right now, and therefore had nothing to do. I also didn't know how long I was going to be here, but I figured it was long enough that I should find something to occupy my days.

I stretched down to pick up my jeans from the floor and fished the business card out of the back pocket. Then I tossed the jeans away and leaned back against the pillows.

Neil Buckins, it read. Project Manager.

"Fuck it," I muttered. "Worth a shot."

I grabbed my phone from the side table and punched in Neil's number. He picked up after only a couple of rings, sounding every bit as bright and cheerful as he had when I spoke to him at the bar.

"Hi Neil, this is Jack. I don't know if you remember me but—"

"Jack the fighter!" he roared. "It's great to hear from you. Heard about that mess last night...awful, just awful. That Beringer boy can be a real villain when he wants to be. I thought after that I wouldn't be hearing from you."

"Yeah, well I decided to stay in Cannon for a bit." I scratched my head, second-guessing myself on whether this was a good idea. "You said you had some work—"

"Fuck, do I ever have some work. You'd be surprised how few guys there are in this town who know which side of the hammer to use, if you know what I mean. Can you come by the job site tomorrow?"

"Sure," I said. "And thank you. I appreciate you taking a chance on me."

He laughed, and I could just picture his ribald face filling with cheer. "I bet on you once and I'll bet on you a dozen times more. See you tomorrow, Jack."

I hung up the phone and stared up at the ceiling. I guess I had a job. A real one. If everything went as smoothly as Neil seemed to think it would, then it might be a while before I needed to fight again. It was a comforting thought. I couldn't imagine having someone lay into me right now, not in the state I was in. Plus, I needed to save up all the strength I had in case Donnie or his friends tried anything while I was staying here. I would find it strange if they didn't.

I had a couple missed texts from my sister asking if everything was okay, and I decided to call her just to keep things simple. Even as the phone was ringing I still didn't know how much of what happened yesterday I was willing to reveal to her. She hated me fighting almost as much as mom did, but for now it was what I needed to do if she was going to stay in school. She worked part-time making coffee as it was, and full-time during the summers to save up money. Education didn't come cheap, but I refused to let her pass up on the opportunity to better herself.

"Hey bro," Sadie answered. "I was worried about you. Everything okay?"

"Yeah, fine," I said. It wasn't exactly a lie. The past twenty-four hours had been a mix of shit and roses, so I figured calling it even was fair. "I just had a busy night is all. How are things going with you?"

"Same old, same old," she said with a light laugh. "I've been thinking about coming home for a weekend soon. When would work for your schedule?"

My eye twitched. "Uh, I'm not home right now."

"What do you mean? Where are you?"

"I'm in Cannon," I said. "It's about thirty miles away from Bell Springs."

"Cannon..." She sounded suspicious. I didn't blame her. It wasn't like me to up and move to another city without any warning. "What are you doing there? I've never even heard of it."

"It's a small town," I said. "Probably around the same size as home. There's some work here so I'm just going to ride it out for a while."

"Riiiight."

"Really."

Sadie laughed. "Brother, you are so full of shit. What's her name?"

Damn my sister and her uncanny ability to tell when I was lying. It was annoying as hell.

"What makes you think I'm staying here for a girl?" I asked. "You know how things are at home. It's hard enough to get a job delivering pizza, never mind in construction."

"That hasn't sent you searching for greener pastures before," she pointed out. "You're a total homebody, so if you're staying in a buttfuck nowhere town called Cannon then it must be because of a girl. Either that or you've officially lost the plot."

I sighed. This wasn't a game I would be able to win. "Her name is Melissa."

"I knew it."

"You're very smart. Give yourself a pat on the back." I rolled my eyes but couldn't keep the grin from my face.

"Jack's got a girlfriend!" Sadie teased. "Jack and Melissa, sitting in a tree—"

"Do not start with me," I warned. "Just because I've never given you a wedgie doesn't mean I don't know how."

She giggled. "Alright, tough guy. I won't bother you about your girlfriend. How long are you going to be there?"

"I don't know."

"When you find out, let me know. Maybe I could come visit."

The thought of Melissa meeting my kid sister wasn't unpleasant. But not now, it was way too soon.

"Yeah, maybe. I'll keep you in the loop. Now get back to studying."

"Yeah...studying..."

Sadie might joke, but she was the hardest worker I knew. She could study for hours on end and not break a sweat.

After my phone call with Sadie, I was officially out of distractions. Now there was nothing but me, an empty motel room, and my thoughts. I wished Melissa didn't have to work. I could have spent all day in bed with her as easily as breathing.

My stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since my burger the night before. Ma's Diner felt like it had happened years ago, and my stomach was feeling that too.

I took a quick shower, debating my options while the hot water cascaded down my back. I didn't know anywhere in this town other than the bus station and the Alibi, though I could probably find somewhere to eat if I put my mind to it. But why bother? I already knew where to find the Alibi and I already knew that they had the sexiest bartender in the world.

I got dressed, realizing that I was going to have to go back to Bell Springs at some point, or else I was going to have to get real used to the shirt and pants I had with me. And the blood stains on them. I couldn't even tell if it was my blood or not.

I remembered the route Melissa took when she drove me to the motel yesterday and was able to find my way down to the bar on foot. On the way I got a good look at my new locale, which looked remarkably similar to my old one. The same squat stucco houses, the same long, dusty roads, the same weathered, tired faces. Fuck, I may as well have been in an ad for rural Arizona. Everything looked and smelled the same but it wasn't comforting the way familiar sights and smells are supposed to be.

I wanted something different. I wanted out. I would stay in Cannon as long as Melissa wanted me here, but I decided right then that once I was out of Cannon, I was out of everywhere like it too. I wanted something different. I wanted big leafy trees and fields of green and rain. I wanted a fresh start. Melissa had inspired me, and I wondered how she would take the idea of making a fresh start with me eventually. I couldn't imagine anything more cathartic than the salt spray of the ocean on my skin, especially when my present nightmare was the baking sun and red dust, like I was strolling through a Martian landscape.

I reached the Alibi after about a twenty minute walk, and I was thirsty by the time I got there. And starving. The kitchen smell hit me when I walked through the door and my mouth watered.

At first I didn't notice that the place fell eerily silent. When I did notice, I looked around to see the few customers staring at me, though they quickly looked away before we could lock eyes.

Well, it looked like last night's drama had gotten more than just Neil's attention.

I looked to the bar for a friendly face, but Melissa wasn't there. She wasn't anywhere, as far as I could see, which I found unsettling to say the least. I took a table at the back and waited, ready to jump to her defense again the second she called on me.