The Vincent Boys 02 - The Vincent Brothers

dropped, “Uncle Nolan is engaged to a twenty-three year old?”
    It sounded ludicrous when she said it aloud, too. My dad was not an attractive guy. Sure, I loved him but he was old and balding. Not to mention he had a potbelly. “Crazy, huh?”
    “Yeah, real crazy... are you okay? Is he going to call you?”
    I wasn’t sure if I had ever been okay. Even when both my parents lived at home. They fought constantly. Most of my memories growing up had a scene in them where my mother was screaming at my dad.
    “I’m fine. He’s supposed to call today. His fiancée... she wants me to be her maid-of-honor. I’ve never even met her. I think I’m going to ask him if I can just be his best man. I think I could rock a tux.”
    Ashton let out a long sigh then walked around the bar to stand beside me. She wrapped her arm around my waist and squeezed. “When you want to talk, rant or even cry, I’m here.”
    My eyes teared up and I swallowed the lump in my throat. I didn’t like people thinking I was weak. I’d never been one to share my emotions. I kept things inside. Dealt with them on my own. But knowing someone was there and cared— it meant a lot. More than she would ever know. I rested my head against hers and we stared out at the backyard together in silence. There wasn’t much more to say. Just having someone there beside me made things so much easier.

    Sawyer

    Beau: What days do you have to be in Florida for practices?

    Me: Three days a week starting in July.

    Beau: Bama is the same. We’ve really only got June to take that camping trip.

    Me: I’m ready when you are.
    Beau: You talked to Lana?

    Me: Not today. Just got back from the field house working out.

    Beau: Ash is spending the morning with her. She’s got some shit going on with her parents.

    I stared down at Beau’s last text. Lana being upset made me anxious. Not sure I liked that. I didn’t have time for anything more than a summer fling.

    Me: I’ll call her. Thanks.

    Beau: Be careful with her.

    I didn’t respond. This wasn’t his business. When I’d been with Ashton he’d been more involved than he should have been but I’d let it slide because Ash was a part of his life too. But Lana... she was not his concern. Throwing the phone down on the bed, I headed to the bathroom for a shower. I’d already planned out a day where I could have Lana all to myself anyway. It had been my inspiration while running up and down the bleachers one hundred times.

    “Where you headed, sweetheart?”
    My mom called out from her office as I passed it on my way to the garage. I’d hoped to sneak by her without having to answer her questions. She’d been upset when Ashton had broken up with me. She’d been even more upset when she’d found out Beau had been my replacement. We’d spent a lot of time in counseling together. We’d had to deal with my dad’s dishonesty and find a way to face the truth without ripping our family apart. I still wanted Dad to reach out to Beau but he wouldn’t. There was no way Beau was going to make the first move. He had a lot of well-deserved bitterness inside him where my dad was concerned.
    “I’m headed to pick up Lana, you remember Ashton’s cousin from Georgia. We’re going to head to Mobile to do some shopping for camping gear and maybe catch a movie or something.”
    Mom tilted her head and frowned. “Isn’t Lana the daughter of that crazy sister of Sarah’s?”
    I didn’t know much about Lana’s mom other than Ashton was not a fan. Shrugging I shoved my hands in my pockets. “Lana isn’t crazy. That’s all that matters.”
    “Hmmph... well, don’t get too attached. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
    My Aunt Honey’s voice rang in my ears when not too long ago she’d said the same thing about my dad and Beau. Scowling, I replied, “Yeah, I realized that when I found out dad was unfaithful and then lied about it to those he was supposed to love.”
    My mother’s back went ramrod straight. I hated the hurt look I’d put in her eyes. She didn’t deserve my anger. She’d been a victim too.
    “Sorry, Mom—”
    “I shouldn’t have butted into your business. You’re right. Go have fun. Enjoy yourself this summer. Everything changes this fall. There’s a big sea out there with lots of fish and now you and Ashton have moved on. It’s time you start sampling the variety.”
    Mom had loved Ashton. I think she may have even picked out our china patterns at one point.