Page 70

ASA

“I know I’m not a perfect man, know that I don’t deserve Montana, not in the least. Do I have a past?

Abso-fucking-lutely. So do you. So does every man in this room, and even the women out there on the patio.

What I don’t deserve is my own flesh and blood treating me like the scum beneath his shoe.

I never in a million years thought I didn’t want to be in a room with my own brother.

The way you’ve been going about things, Deke, it’s like you’re itching for a fight.

” I let my words soak in. Dad is in the corner of the room, standing with his shoulders squared and a look of disappointment on his face.

“I’m just being truthful. When’s the last time you had a true meaningful relationship, when you weren’t full of jokes and pick-up lines?” Deke is still on it, full throttle. I’m beginning to think my brother is a lost cause when it comes to our what I thought was friendship along with brotherhood.

“That right there proves you know nothing because you should be looking in the mirror. When’s the last time you lived, didn’t eat, breathe, and sleep work?

Sure, you may not hide the things I do behind jokes.

You let it all out with nothing but anger.

Just when I thought Keller had a chip on his shoulder, rightfully so, too, it seems like you’ve got a rock there when it comes to me.

” I’m done fighting a losing battle when it comes to Deke.

I’ll let the others sort his shit out. “Dad, Tanner, Keller, I’ll be outside.

If things don’t change, I think you’ll know I’ll ask to be assigned to another job site.

” Keller rocks back, as if I’ve visibly smacked him in the face.

I’ve never asked to be away from any of my brothers.

I’ve been the resilient one, letting shit roll off my back, but fuck this.

“Deke, boy, you know your mother and I love you, but clearly, there’s another issue here you don’t want to work through.

I try not to wade into the business side of things.

You know that I’m here if you need me. Other than that, your mother and I stay out of it.

Even your relationships or lack thereof, those are your own.

” Dad’s right. He’s never stepped into anything unless he was asked, not since Tanner started Hart Construction on his own dime, wanting to make a name for himself and our family, knowing Mom and Dad had their hands full, worked so much that sometimes it’d be on him to make sure we younger kids were taken care of.

It trickled on down the line, each of us taking turns as the older one worked longer hours, to help out with the others.

Once Mom and Dad got to a place where they were comfortable financially, that’s when things changed.

Don’t get me wrong, they were always there for us, there was food on the table, a roof over our head, and we had clothes on our backs.

“We all know that,” Tanner interjects. Dad holds his hand up because he’s not done, and that’s when all of us boys decide to take a seat. It’s going to be a long discussion, and any hopes of me leaving are thrown out the window.

“May as well get comfortable,” I grumble, looking at Deke, but he doesn’t think that’s a great idea, apparently. He stands, shoulders up to his ears, arms down by his sides, hands balled into fists.

“It’s going to be a long one, it seems.” This comes from Keller.

The two of them are holding back from laying into Deke.

Neither of them said a word to Marlie or Alana about the possibility of an Alabama office.

It was understood that until a plan was made, things would be tabled and stay inside of that meeting.

Deke blabbing his mouth surely didn’t help.

“Deke.” Tanner looks at him, nods his head to a place to sit. Deke shakes his head, and Tanner leaves him be, stubborn ass that Deke is.

“It seems to me, son of mine, that you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders.

So much like Tanner did when he was younger.

Your mother and I, we tried to be there for you all, and I know we relied on you too much.

” Dad looks at Tanner. “It seems now Deke is doing the same thing, worrying about everyone but himself. This also shows me, Deke, that you haven’t looked around, seen who helps hold the glue together.

Tanner takes on the burden as the big brother.

Keller is the quiet and serious one, always in protection mode.

Asa, well, he floundered. It’s hard to compete with those two with their personalities.

Jokes, pranks, playing himself off as an easy-going, fun-loving guy, it’s his defense mechanism.

Then there’s you, so full of anger that I’m not sure how to even help you or if you want help.

And, son, that fucking sucks. So, I’m going to wade in.

You want this job in Alabama, I think Hart Construction should take it.

I’m almost done with some orders and well stocked up on the Christmas trees.

I’ll go up with you and see what it’s all about.

Your mother has been wanting to hit the Gulf shores anyways, so it works out, too.

” This is fucked up, in every way imaginable.

Mom and Dad should be relaxing, enjoying their semi-retired state, yet here they are, willing to wade in and make it so Deke is happy getting his way.

I shake my head. What else is there to do?

“I’m not thrilled about this idea. Look what happened to Keller when he went off half-cocked. Now another brother is doing the same and dragging both you and Mom with him. I’m not signing off on it,” Tanner states.

“Alright, how about this, because I’m not all for it either.

You go up to Alabama by yourself, Deke, take a look at the bid, go through how we’d handle things down here.

Montana and Leena will need all the information, too, then we’ll make a decision as not only a family but as a company,” Keller responds.

If Deke had taken my advice to begin with, this shit wouldn’t be happening.

“Yeah, I like that last idea better. No offense, Dad.” I guess that’s all we’re going to get out of Deke.

“That good with you, Asa?” Tanner asks.

“Yep, sure is.” I don’t go into the fact that Deke had his chance to do things differently.

It’s better to leave it alone. “I do believe you owe a few women an apology, though. I won’t stand down on that.

” I stand up and walk away because if I don’t, nothing will come of it, and something tells me it’ll just make shit one hundred times worse.