Page 76

MONTANA

“Oh, good, the whole gang’s here.” Leena walks in on a Monday morning, a pep in her step. She’s usually happy-go-lucky, but this is much more than normal.

“Hey, girl,” I respond first as she plops the usual doughnuts on the table. I’ve already eaten breakfast, so I’m not the first to dive in. That would be Asa, even though he did eat breakfast. The man has a sweet tooth.

“Hey, baby sis.” Asa stands up, grabs the doughnut he’s after, and then kisses his sister on the head before taking his seat again.

“Bad news is coming,” Keller grumbles, grabbing two doughnuts, still saying hello to Leena the same way Asa did.

“I wouldn’t say bad, but maybe fun.” Shit, she’s really up to something. I’m not sure the guys can take it. The past few weeks, Deke has been gone, not even bothering to come home on the weekends. It’s really screwing with the family big time.

“Hit us, Leena.” Tanner doesn’t bother with the sweet confection she brought, not even getting out of his chair. In fact, Tanner has his hands under his chin, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“I went on a job interview.” Oh fuck, she just let those words plop out.

You can hear a pin drop in the office right now.

It doesn’t matter that workers are loading and off-loading their trucks.

Their yelling to talk back and forth to one another is barely an echo in the distance to what Leena just dropped.

“You fucking what!” Keller bellows, the sound vibrating through the whole office. I’ve heard he can have a temper. Thankfully, I’ve never seen it, until now.

“You heard me. I wanted to see what else was out there. It wasn’t to be a dick.

It’s just that I feel like Hart Construction has been given to me.

I needed to know how it felt to, well, be needed.

” The happiness in her voice is gone. In it now is defeat, and my heart aches for my best friend.

Though, I’m probably a coward because I don’t speak up in her defense right away either.

“That’s just stupid. I don’t know what gave you that idea or how you got that in your stubborn-ass head, but get it out, because you aren’t leaving.

” Asa doesn’t raise his voice, doesn’t stand up.

His anger is of the quiet type. The day he blows up, we’re all going to be fucked. Hopefully, that day never comes.

“Leena, I’m not sure any of us can handle the thought of you leaving right now. So, please talk to us about this, and ignore the other idiots in this room.” Tanner is the voice of reason. Thank you, Jesus.

“Well, the opportunity presented itself. That didn’t mean I jumped on it right away; it took me weeks to pull the trigger.

This all happened before Deke had his meltdown.

Then it took what seemed like weeks before I finally landed the real job interview.

It was a rush, putting myself out there, knowing that it was all me doing the legwork, showing what I’m made of.

I don’t know, it just became something I felt like I had to do. ”

“Well, that’s just dumb. You’re not leaving, Leena. Don’t even think about it. I’ll lock your ass in your room.” Keller is ridiculous. I snort trying to hold my laughter in. That’s when eyes move to me, even Asa’s.

“What? She’s not dumb. You guys may not get it, but women have this instinctive trait that we have to feel needed and wanted.

Which is what Leena clearly was after, and the way you’re handling it, well, frankly, it sucks.

” Hopefully, that makes up for me being a weenie and not saying something earlier.

“Thanks, bestie.” Leena’s smile reappears.

“Jesus fucking Christ.” Asa gets up and starts pacing the length of the room.

“You’re welcome,” I reply, my eyes on Leena’s. Asa is a big boy and can handle a little controversy once in a while.

“You act like I’m leaving to live states away.

The job is in town, local even, and I haven’t even accepted, but I’ve got to say the package is freaking amazing.

More than the vacation I get now, plus holiday pay, a great salary.

What else could I ask for?” She’s just rubbing salt in the wound now. I think Leena has zero regrets either.

“Good for you. I’m glad you went. If we didn’t make changes at some point in time that are good for us, then where would we be in life?”

“What the fuck, Montana? Why would you even say that?” Asa stops what he’s doing.

“At least someone is in my corner. If it weren’t for Montana, I probably never would have gone.” Her lips form an O after realizing what she said when everyone focuses on me.

“You did what? What else have you been keeping from me? Do you even love me?” I don’t dignify him with an answer right away, mostly because I am stunned speechless. Another reason is because if I could breathe fire, that is what would happen right about now.

“Asa, don’t say something in anger you can’t take back,” Tanner states.

“Go walk it off, Asa, right now,” Leena tells him, knowing that my silence means I’m shutting down. That’s the best thing about friendship: they know when things get bad before they do.

“Fuck this.” Asa storms off, taking my heart with him. I think back on all the great moments we’ve had together. They play on a highlight reel in my head. I know the good outweighs the bad, but the way he’s acting right now, even I’m not sure it’ll help.

“You okay, Montana?” Keller, the one I least expect to ask, asks. I nod my head, still choosing to remain silent.

“Yeah,” my voice creaks, but I will not let the tears fall, no freaking way.

These people might be more family than employers, but that’s where I draw the line.

I suck the tears back. “I’m good. You may want to check on Asa, though.

Oh, and maybe make sure Leena is okay, too.

I don’t think she really would have taken the position.

It was more of a ‘look what she can’ do for a confidence boost.” I noticed Leena left right along with Asa, though she went to the bathroom instead of leaving the whole freaking place.

“If you need to go home, we understand, okay?” Tanner says.

“That’s really sweet of you, honestly, but I’m going to work.

Asa and I will work things out when work is over, and if not, well, I guess it’s a good thing my apartment is still mine.

” No one says anything else, thankfully.

This way, I can lick my wounds in peace, do the work before me, and deal with the asshole I love with my whole heart, even when he’s an idiot.