Page 23 of No Place Like Home (Orlinda Valley #3)

Rowan

“ I don’t think I’ve ever seen you two act this harshly with each other.

” My mom looked between Summer and me like she was watching a tennis match.

“You’ve been biting each other’s heads off all afternoon.

Is living together finally straining your friendship, or am I missing something? ” She raised her brow.

I huffed and stalked ahead, away. I needed space.

We were at The Landing, a one-stop outdoor shopping area featuring high-end shops, restaurants, a big-chain bookstore, and small boutiques, all anchored by a movie theater.

I was tired of walking and shopping. We had already picked up Kai’s gifts, a personalized hand-crafted leather tool belt—which was fucking cool—and the blueprints of their house in a custom frame.

I had to admit, Kora knew how to make a lasting impression.

Since then, Summer and my mother had been strolling through every fucking store.

The candle store, the jewelry store, a shoe store—at least that one was useful.

I needed a new pair of sneakers. Now we were in one filled with lotions and shower gels.

There were so many smells I was getting a headache.

Summer tried her best to act like this morning didn’t happen by being friendly and sweet.

I was so over it. Even as she picked up the lotion and shower gel that made me hard because it was her signature scent that I memorized years ago, I was pissed and told her maybe she should grow up and find something new.

But, damn, that was the last thing I wanted her to do.

Finally, she’d filled her basket and got into the checkout line, and I trudged outside to get fresh air, my mother tight on my heels.

“Is there something going on between you and Summer?” She took me by the arm and turned me toward her. “You’ve both been acting weird since I showed up this morning.”

I yanked from her grasp.

“Don’t ignore me. I’m still your mother.”

I rolled my eyes. “Trust me, it’s nothing you need to worry yourself about, Mom.”

Just then Summer strolled out of the store swinging a pink bag from her arm. Her hair blew in her face, and she flipped it over her shoulder like she didn’t have a care in the world.

She looked like a damn goddess. My body lit up. Hot and reckless

Fuck.

I tore my gaze away and headed toward the car at a quick pace. I was pissed at her. That needed to stay front and center in my mind.

“There you are, finally,” Mom said to Summer. I heard their footsteps behind me, and my mom continued. “I was trying to get Rowan to explain to me why you two have been so irritated with each other. I’ve never seen you argue this much. Is living together finally getting to you?”

“Well, you could say that, or you could just say your son’s a slob. ”

My steps faltered. Did she really just call me a slob? My chest tightened and heated. Ignore her. Get to the car.

Summer’s voice again met my ears. “All was fine in my little dwelling the week before he moved in and then shit went downhill. Did you know he leaves his underwear on the bathroom floor, he doesn’t know how to wipe out the sink after brushing his teeth, and his nasty toothpaste gets stuck to the side? ”

“But just this morning you said that he was super organized from being in the Army,” Mom said.

I froze. This was ridiculous. I turned toward them, squared my shoulders, stared down at Summer, and countered, “Summer never puts her coffee cup in the dishwasher and is an absolute bitch in the morning.”

“Just the morning?” Mom asked.

“Tonya, I thought you’d be on my side,” Summer snapped.

“I’m not on either side,” my mother said, hands on her hips. “I’m just trying to make sense of this and something’s not adding up.”

I put my hand up. “Stop. The both of you. I don’t have time for either of y’all.” This was more of a nightmare than I thought it could be, and staying here longer than I needed to was not going to happen. I turned and continued toward the car. “This shopping trip is done. We’re leaving.”

The short car ride home was painfully quiet, and the tension between me and Summer was thick enough to cut with a knife. Summer kept her arms crossed the entire way, glaring out the window as if she could shoot laser beams into the world, while my mom hummed softly from the back seat.

I glanced over at Summer. Her eyes caught mine and she raised her brows.

I turned from her quickly and focused on the drive.

I wouldn’t let her off that easily. Hell, she threw me out a fucking window just hours ago.

If whatever this was between us was going to work, we had to admit our feelings and let others know like consenting adults, not sneak around and act like immature teenagers.

By the time I pulled into my mother’s driveway, I was practically vibrating with the need to escape. Summer grabbed her bag from the back seat and muttered something about needing a nap and she’d take the path home.

My mom gave me a knowing look as she shut the passenger door and said, “You could use a little time by yourself. Maybe go for a run, or something.” She turned toward her house.

“Yeah,” I muttered. “Or something.”

As soon as Summer disappeared from view, I threw the jeep into reverse and peeled out of the driveway. I didn’t have a destination in mind, but I couldn’t go to the house.

Jamison’s wasn’t far, and I figured he’d let me crash for a bit, but it was a workday and he was probably still on the clock.

So, instead, I made the turn toward town and Jerry’s Pub.

Trevor would be available. Even if he was at work, his job forced him to listen to people’s problems, being a bartender and all.

As I parked in the lot, I felt like a balloon on the verge of popping. I pulled open the door. There were a few tables filled with customers enjoying a late lunch, but luckily the bar area was empty. I parked my ass on a stool and grabbed a menu.

Trevor’s voice came from the kitchen. “Hey, man. Be right with you.”

He finally emerged from the kitchen and placed a basket of pretzel bites in front of me. “Here you go. Nico made some soft pretzels and beer cheese for us to snack on. Want a drink? ”

“Just a Coke,” I said as I dipped a pretzel in the cheese.

He raised an eyebrow at me. “You look like you just survived a war.”

“Close enough,” I muttered.

“What happened? Summer finally kill you with her sarcasm, or did your mom start digging through your embarrassing childhood stories again?”

I scrubbed a hand over my face. “I came here because I need to be distracted with some mindless conversation which isn’t at a bitch-decibel.”

Trevor chuckled. “Welcome to the sanctuary of the fed-up and exhausted. Stay as long as you want. A bar is a great place to let your negative feelings out.”

For the first time all day, I relaxed. Maybe I could survive Summer and my mother driving me batshit crazy after all—at least for now.

“She’s impossible, and I’m done. There’s a week until the wedding, and I don’t know if I’m going to be able to make it.”

“I take it things you’re talking about Summer, and things between y’all aren’t going well? Does that surprise you? Isn’t that why you never told her how you felt, and part of why you ran away and into the military?”

I narrowed my eyes. “I didn’t run away.”

He raised his brow and leaned against the counter; his arms crossed over his chest. “Really? That’s how it looked from where I stood.”

Fuck. He was right. I did run away but hoped no one would ever figure it out.

I had been over trying to make my life happen here in small-town USA.

I needed to get away—away from Bryson and his all-knowing attitude, and away from Summer and her need to stay independent when I wanted to be with her. Instead of talking with her, I ran.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m home now. Do you know of anywhere I can rent a place until I decide what to build on my property? Hell, maybe I’ll keep things simple and offer to buy Kora’s. Then I’ll already have a house and be able to kick Summer out on her ass.”

Trevor chuckled. “Like that would ever happen.”

I shrugged. “It could.”

Trevor shook his head. “Not likely, but I’ll ask around.”

“Thanks,” I said. “Now I need to get a job, then I’ll be set. You’re going to the party Saturday, aren’t you?” Since Kora and Kai had been living together for a while, the book club ladies decided to have more of a housewarming for them than a wedding shower, and everyone was invited.

“Possibly, but I’m not sure yet.”

“Well, make sure to have someone cover the bar. I need you there to have my back. Oh, do you mind if I crash at your place tonight—again?”

“As long as you don’t mind the couch—again.”

“Nope. Grab me the key. I want to go now.”

“What, you’re not going to be here tonight?”

“Nope. It’s been a long and busy week, ending with this shitty day. I want to veg in front of the television and relax.”