Page 103 of Rival

Shoving another fry into his mouth, Jaxon points a fresh one at me. “Why are you scowling?”

Frowning at him, I smack his hand away, making him chuckle and eat the fry. “I’m not scowling. Just thinkin’.”

“About what?”

“Shit Ruth and Pastor have been sayin’ to us. Nothin’ I want to get into now.”

I appreciate when he just nods and keeps eating. We’ve all developed a deep respect for the Danielsons, and I’m incredibly thankful for the bits of information she’s shared regarding Edith. The biggest news is that she’s been getting her own counseling to help with the bullshit she went through with her father.

Imagining her facing off with him on a daily basis over the course of her whole life makes me absolutely sick. Memories of Griffin beating the shit out of him help to ease my rage, whichseems to be constantly boiling inside wheneverhecrosses my mind.

“Why the hell are you smiling like that now? What is wrong with you tonight?”

Laughing, I pop my last bite of burger in my mouth and grin, then wipe my hands clean of the grease. “Just remembering our visit to ol’ Clayborn’s house a few nights ago.”

Jaxon snorts a laugh. “Griffin took it a bit easy on him last time, in my opinion.”

“Maybe. But the way he’s just curlin’ up and cryin’ is taking all the fun out of it. Bet that dude hasn’t pissed right in months.”

I wave our waitress down to let her know we’re ready for the bill when he responds. “Probably not. I don’t feel bad about it, though. You’d have thought he would have tattled by now.”

“Nah. Even if he did, it’s not like he’s got any friends over at the station. Court’s next month and he knows he’s gonna be put away for—”

My phone rings, cutting me off. I hate answering while I’m eating, so I reach into my pocket to silence it, then turn it upside down on the table.

Continuing, I say, “Gonna be put away for years. Then she’ll get to come home.”

“Thank God. This has been absolute torture. I just want to talk to her.”

Jaxon’s phone rings this time and, unlike me, he checks the caller.

“It’s Fin,” he tells me before answering. “What’s up, man?”

Listening, his brows move higher and higher the longer he listens, then hits me with a hard stare. Mouthing, “What?” I get annoyed when he doesn’t answer me as he keeps listening, his mouth dropping open in shock.

“You’vegotto be kidding me. Are you serious? What the hell happened?”

Hating that I don’t know what’s going on, I peek at my phone and see my missed call was from Griffin as well. Making sure I’m not overheard, I lean forward and hiss, “What’s going on?”

With a wave, he silences me. “Fin, is he dead?”

“Who?” I bark out, pissed I’m being kept in the dark. Jaxon shoots me a dark look, then nods once. “We’re coming over. You… Yeah, okay. We’ll meet you at Mason’s farm. Yeah, I’m with him. No, he didn’t want to talk to you. I’ll tell him. See you soon.”

Hanging up the phone, Jaxon doesn’t let me ask anything before he hits me with the best news I’ve ever heard.

“Clay’s dead.”

I’m absolutely stunned and find myself frozen in my chair until Jaxon stands and drops cash on the table. That gets me moving and I toss some bills down as well. As soon as we’re outside, my questions start pouring out.

“What the hell happened? How’d he die?”

“Fin said it was a car accident. We’re going to your place because I want to drive by the crash site. Apparently, he was only a mile or so away from his home, heading into town.”

He’s speaking rapidly as he picks up the pace to his truck. I grab his arm to stop him and when he turns to face me, his eyes are wild. “Edith.”

“I know.”

Deciding to leave mine behind, I hop into his passenger seat, anxiousness growing quickly. I’m ready togo.