Page 54 of Sin With Me

Last night, I had dinner at Mom’s with Waylon and Harlow. It’s become a tradition since Dad died. Every Saturday, Mom makes a feast and then we play a few board games.

It’s always a fun time and distracts me for a few hours. Even funnier when Harlow loses and pouts about it. When she’d play with our parents as a kid, they always let her win, but now as an adult, she has no idea how to strategize to win on her own.

She’ll get there,eventually.

Mom could tell I’d been crying by my bloodshot and sunken eyes. Well, first she asked if I was high, and after reassuring her that I wasn’t, she sat me down after they left.

I don’t care how old I am, I’ll never be too old to cry on my mom’s shoulder until I’m a blubbering, snotty mess.

At the very least, it was therapeutic in a way I haven’t felt in a long time. Crying into my pillow just isn’t the same.

When I woke up this morning, I felt a hundred times better—like the dark cloud hovering above me had finally moved.

I showered for the first time in three days, put on makeup, and blew out my hair.

But then, as luck and my life would have it, one phone call ruined all of it.

“This is a collect call from Cocke County Jail…”

Chapter Eleven

Delilah

As I drive to the county jail, I debate with myself if this is the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, and before I even walk across the parking lot, I conclude that it is.

I’ve only ever been to the Sugarland Creek jail, which is really a two-person cell in the sheriff’s office.

The county jail is bigger.

And scarier.

Saying that as someone who’s not even the one behind bars is how I know this is a bad idea. But when he called—begging for my help, swearing he’s innocent, and claiming he has no one else to call—I felt bad and caved.

Hearing Jonah’s voice on the other line was unexpected and surprising after our last encounter.

Apparently, he got pulled over for speeding, though he claims he was only going five over the limit. They found an ounce of marijuana in the glove compartment and arrested him for drug possession.

He swears up and down it’s not his and that Wesley planted it and then had one of his buddies follow him until they pulledhim over. There’s bad blood between them and he claims Wesley’s trying to get him in trouble.

After finding out they’re brothers-in-law and that Wesley was watching a suspect at the Twisted Bull, I assumed he was keeping an eye on Jonah. Otherwise, it’s just a strange coincidence that he was there two hours after his shift to watch a suspect the same night his brother-in-law was there getting wasted.

But also, knowing Wesley and how shady he is, I don’t believe a word he says either.

If Jonah’s telling the truth, Wesley could be the one mixed up in drugs and that’s how he had them planted in Jonah’s truck in the first place.

However, my gut could be wrong, and I’m helping a drug dealer.

After his bail hearing, he called again to tell me it was set at two grand. He’s lucky it wasn’t more because otherwise, he would’ve had to get a bail bond to cover it. But since it’s his first offense, he’s not a flight risk and doesn’t have a criminal record, they gave him leniency.

In a few days, he’ll go to his arraignment and be formally charged. Then he’ll have to figure it out on his own. Best-case scenario, he won’t get jail time, but I only came to pay his bail and take him to his truck at the impound. I’m not getting involved more than that.

“Delilah…” He grabs my attention while I dazed out in the waiting room.

After I paid his bail, they directed me here, and I’ve been waiting for over two hours.

Standing, I greet him with a smile. “Hey. Glad they finally let you out.”

“I can’t thank you enough for comin’. Seriously, I owe you.”