Page 67 of Just Friends
“I asked what she wanted him buried in.”
“I’ll take care of it,” he said. “When do you need it?”
“Wednesday at the latest.”
On the way back to her apartment, he was about to ask her to stay with him for a few days when she sighed and jerked out her phone.
“Hey,” she said, “Dad passed away last night.” Rebecca listened for a minute, but he couldn’t make out the voice on the other end. “Funeral is Saturday. You’ll come?” she paused. “Why not?” Rebecca sat in silence for several beats. “Yeah, I know you’re divorced, but he’s still my dad, and I’d think you’d come to be with me… never mind.” She disconnected the phone, as far as he could tell, hanging up on her mom.
Rebecca clunked the back of her head into the headrest several times. He reached over and took her hand. “My mom won’t come to the funeral,” she said. Her phone rang, and Rebecca hit decline.
Weasel pulled into the apartment parking lot and rounded the car to open her door. Rebecca was still shaking her head.
“I know they divorced,” she continued on the path up the steps through the corridor to her door. “She left him,” she said, shoving the key into the lock. Following her through the door and closing it as Rebecca fell onto the sofa. “Mom hated it here and felt trapped. He loved it here, and it was a big mess. But his family hates her because of it, and she thinks it’ll be too awkward for her. It’s been thirteen years. How about get over it?”
He moved to the couch, and she curled up against him. In his job, he witnessed drama and tragedy, and he’d broken the news of death to family members. In that world, he was unflappable, detached, no emotions. Rebecca’s world falling off its axis did something to his gut that he hadn’t seen coming. He’d physically put himself in between her and danger and protect her, but there wasn’t a damn thing he could do to protect her from heartbreak. This he couldn’t arrest. Helplessness wasn’t a welcome feeling.
Rebecca sent their friends a group text with the news and information on visitation and funeral. She’d included him in the group text, and right away their phones were pinging with replies asking if she needed anything. Hannah and Autumn wanted to come over. Rebecca insisted everyone should go about their normal work day; they could meet up later. His phone alerted with a text that Ben sent only to him.
Are you with her?
Yes. I got her.
Twenty-Three
That evening, Rebecca sat in the farmhouse living room surrounded by her friends, a roaring fire, and several buckets of chicken and sides. The historic Huntington Farms house had become a gathering place for their little group. It was a thriving business that her friends had built, and where Autumn found her place in life. It served as a hangout hub and where they gathered for comfort in tough times like when she’d found Kyle cheating on her. This was where she’d noticed Weasel looking at her differently, and she might have had a few thoughts of him. And of course,on New Year’s Eve where she’d dragged him upstairs and had her way with him after she’d been away for a week. That one made her blush.
Rebecca had to explain how her dad died and received condolences. She didn’t want to talk, and thankfully, they’d started another topic. There was a conversation continuing on, but she couldn’t focus; she moved the food around her plate, but only picked at it. Her self-appointed guardian sat across the room, conversing with Dan. He stayed by her side all day until they arrived; then Hannah and Autumn took over gluing themselves to her. She noted that she’d trimmed all of her fingernails but missed the left thumb; it would bug her until she could see to it.
The sound of her name brought her back to reality. Autumn was speaking to her. “Are you all right?”
The question caught Weasel’s attention who was now watching. Rebecca avoided his eyes and shifted to Autumn. “Yeah…sorry, guess I zoned out.”
Hannah patted her. “It’s okay. It’s been a long day.” Rebecca nodded and pushed a scoop of cold mashed potatoes to the other side of the plate. Hannah sighed and grabbed it from her and slid it on the coffee table. Then she leaned in and whispered. “So, you and Weasel arrived together.”
“He showed up, and said he was driving. I didn’t want to anyway.” Rebecca shrugged.
“Interesting… Anything happen with him thatyou want to tell us about?” Autumn asked.
“Not a thing.”
Hannah rolled her eyes, and yeah, Rebecca probably should tell them about her and Weasel, but there was so much up in the air. She couldn’t think straight. They’d want him to be permanent; for her to settle down with him like they had with their guys. But he couldn’t be permanent. When she’d moved back, she made a promise to her mom thatshe’d leave White Oak when her dad recovered. Well, she didn’t have him holding her there any longer. Ellen would waste no time pointing that out. The ache in her chest intensified. A heart attack? She wouldn’t be that lucky.
“Okay,” Autumn said. “You’d know we support you.”
Rebecca nodded and leaned on Autumn’s shoulder. “Yeah.”
Dan stood grabbing Danny, “We have a code brown situation.” The baby fussing at the interruption.
“You want me to take him?” Autumn asked.
“I got it,” he replied. Dan turned to Brandon, “I’m borrowing the golf cart.”
“I wanna drive,” Weasel said.
“No,” Brandon protested.
“I’m commandeering the vehicle.” With that proclamation, Weasel exited the back door with Dan behind him. Everyone laughed, except Brandon.