I scowl and turn away. “This has nothing to do with Jenna. You have no game, Ethan. Own it.”
He mocks, “Own it,” as I start shoving clothes in my bag.
My pocket vibrates and I pull out my phone only to frown at the screen before answering, “What?”
Samson clucks his tongue. “We really need to work on your telephone greetings, man.”
“What do you want?”
“It’s not me this time. Mom wanted me to call and remind you to bring an umbrella, in case it rains.”
I scoff. “Did she want you to call me about an umbrella or did she want you to check up on me and make sure I was really heading out there?”
“Both, probably.”
I sigh. “Right. Well, tell her to relax. I’m leaving tomorrow.” A pause. “How’s she doing?”
Samson hesitates a moment. “Not good.”
Of course she’s not doing good. Her son is missing. Missing. Where we come from, there are only two reasons a guy goes missing: He’s either on the run or in the ground. Neither of which sound like Drew.
Drew’s not a fighter or a dealer. If anything, he’s the opposite. A mama’s boy, who follows the rules and stays out of trouble.
I stop packing. “I don’t like this, Sam. Something feels wrong.”
“I know,” he says. “I’m trying my best to figure all this shit out, Jack. I swear. But you know how it is out here. No one will talk to me—because I’m not you. I don’t have your connections. Your associations.”
“Damn straight, you don’t,” I snap harshly, red-hot protectiveness and fear burning beneath my skin.
“Right,” Samson says slowly. “My point is that I can only do so much without you, but I’m working my ass off to find any leads on Drew. I really am.”
“I know you are, Sam.” I quiet my tone. It’s not his fault, all this shit. It never was. “Drew’s lucky to have you there.” A wave of guilt crashes into me and I ride it out until it hurts just enough for me to surface for air.
I shouldn’t have left Little Vail. I shouldn’t have left my family.
But I needed to leave. I had to.
It was my only chance to get out.
I shouldn’t have left—
“No. Drew’s lucky to have you, bro.” Samson’s words cut open a fresh wound and smooth it over at the same time. Guilt’s a fickle bitch. “We all are.”
With a thick swallow, I go back to shoving clothes in my duffle bag. “How’s Mom doing on money? Does she need more? I can send more—”
“She’s fine. We’re all fine,” he says. “We don’t need anything but your overprotective ass out here to help with this Drew situation. How are you coming out? You flying?”
“Nah. I’m hitching a ride with a friend.”
“Why don’t you take your motorcycle?”
I go back to stuffing items into the duffle. “Because it’s a long trip to make by myself. Can’t risk getting delayed by bike troubles and shit. Besides, what if it rains?” I mock.
“What, are you scared of getting wet?”
“No. I’m just not a reckless moron like you.”
He scoffs. “So then fly.”
I zip up my bag and toss it by my bedroom door. “I thought about it. But I’ve got a friend driving out to NOLA anyway so I figured I’d make the best of it. You’re good until later this week, right?” I say. “Mom doesn’t need me sooner?”
“No, she’ll be cool until you get here,” he says. “Besides, she’s got me to keep her company now, remember? I’m living with her again. You know, because of the whole thing with Trixie kicking me out.”
“God, you’re horrible with women.”
He scoffs. “You’re one to talk. You haven’t had a woman like… ever.”
I scowl. “Had a woman?”
“You know what I mean. You never date anyone. Not seriously.”
“Right,” I say. “And no one’s ever kicked me out. Funny how that works.”
“Asshole,” he mutters. “On that note… I’m signing off. I’ll be seeing you later this week, I guess. I’d tell you to ride safe but since you’re too much of a baby to ride in the rain…”
“Fuck off.”
“That’s the spirit. See you later, bro.” The line goes dead and I shove the phone back into my pocket before getting a pack of cigarettes out of my other pocket. Then I haul my bag out to the living room.
“Damn.” Ethan eyes my bag as he slips a flashy watch over his wrist. “How are you going to fit that thing on your Harley?”