Aftermath by Bailey Bradford (most important books of all time txt) 📗

thought as he glared at the back of his boss’s graying head as she walked off, at least he didn’t feel like he might burst into tears at any moment now. Instead he was just mad. He finished up in the kitchen then started towards the office. He ignored the voices coming from the room, too concerned with trying to figure out what he was going to do with a day off. A forced day off.

With that preoccupying his thoughts, Darren stepped into the open office only to stop when he noticed the two men standing beside Virginia. Darren found himself the recipient of three gazes—silver, pale green and faded blue as Sheriff Stenley, Severo and Virginia all stopped talking and looked at him.

“I’ve got your backpack,” Severo finally said after a moment of uncomfortable silence. He swung the pack as if to emphasize his words.

Darren reached for the backpack, annoyed that anyone, but especially this man who seemed to see more than Darren would have liked, thought it was okay to handle his things.

“I can carry it—”

“No,” Darren forced the word out, stomping down his impulse to shut up and divert attention from himself. “I’m not so bad off I can’t carry it, or”—Darren flicked a glance at Virginia—“get myself back to Mrs. Hawkins’ place, despite what some people think.” He plucked the strap from Severo’s hand and settled the pack on his shoulder as his boss narrowed her eyes at him.

“Fine,” Virginia grumbled. “You can work tomorrow, but only if you let Sheriff Stenley or Severo give you a ride to and from work. I don’t want to risk you getting dizzy or something and ending up splattered on the road.”

That kind of sucked, but it was better than being alone all day. “Yes, ma’am, I can do that, if either or both of them are willing to pick me up at four-thirty in the morning and bring me home, too.”

Severo crossed his arms over his chest and smiled. “I think that’s the most I’ve heard you say in all the months I’ve known you. We’ll be there and we’ll even bring coffee.”

You don’t know me. Darren swallowed the words before they could escape. He’d already said too much.

“You going to be smart enough to let someone help you out?”

The question, asked in a deep rumbling growl Darren knew belonged to the sheriff, made his stomach flutter. As much as he didn’t want Severo trying to figure him out—and the man was, had been for some time, which scared the crap out of Darren—he really didn’t want the sheriff poking around in his life. Which meant taking the path of least resistance in this instance. Darren stared at his hands on the strap of his pack.

“Yes, sir,” Darren murmured, unable to look at the bigger man. It wasn’t that the sheriff was ugly or anything, because he definitely wasn’t. Darren just knew that sharp gaze would see into his head and pull out everything Darren wanted to keep hidden. Okay, so maybe he knew that wasn’t possible, but it was possible that Darren would start babbling like an idiot, spilling everything about his past, if the sheriff demanded it. That was why Darren didn’t want to be near the guy. Just thinking about it made him shiver and he hoped the others watching him took it for exhaustion or pain or anything but the truth.

“Come on, we’re not so bad.”

Darren flinched at the fleeting touch to his elbow as he looked at Severo. The little guy had moved so quietly. Severo stepped around him and continued talking as he led the way to the back door.

“Laine pulled his truck around back. We were going to load up your bike but…”

Grunting as he shifted his pack around, Darren unzipped the smallest outside pocket and pulled out his keys. Once outside with his two…whatever they were—Darren didn’t know, that was for sure—he started to walk over to his bike only to be stopped by a big, hard hand clamping down on his shoulder.

“I’ll get it, go on and get it the truck. You’re limping.”

Darren bristled but didn’t so much as glance behind him as he offered the keys up. Sheriff Stenley took them and stepped around Darren, murmuring something that sounded awfully close to ‘good boy’, which, if Darren had been certain was what was said, he’d have been more than a little offended by it.

“Least resistance,” he muttered, turning and heading to the truck. He thought Severo snickered but wasn’t sure. It could have been a cough.

“I’m guessing you want in the back seat since you don’t seem to like anyone besides Virginia.”

Darren knew Severo was goading him, but couldn’t figure out why—and he couldn’t stop himself from sniping since he was already a little past mad. “Is it any wonder when everyone’s so bossy and…and nosy?” It wasn’t his best comeback at all, but it was heartfelt enough that no one could doubt he meant it.

Except Severo must have, because he laughed and slapped Darren on the back. “Right. Well, it’s a small town, so everyone wants to, and usually does, know everyone else’s business. And no matter how much you protest, you’ve stayed here a while so you must not mind.”

Severo pulled open the rear passenger door, like Darren couldn’t do it himself. He scowled as Severo chuckled, those pale eyes dancing with amusement at Darren’s expense. “I think maybe you’re just shy,” Severo finally said and Darren almost relaxed until the guy added, “Or is there something you’re afraid of?”

Darren shut up and shut down, closing his eyes and slowing his breathing to fake sleep for the short drive to the house. No way would he tell anyone the very thing he was afraid of most in the world was himself.

Laine grimaced as Severo not so gently prodded at Darren. Laine knew his lover’s intentions were good, but he was going about gaining Darren’s confidence the wrong way. As scared and wound tight as the