“Alan,” he greeted.
He didn’t get a greeting back.
“Dot says you’re movin’ in to Millie’s,” he stated.
“Not doin’ it,” High told him. “Did it. I’m in.”
He watched Alan’s mouth get tight before he noted, “Movin’ real fuckin’ fast, man.”
“May seem that way to you. Me, waitin’ twenty years to have her back seems real fuckin’ slow,” High replied.
High watched as something changed about Alan and he watched it knowing he wasn’t going to like the change.
Then the man opened his mouth and proved High right.
“Pretty lucky for you, you walk away from your family, find yourself livin’ in an RV, you also find an ex who’s still hung up on you. An ex with a sweet crib. And you got her back a coupla days and your clothes are in her closet.”
High stood there, motionless except to take in a deep breath.
Then, quietly, he returned, “Could buy my girls a house, that bein’ all my girls, my two babies and Millie, layin’ cash down on somethin’ that’d make Millie’s pad look ghetto. Could do that, upgrade my truck, buy another bike, and, bud, I already got three, and do that in cash too. Do all that and take Millie on a five-star trip back to Paris, give her the luxury. Do all that and not even touch my girls’ college funds. You didn’t know any a’ that shit. I get that. Now you do.”
“You could buy your girls a pad, why’re you livin’ in an RV?” Alan shot back.
“You got kids,” High said. “Hope like fuck you and Dot stay strong. Shit happens and you don’t and you gotta put your kids through a split, you don’t just rent any place where they gotta lay their heads. You give ’em a home. You find the right one. I looked. Didn’t find it. While doin’ that, found Millie. Her place is nice. Not my scene but it’s hers, she loves it. So that’s where we are. And when I have my other two girls, that’s where we’ll all be.”
“Got all the answers,” Alan clipped irritably.
“Got ’em because there are answers,” High replied.
The man crossed his arms on his chest. “Right. That’s good. ’Cause, see, I need more answers. You got a history, man. In that history, it’s clear you got no problem walkin’ away from things that matter. Walked away from Millie. Walked away from your family. History like that repeats itself and you’re livin’ proof of that shit.”
High again stood silent and motionless to give himself time to talk himself out of laying the hurt on Dot’s old man.
When he found control, he spoke.
“You look at me, you know the man I am ’cause I reckon you see yourself in me. So you know I’m not a big fan of explainin’ myself to anyone and sure as fuck not a man who’s comin’ at me like you’re doin’. But you mean somethin’ to Millie and you’re gonna be in my life for a long time so I’m givin’ you this respect. Once. Just once, Alan. Not fuckin’ with you. You keep comin’ at me like this, it’s not gonna be good.”
Alan’s eyebrows went up. “So now you’re threatening me?”
High shook his head. “Bud, you walked into my store on my turf and came at me with this shit. I pulled up the patience and shared where I was at. I get this is new for you. I get you’re lookin’ after Millie, which is another reason why I’m eatin’ your shit. What you gotta get is that your wife and Millie’s girls are all down with me bein’ back. You give me a shot, I’ll show you it’s good for you to be down with that too. But advice. Look around at how the people who matter to Millie, who know the real history, are behaving. And do it bein’ careful. ’Cause not only am I not gonna take more of your shit, I got a job of it bringin’ Millie back to happy and I’m not lettin’ anyone fuck with that. Not even you.”
“Can’t say you’re impressin’ me,” Alan fired back. “Me askin’ pertinent questions and you makin’ threats.”
High took a step toward him and it said a lot the man didn’t move a muscle.
“You’ve got no fuckin’ clue,” he stated low.
“I got a clue, Logan,” the man returned. “I heard everything Millie said about what you did to her when you two got back into each other’s lives. No decent man treats a woman like that.”
“You got no fuckin’ clue,” High repeated.
“Know we nearly lost her to your shit.” He lifted up his brows again. “She does somethin’ where you feel she needs taught another lesson, what’s she gonna get?”
“You know, you turn the tables, you know this shit isn’t any of your business.”
“You’re wrong,” he spat, losing it. “Millie’s absolutely my business. Been in my life for twelve years, Logan. Longer than you had her. Through that time, I watched her exist. Saw the mess you and your brothers made of her before she went to Paris. You turn the tables, man, and tell me again it isn’t my business.”
It sucked, but the man had a point.
“She kept comin’ back for more,” High told him through gritted teeth.
“Way I heard it, you kept comin’ back to give her more.”
“And she took it. Took it. Held on tight. And didn’t let go.”
Alan shut his mouth.