Stroke Of Fear Read Online Free PDF Page B

down to watch the ID channel with some popcorn before she goes to bed.
       “Hi, Mom. What’s up?”
       “Just calling to make sure y’all got settled in, okay. Is Austin there? Is he behavin’?”
       I slide off the tailgate and shut it. “What do you think?”
       She sighs. “Can you try to keep him in line? I wish he was down here with me, I’d do it myself.”
       That’s for damned sure. Since Austin’s dad is the biggest asshole known to man, he didn’t stop until he had custody of Austin. Money goes a long way. If Austin had grown up with us in Arkansas, he wouldn’t act like he doesn’t have any sense. He’d be a m an. Know how to talk to a damn lady.
       “You there, baby?”
       “I’m here, Mom ma. Just getting my fishing pole ready for tomorrow. I have a break in my schedule.”
       “ That’s great. How are you likin’ the camp? I know you were havin’ trouble adapting up there. You can always come back.”
       “I love the camp. It’s a lot like home. And you know I can’t come back. It’s too …” I trail off into silence, letting the cricket’s song finish my sentence.
       “Tanner. I’ve be en meaning to talk to you about all of this. I know her dying was a lot on you. It was a lot on everyone. But, it’s okay to move on. It’s okay to look for someone else. It’s almost been a year—”
       I screw my eyes shut and hold onto the top of my tailgate, looking down at my boots. “Stop, Momma. I don’t want to talk ‘bout it, please.”  
       “I’m just worried about you. You moved out there all by yourself—”
       “I’m not by myself. I’m with David. I’m with family.”
       She huffs. “You know better. Stop interrupting me. I’m worried about you. You haven’t been the same since it happened. You may want to think about seeing a counselor. Someone to talk to?”
       Fuck. I don’t want to talk to anyone. Not Momma. Not Austin. Not David. No one. I want to drown myself in alcohol and erase the pain. “I’ll think about it,” I lie.
       She is quiet for a long while on the other end. “Okay. I’m going to go watch some TV before bed. Please, get some rest. Go kiss a girl. Screw her, son! I don’t care. Just …please live again.” She hangs up without even a goodbye.
       Pain erupts from my chest, and I throw my phone as hard as I can. It crashes somewhere in the grass off to the side of my truck. Bending over, I try to catch my breath with my hands on my knees.
       Why did she even have to bring it up? I’d promised myself I’d keep it locked away. Away from anyone that could see it.
       Rubbing my hands over my face, I straighten up. The dull ache in my chest is growing, consuming me like it used to. “Goddamn,” I mumble. Her brown eyes. Her tanned skin. Fuck . I slam my hands against my pickup.
       I stomp toward the cab of my truck and open the glove box. The small flask is shoved under my insurance papers. I stick it in my back jeans pocket and slam the door. Snapping up my fishing pole, I start back toward my cabin.
       The lights are off in all of the cabins except for ours. The sound of the TV is light from the outside. Eric’s back already. Must have been a quickie.
       Eric is splayed on his bed when I walk in. He pops his head up to get a better look at me. His hair is wet and I don’t even want to know why. “Where you been?” He wiggles his eyebrows.
       I snort. “Talking to my mom.”
       “Not sexy, bro.”
       I stash my fishing pole underneath my bed. “I wasn’t tryin’ to be, bro .”
       “What’s up your ass?”
       I fist my shirt and pull it over my head. Tossing the flask on my bed, I slide out of my shoes. “I’m just tired. I need to go to sleep.”
       Eric eyes the flask on my bed. “Is that going to help you sleep?”
       I set my jaw, turning to face him.
       “Sorry,” Eric says in surrender. “I’m not going to tell. But do you want to