Under the Lights (The Field Party #2) - Abbi Glines Page 0,76
her arms. A place I had always found peace as a child. “You already do, Willa. You already do.”
She Wasn’t Anything Like Willa.
CHAPTER 46
BRADY
Last night Gunner and Willa hadn’t returned. I wasn’t sure what was up with Rhett, but Gunner hadn’t seemed surprised by his behavior. Neither had Willa, which was odd. Gunner had wanted her help too. It was almost like she knew a secret.
Pulling my truck into the Lawtons’ large circular drive that went in front of the house, I noticed Gunner sitting on the top step. What the hell? I killed the engine and jumped out to go check on him. He looked like he hadn’t gotten any sleep. Was Rhett on drugs or something?
“Hey, you okay?” I called out as I climbed the steps to where he was sitting. As I got closer, I noticed he was eating a bowl of cereal and had a cup of coffee beside him.
“Fucking fantastic. How are you?” was his snide response.
“Seriously, Gunner, you didn’t come back last night. What happened with Rhett?”
He took a drink of his coffee, then stared up at me. “He’s a selfish bastard just like his father. How’s your family?” He still sounded snappy.
Most people got annoyed with him when he did this and left him alone. But I’d seen the shit inside that house and I got it. He might have all the money in the world and the power of the Lawton name, but it wasn’t as easy as all that. His family was screwed up.
“Did you get any sleep?” I asked him, ignoring his question about my family.
He chuckled. “Don’t I look like it?”
His hair was messy, and he had dark circles under his eyes. “Not particularly. No.”
Again he laughed, then ate some more of his cereal. “Ever think of just running away from this place and not looking back?” Gunner asked.
No, I never thought of that. My parents were my biggest support system, and I had college football next year to look forward to. I shook my head no, but he already knew my response.
“Didn’t figure you did. But damn if I don’t want to run. Forget this town, my last name, these assholes who live in this house with me. Just leave it all.”
“College is in just a few months. Our senior year will be over before we know it. Then you can leave it all behind. Start new. Get a life without them in it.”
He nodded. “Yeah. That’s what Willa said too. But y’all don’t get how just one more day is hell. A few fucking months is a big deal. I want out now. I never want to see their faces again. Not one of them.”
“Not even Rhett?”
He glowered as he stared straight ahead. “Especially Rhett.”
There were things he wasn’t telling me. “What’s going on with Rhett? Y’all have always been close.”
Gunner snarled, but there was a softness behind his anger. “No, Rhett’s just always been fake. That’s all. None of that was real.”
“Is this about his getting drunk last night? You know college life sometimes does that to people. He was probably out at some frat party and had too many drinks and got stupid. Talk to him this morning when he sobers up.”
Gunner turned his gaze to me. There was a cold emptiness there I hadn’t expected. “I’ve talked to him sober this morning. It’s even worse than last night’s drunk. Don’t talk about things you know nothing about, Brady. Just go back to the happy place you call home and eat your momma’s pancakes with those damn blueberries and whip cream on top and have one big ole family hug. Leave the real shit here with me. I can deal with it.”
Ouch. He was bitter and angry. I got it, but I was trying to help. “Talk to me, then. Explain it to me. Maybe I can help.”
“You. Can’t. Help. Go home, Brady. Just fucking leave me to this.”
I was a good friend, and because I was a good friend I was going to leave and let him settle down and calm his shit. I couldn’t help if all he wanted to do was take shots at me. I didn’t give him this life. I was just trying to listen and be supportive.
“Fine. I’ll go. You know where I am if you want to talk.”
He gave me a sharp nod; then he stood up and walked up the stairs and into the house.
On my way back to my house I thought about stopping by Willa’s