“You called her brother the R-word,” a lady I hadn’t noticed until then cuts in. “It’s because of disgusting, prejudiced people like you that there’s still a stigma today if people are different.”
Wow. I didn’t expect anyone to stand up for me. Her defense brings tears to my eyes.
She glances at me and smiles as a way to say she has my back.
Troy turns to Brooke. “That’s the company you keep nowadays?”
“They were both out of line,” she retorts, crossing her arms.
“I want to go. Can we go, Charlie?” Ben asks, clutching the sleeve of my jacket. His small voice breaks me.
I pull him into a side hug, ignoring the throbbing in my hand. “Yeah, let’s go.”
I’m too angry to check if Troy is following me. I just want to get out of here. The onlookers are smothering me.
A second later, he places his hand on my lower back and, using his body, makes way for us to pass. I never considered myself a damsel in need of a savior, but Troy’s protectiveness feels nice.
We continue in silence until we get to my car. When I grab the door handle, I realize I’m still shaking and in no condition to drive.
Troy circles my wrist, keeping me from opening the door. “I’ll drive.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You can’t drive with your shoulder like that.”
“You’re still reeling from what happened.” He frowns. “Your arm is shaking.”
“I can drive,” Ben pipes up.
I glance at him with a refusal on the tip of my tongue. He can drive in Littleton, which is much quieter than here.
“I can do it, Charlie. Trust me,” he insists.
“You have your driver’s license?” Troy asks.
“Yes. I’ve had it for four months already.” Ben puffs his chest out proudly.
Troy turns back to me, concern in his eyes. “Let him drive, babe.”
I want to argue, but if I say anything, it might do more harm than good. I know my brother—he’s putting up a tough front, but he’s a mess inside. Growing up, he fought depression among other things because of assholes who treated him badly.
“Okay,” I say. “But I’m sitting shotgun.” I walk around the car, leaving Troy no choice but to slide across the back seat.
During the drive, I expect him to ask for details about what happened, but he keeps quiet. The silence becomes a heavy blanket of discomfort, and I eventually can’t take it anymore.
“The game was amazing,” I pipe up, turning to face Troy in the back seat.
He nods. “It was, but hell, I was a wreck the whole time. I thought I was going to lose my voice with the way I was shouting.”
“I kind of lost mine,” I say.
Troy smirks. “Hmm, I did notice a new sexiness to it.”
“Dude, I’m right here,” Ben complains.
“Oops. Sorry.”
I laugh despite the horrible way the day ended.
“Is there any chance you would consider going to the party with me tonight?” Troy asks softly. “It’s going to be epic.”
I bite my lower lip, torn between a straight “No” and a “Maybe”. After the altercation with Brooke’s friend, and the way the blonde was acting all shady, I do want to show up at the party as Troy’s date. Call it vanity or whatever with a pinch of possessiveness. But there’s Ben to consider.
“I don’t know. Are there going to be more people like that airless bimbo who name-called Ben?”
Troy winces. “Honestly, I don’t know.”
“You should go, Charlie,” Ben says. “I think I’m ready to go home if Mom is feeling better.”
My stomach bottoms out, and my chest, which was already tight as hell, constricts further. Ben staying with me was a way to distract him from the turmoil back at my folks’. I feel guilty, even though it’s irrational. I can’t control what ignorant people say or do.
“If that’s what you want.”
Ben nods. “Yeah, it is. I had fun today though.”
I watch his profile, trying to sniff out the lie. His expression is serene, but Ben’s always had a better poker face than me.
If he spirals down a dark tunnel again because of that bitch, I will break her nose for real the next time I see her.
32
TROY
I confess that knowing Charlie went Million Dollar Baby on Brooke’s friend made my admiration for her grow. I’d already known she was fearless and short-tempered, but her fierce protection of her brother moved me more than she could have known.
It also opened up old wounds that have never fully healed. I failed Robbie by not