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 and seeing what she knew but decided against it. Ms. Ames would be there, and she didn’t seem too keen on me being around Willa. I didn’t want to cause any trouble.
Pulling off the Lawton property, I turned right to drive through town before going to the house. See if anyone was out this early. Momma was probably making breakfast, and I would need to get back before long. I was sure West would be joining us for that too. He always did on Saturdays.
Stopping at a red light, my gaze landed on a familiar face as she walked down the street. Riley was Gunner Lawton’s ex and the reason Rhett almost lost his football scholarship. She’d accused him of rape. Everyone knew Riley was a virgin. She was the typical good girl, and why she was dating Gunner, no one knew. It was only a matter of time before he cheated on her, but then the rape thing came out and . . . my eyes finally left her face to focus on the fact she was pushing a stroller.
Was she babysitting these days? Glancing down, I took in the small face of the baby girl. Her blond curls and big blue eyes looked so much like Riley’s. Had her parents had a baby? I didn’t really care. Riley was a lying bitch who couldn’t be trusted. Why she was back in town made no sense to anyone. She wasn’t wanted here. Maybe that was what was wrong with Rhett. Riley being here was causing issues at the Lawtons’. That made sense. Why didn’t she just leave and let them be?
Turning my truck around, I headed home. I should have stopped and told her what a mess she was making of Gunner’s home life, but she wouldn’t care. She only cared about her own gain. No one else’s. That was the kind of girl you ran from. She wasn’t anything like Willa.
Willa was something else I had to work through in my head. I liked her. A lot. I wanted to be with her. But from the way she and Gunner had looked at each other last night and the fact he’d only let her leave with him meant something. Right now he needed someone more than I did. If Willa was helping him, then I had to stand back and let it happen.
I Have to Take Care of Me
CHAPTER 47
GUNNER
Ms. Ames was working in the kitchen when I got back inside. The smell of cheese and eggs coming from the oven meant she had a quiche going in there. That would be a hell of a lot better than my cereal had been.
“Morning, Ms. Ames,” I said as I took my bowl to the sink to rinse it. When I was a kid, I had been instructed by Ms. Ames that real men didn’t leave their dishes dirty in the sink. My father left his on the table for Ms. Ames to pick up. I liked the idea of being more of a man than him, so I had started cleaning my own dishes. Even if it was to one-up my dad, it made Ms. Ames happy. That was a bonus.
“Good morning,” she said, not smiling in return.
I paused and studied her a minute. She seemed concerned about something.
“You okay today?” she asked.
I nodded. No use in telling her my shit. She was just the help. She didn’t need to know the mess going on around her. “I’ll be better when I get some of that quiche.”
She didn’t smile but nodded, then turned to go back to her work. I thought she was done with me when she said something else. “Willa’s got some hurt deep inside like you do. She has healing to do. Let her heal.”
I paused and thought about what she’d just said. I wasn’t keeping Willa from healing. She had talked to me more than anyone else. I was helping her. “I know that. She talks to me.”
Ms. Ames stopped what she was doing with the bowl in front of her and glanced back up at me. “Girls don’t need to be sneaking out to see boys in the middle of the night. That don’t lead to good things. Willa doesn’t need that right now.”
That’s what this was about. Willa had been busted last night. Well, damn. It was times like this I really wish she had a phone like the rest of the modern world so she could text me and prepare me for this kind of thing.
“Won’t happen again,” I assured her, picking up a croissant and heading out the door.
“No, it won’t,” she agreed.
That had sounded a little forceful and matter-of-fact. Ms. Ames putting her foot down. That made me smile. I went back toward the stairs like I was going to my room but headed for the back west entrance so I could sneak over to see Willa. I needed to make sure she was okay. Ms. Ames didn’t seem real happy with her. Or me.