Under the Lights
Page 45

“Fuck off, Gunner” was her response before she turned and strutted away.
“Are you going to need Brady to help you get him home?” Ivy’s question was more of a whine.
“No,” he snapped, and she beamed as if this was the best news she’d heard all day and went back inside.
I walked over to Asa. “They’re good now,” I told him.
He nodded, and we started to walk inside when Gunner’s voice stopped me.
“Stay with me.” His eyes were pained and lost. He needed me and that meant something.
Staying with him meant standing up my date. But could I tell him no when I was the only friend he had who knew the truth? Absolutely not. I also couldn’t tell him no when I knew he wanted me with him. The smart thing for me to do would be to stay with Asa. Be a normal teenager and focus on my goals. The reason I came back here.
That didn’t matter. Gunner had become more important to me than all of that. Facing that now was the only thing I could do.
I looked up at Asa. “I have to stay with him.”
Asa glanced at Gunner, then back at me, before he nodded and walked inside. He was disappointed. I’d seen it in his eyes.
Gunner’s problems were bigger than losing your date to the dance.
Get in the Truck, Rhett
CHAPTER 38
GUNNER
Seven times I’d called his sorry ass. Not once had he answered or returned my call. Yet he shows up at the homecoming dance to yell shit about me being his uncle like a lunatic.
“There’s Brady,” Willa said, coming up to stand behind me. I should have let her go back inside with Asa, but I had needed her. Having her close helped. She knew the truth, and she was there as my center. Tonight wasn’t going to get easier, and I didn’t want to face it alone. I needed Willa with me. Having Willa there meant I could face anything. She calmed me and reassured me just being close. In my life there had never been someone like Willa. I think I knew that as a child. She was special. The kind of special you only get once.
After I’d avoided her for days, she had every right to ignore me and go back inside. But she’d stayed. She’d chosen me over Asa. Over that stupid dance in there. Willa made me feel like I had somewhere I belonged. Once Rhett had, because even though my parents weren’t that fond of me, he’d loved me.
Now having my older brother, who used to fight my battles, throw me out there like he had tonight hurt. Willa made it hurt less. She eased it. Even before Brady had gotten out here, she had been helping me. She hadn’t stood and stared at the scene.
“Thanks,” I told her.
“Anytime” was her response. She was there. Again, something I’d never had before.
Brady pulled the truck up beside us. I started to give Brady an excuse to get him to go back inside when Willa walked over to him.
“Ivy is causing a scene. I told her you’d be right back. Go ease that over, and I’ll help here. Ivy won’t listen to me.”
Brady turned his gaze to me as if he wasn’t sure he should leave me alone.
“Go on. She’s right. Crazy bitch came out here yelling and shit.”
Brady nodded. “Okay, sorry about that. I’ll be back in a few to see if you need me.”
“Thanks,” I said, knowing I’d be gone before he got back out here.
The doors opened again, and this time West, Nash, and Ryker all stepped outside. Shit, the whole crew was coming to help. “Help with that,” I whispered to Brady, and he gave me an understanding nod.
“Get in the truck,” I said in a lower voice to Rhett, and started moving him closer to the passenger door Willa had opened for me.
Rhett bumped into Willa, and I jerked him back. “Watch out!”
Rhett started cackling with manic laughter. “You like her. That’s so sweet. Did you know he was my uncle? He’s a bastard, but he’s loaded.”
I started to yell at him again, but Willa spoke first.
“Yes, I know, and from the looks of things, you pissing him off is stupid. Get ahold of yourself and don’t make him your enemy. You need an allowance.”
Rhett’s eyes went wide, and for the first time all damn day I laughed.
“Who the fuck are you?” he asked, slurring his words more and more.
“I’m Willa Ames, you idiot,” she retorted.
Then he smiled. “Willa Ames all grown up.”
I knew that smile. He might be drunk, but he was attracted to her. Who wouldn’t be? Willa was beautiful. And she was putting up with my drunk brother for me. I had been her choice when she’d been given one, and it made me feel deeper for her than I’d ever felt.
“Get in the truck, Rhett,” I demanded, pushing him toward the now-open passenger side.
“Wait . . . I thought you moved away.” He was still stuck on Willa.
“I moved back.” The way she gave him annoyed, short responses was funny.
He gave her a flirty smile that he even pulled off well when he was drunk. “I might need to stay around town a little longer.”
“You might not have a home to stay in if you don’t get your drunk ass in my truck now,” I added with more force, and shoved him until he stumbled and had to grab the seat to keep from falling.
“Yes sir, Uncle, sir. You sure got real bossy with all this power.”
I glanced at Willa, who rolled her eyes at his comment. I needed that little touch of humor right now. She was keeping me from losing my shit. I owed her.
When Rhett finally climbed up in my truck, I wanted to ask Willa to get in too. I wanted her with me. I didn’t want to ask her to miss the entire night, but going back to that house with Rhett like this sounded terrifying.