“You coming to practice today?” I asked him.
He nodded. “I need to hit someone. We were both going to check in right before lunch. I just needed some time this morning.”
I could understand that. Gunner’s relationship with his parents had never made sense to me. My mom and dad were always there when I needed them and even when I didn’t. Mom made cookies and let me have the guys over to watch the game videos. Dad was always there cheering me on and believing in me. I was who I was because of my parents. That’s why I always understood Gunner’s stupid decisions. He was who he was because of his.
I was lucky in ways Gunner would never experience. Money wasn’t everything in the world. Being friends with Gunner had taught me that. I didn’t want his life. Not any of it. No amount of money and power made that life desirable.
“You know you’re welcome at my house any time you want. I’ve got two beds up in that attic room of mine. One is yours if you need it. Just say the word. Mom would love to stuff you with cookies.”
A smile tugged at Gunner’s lips. “Thanks. I’ll remember that.” For the first time in years I felt that old friendship ease back into place. The one where we knew we had each other if we didn’t have anyone else. And it always made it all right.
I stood up, walked over, and slapped him on the back. “If you need to talk, I’m here.”
Gunner nodded.
I glanced over at Willa, who was watching us both. “You need a ride to school? Or you going to stay with Gunner until he comes?” I wanted her to ride with me so we could talk. About Gunner and the possibility of me taking her to homecoming. I wasn’t sure where she stood with Gunner. I didn’t think he was ready for serious or ever would be. If this was just a friendship with them like we all once had, I wanted to explore more with her. I was going to break it off with Ivy today. She’d texted me fifteen times last night and called ten. She was out of hand, and I needed to end things.
She looked at Gunner for an answer. I didn’t want that to sting, but it did. Guess I was jealous of her giving him attention after all.
“She’ll come with me,” Gunner piped up.
It wasn’t like I could push it. Gunner was having a hard time, and he wanted Willa to make him feel better. I just didn’t like the idea of him hurting Willa for selfish reasons. Using her for someone to listen to and lean on but not giving anything back in return. She’d been hurt. It was obvious, and Gunner had too much emotional turmoil to help someone else with theirs.
“I’ll see y’all at lunch then” was all I could say before I turned and headed back down the ladder. If she wanted him, I couldn’t stop it, but I was afraid he wasn’t going to want her the same way.
Next Time Though I Won’t Let You Run
CHAPTER 31
WILLA
I understood football and the need to win, but I didn’t think Gunner really had to go to practice today. However, I wasn’t going to tell him that. Not with the mood swings he was dealing with. The best I could do was listen to his rants. No advice or consoling. My just being there was all he seemed to need last night and today. So even when Brady had come to check on things, I’d stayed silent.
This wasn’t my nightmare. It was Gunner’s. All I was offering was my ear. And that was all he had asked for. Brady, on the other hand, he didn’t trust, or he didn’t want him to know. Because he’d gone beyond evading the truth; he’d just lied to him. I wasn’t sure how I had been the one he trusted with this truth. Maybe because I’d told him mine. But for whatever reason, I was going to be worthy of his trust.
Brady hadn’t been surprised by the less-than-half truth he’d been told. Which only confirmed the ass Gunner’s so-called father was. Brady had seen more than I had over the years. I would think Gunner would want to share with him more than me. That hadn’t been the case though.
We didn’t make it to school by lunch, but we did make it in time for the class right after it. The office seemed okay with our excuse, and because I was with Gunner, I think it helped my reasons. If I hadn’t been, I was sure they’d have given me break detention or something.
It wasn’t until we were walking to class that Gunner realized he had forgotten me yesterday. With all that had happened, I’d forgotten myself.
“Shit,” he said, stopping in his tracks and slapping his forehead. I thought he’d forgotten homework or his football jersey.
“What?” I asked.
He looked at me with a frustrated frown. “How did you get home yesterday?”
“Walked.”
“Fuck,” he muttered. “I’m sorry, Willa. Rhett checked me out to meet with my dad, and that was so unexpected I forgot completely.”
I shrugged, because compared to his last twenty-four hours the fact I had to walk home was really no big deal at all. Especially after all he’d been through, I didn’t want him feeling bad about me. If I could fix all his problems, I would. I tried not to think too deeply into that though.
“It’s fine. Your day was tough, and it was good exercise for me.”
He shook his head, still clearly annoyed with himself. “I won’t do it again. I swear.”
“Really it’s not a big deal. I enjoyed the walk.” Which wasn’t exactly true, but there was no reason to make him feel worse about it.
“Stop trying to make me feel better. Ain’t going to work,” he grumbled.
I didn’t have a real response to that, so I said nothing.
He walked me toward my classroom, but before we even got five doors close to it, he stopped and opened a door to a dark room, then reached for my arm and pulled me inside.