After the Game

She shrugged. “You were reacting the way any of the guys would. You are Gunner’s friend. I had no business trying to come here.”

I hated that she felt that way.

“I was a dick,” I repeated.

A laugh escaped her, and she nodded. “Yes, you were.”

“Glad we can agree on that,” I said. Then reached in the back to grab a blanket I kept there in case of emergencies. Or other things.

“Here, take this. It’s cold tonight. I’ll get the pizza and Coke.”

“You have a blanket in the truck?” she asked, sounding amused.

I smirked. “Don’t read too much into it.”

Then she really laughed. “Okay. I’ll keep that in mind.”

We headed to the moonlit grass, and she chose a log by one of the bonfire sites. We wouldn’t be lighting it tonight. But it was where the best seating was.

She wrapped the blanket around her and sat down. “I’ll share if you need it,” she said.

I might take her up on that after pizza. The idea of getting under a blanket with her out here alone was nice. More than nice. Helped erase my fucked-up family issues from my head.

I opened up a Coke and handed it to her, then sat the box down and put a piece of pizza on a paper plate they’d given me with the order. “Here you go.”

She took it. “This is nicer anyway. No waiters to interrupt us. The smell of fall and greasy pizza to go with it. My kind of dinner.”

Being alone with her was my kind of dinner. “Glad you think so. Hell of a lot cheaper,” I said, getting the laugh out of her I was trying for.

We ate in silence for a few minutes, and I liked watching her chew. It was cute. When she finished her first slice, I started to put mine down and get her more, but she beat me to it.

“So, if Willa and Gunner are a thing, she knows about me. Why was she so nice?”

“Because she’s Willa. She also has a very low opinion of Rhett, and she’s smarter than the rest of us. She met you and picked up right away that you weren’t what we all assumed.”

Riley smiled and took a bite.

“You ready to hear about the Lawton drama?” I asked her, needing to get my mind off that woman at the restaurant.

She nodded.

“Rhett came back asking for his inheritance or part of it a little over a month ago. His dad was going to give it to him because Rhett was the heir to the Lawton fortune. But come to find out Gunner’s mother spoke up and Rhett isn’t the heir. Neither is their father. Gunner is. Gunner’s father isn’t Rhett’s father. It’s . . . his grandfather. When his grandfather passed, he left it all to Gunner, although he was young then. His father was just to maintain it until Gunner was of age. His mother blew all that out of the water, though. Now Gunner controls it all.”

The pizza was forgotten in her lap. “What?” she asked, sounding as amazed as I had. “You mean Gunner’s grandfather is his father, so his mother—”

“His mother slept with her father-in-law. Yes.”

“Wow.”

I nodded. “Yeah. Rhett was raised to think it was all his and took off when he heard the truth. Gunner has had a hard time dealing with all of it. His dad packed his bags and filed for divorce. Gunner’s mom is in France now, staying with a friend because she needs distance. So Gunner lives at home alone except for Ms. Ames being there to feed him and take care of the house.”

Riley shook her head in disbelief. “I had heard a little. Mostly that he had inherited everything and his dad had left town. Not much else. Why doesn’t the whole town know all this?”

I shrugged because I was surprised by that as well. “Gunner has kept it quiet. His parents aren’t talking, and neither is Rhett.”

“Jesus, that’s got to be hard on him,” she said, sounding truly worried about Gunner. A guy who had helped make her life a living hell. She didn’t hold grudges and had the ability to hurt for others. Even the ones who had hurt her. If I weren’t already completely taken with her, that one simple fact would have been all it took to send me over the edge.

“It’s not been easy, but he’s had Willa. She’s helped him survive.”

“I like her even more now.”

That was what had drawn me to Riley. I realized it in this moment. Her heart. She had a really big heart. She was honest and kind. She wasn’t bitter and vindictive when many people would be. The day I’d given her a ride in the storm and I’d seen her with Bryony, her only worry had been for her daughter. You can’t hide goodness. Hers was there, shining bright. It got to me. She got to me.

“You would be good friends if given the chance.”

“Maybe I’ll sit with her at the game. If she’s not worried about Gunner, then I don’t guess we should be.”

The idea of Riley sitting with Willa made me laugh. Gunner’s reaction to that would be priceless, but I also knew him well enough to know that he wouldn’t upset Willa. He loved her more than he loved Rhett.

“You think that’s funny?” she asked.

“No, I think it’s awesome,” I assured her.

She took another bite of pizza, then set her plate down. “That’s the best pizza I’ve ever had.”

She meant more than that. I could see it in her eyes. It was being here with me that made it the best pizza. I agreed with her completely.

The Lawton Bunch Isn’t So Tight Anymore

CHAPTER 37

RILEY

I was anxious most of the day. I kept my phone close to me all morning and waited on a call from Brady. I knew he would face Gunner today, and I was worried about him. He didn’t need that right now.

It had rained all day, so when Bryony woke up from her nap there would be no playtime. I gave her crayons and a coloring book and let her color beside me while I worked on my schoolwork. I used my extra time to get ahead, and when Mother came into the room to remind me of Bryony’s afternoon snack I realized how much time had passed. School was over and still no call or text from Brady.

When I’d gotten Bryony to her high chair and given her some applesauce, I turned to ask Mom to watch her for me for just an hour. I was going to take the car and go to meet Brady after practice. I needed to know he was okay.

Maybe it was because she was a mother or because I was easy to read, but the moment she turned around she said, “Go on. I’ve got her. You’ve been working all day and need a break. Tell Brady I said hello.”

I walked over to her and hugged her tightly. “Thank you.”

She held me against her. “Of course. It’s what mothers are for. I love you, and I like seeing you live a little. Does my heart good.”

“I love you too,” I told her.

“Wuv you too!” Bryony called from her high chair, and we both smiled and turned to see her grinning at us with applesauce all over her face.

“Mom will be thrilled she’s eating applesauce if she comes in here and sees this.”

I laughed and agreed.

“She’s going to ask you to get some chocolate from Miller’s to take to Mrs. Bertha for tea tomorrow. Just nod your head and go on. She’s been on that line of thinking for an hour now.”

“Who’s Mrs. Bertha?” I asked, thinking that sounded new.

“A neighbor we had when I was in elementary school. She moved away by the time I was twelve. Mom used to have tea with her every Sunday.”

“Tomorrow is Thursday.”

Mom let out a soft laugh. “Don’t tell her that, either.”

Life with Grandmamma sure was interesting.

I headed for the living room, and sure enough, there she sat with her afghan over her legs watching television. “If you’re going out, get me some of that dark chocolate from Miller’s. Told your momma, but she still ain’t gone. They’re gonna close soon. I can’t go to Bertha’s empty-handed tomorrow.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied and headed out the door.

“Don’t forget to let Thomas back inside,” she called out behind me.

Not sure how I was going to manage letting a cat that had been dead so long it was dust now back in the house, but I replied with another “Yes, ma’am.”