Under the Lights

Nonna hadn’t asked me the details of that night. She knew what my mother had told her, but not once had she asked me. I wanted to tell her my truth. My side of the story. It wasn’t much better than what my mother had told, but it was the real story.

“I didn’t know Quinn was there. Poppy’s little sister,” I started, and waited to see if she’d tell me to be quiet like my mother and stepfather had when I’d tried to explain. When she remained silent, I continued. “When I got there, I thought it was just us. We had friends coming over, and we were planning the party. We had been all week. Poppy’s parents had left Quinn upstairs in bed asleep and told Poppy to watch her. Poppy didn’t tell me. She didn’t tell anyone Quinn was there. I think she thought everyone would leave if there was a kid there. I’m still not sure why . . . . I know she never imagined Quinn would get out of bed and go outside. Quinn was such a deep sleeper.”

I paused and waited, but Nonna didn’t say anything. “I shouldn’t have been smoking and drinking. I knew that, but I’d grown to enjoy the escape. All my worries and issues at home went away, and I enjoyed myself. But if I’d known Quinn was there, I’d have never done it. We always took care of Quinn when she was home. Never did any of that stuff when we were supposed to be watching her. I often wonder if Poppy had already been high when her parents left her with Quinn. That’s the only thing that comes close to making sense.”

Poppy loved her little sister. Quinn could be a pain sometimes, but Poppy protected her. We both did. I’d been so confused when I’d run outside to see Quinn’s body floating in the pool. Why was she there? Where had she come from?

Poppy hadn’t stopped screaming. Not when the ambulance arrived or the cops came. They had to sedate her to calm her down. Three days she was sedated because while awake all she did was scream and cry Quinn’s name. It was the fourth day, when she had woken up alone, that she’d gone to her father’s closet and found his pistol, then took her life.

“Tragedy strikes us all at one point in our life. People make mistakes, and some are lucky enough to walk away without lasting marks, while others live a lifetime with the choice they made. Can’t change the past, Willa. But you can help others not make the same mistake.” Nonna trusted me. She believed in me again. My heart felt full as I saw the love in her eyes. I hadn’t felt loved in a very long time.

I thought about that the entire time I was getting dressed. I wanted a way to make Quinn’s and Poppy’s lives worthwhile. Make their marks on this world important and remembered. Thanks to Nonna, I had an idea.

What Is She Wearing?

CHAPTER 36

BRADY

I had been right. We had tightened the left side, and no one had made it through. Same play had ended in three touchdowns in the first half. We managed to use it and score one more touchdown in the second half. Then we’d had to switch things up a bit because the Trojans were catching on. In the end we won 38 to 17. Not a bad homecoming score. Could have been better.

Ivy was talking to the other girls standing around about her dress and where she had gotten it. I’d heard this story about ten times now. It was grating on my nerves. Did they seriously give a crap?

My attention moved to the entrance as Gunner came in with Serena, who was dressed like she was about to go dance on a pole. I was sure that made Gunner happy. I wished Ivy was dressed like she was about to hit a pole. At least I’d be interested in what she was saying. No, that was shallow. Damn, I needed to work on my thoughts. My momma had taught me better than that.

“What is she wearing?” Ivy’s fake whisper was more of a loud hiss. Rolling my eyes, I mumbled an “I’ll be back.” Then I headed over to talk to West. Maggie was with him, but she looked about as excited to be here as I was. Although, she’d spent a good two hours getting ready, according to Mom. I’d talked to her after the game, and she’d wanted to tell me to make sure Maggie had a good time. She seemed to forget that my cousin was no longer my responsibility at these functions. She was dating West, who took good care of her. I was off the hook.

“Hey,” West said with a nod. “Bottom of the third, that pass was a beauty.”

I shrugged. “All my passes are beauties.” That wasn’t true and we both knew it, but we’d won, so it was time to smack talk. There were plenty of plays tonight I was disgusted with, but I’d deal with that later.

West chuckled. “You running off from Ivy already?”

I glanced back over my shoulder to see if Ivy was headed my way, but my gaze never made it to her. Instead I was instantly locked on someone else.

Willa.

“Oh wow, I love her dress,” Maggie said behind me.

Willa’s blond hair was curled and hung loosely around her shoulders. Her eyes looked even bigger with the makeup she’d worn. The red lipstick on her mouth looked elegant with the pretty dress she was wearing.

“Asa was pumped about this date. Looks like he’s happy,” West added to the conversation that I was no longer having with them. My attention was completely on Willa. I took in every detail and wished like hell I’d broken this date with Ivy. I could have had Willa by my side tonight. But bringing myself to hurt Ivy hadn’t been possible. She didn’t deserve it.

I finally went back to her face, hoping to catch her eye, but her focus was elsewhere. I followed her gaze directly to Gunner, who was also watching her. It seemed as if the two of them were unaware of anyone else in the room. The reality of this was sinking in, and I wished it wasn’t. If they wanted each other, why were they avoiding each other? And when the hell had this happened? I had been the one to kiss Willa. I had been the one to flirt with her. Gunner treated her like one of the guys. But maybe that was the difference.