“Hello,” she said to me with a genuine smile on her face. Either she was still grateful for the ride or Gunner hadn’t yet filled her head with bad things about me.

“Hey,” I replied, and Bryony caught her attention. She bent down to eye level with Bryony.

“You look a lot like your mommy,” she told her, and Bryony smiled brightly. “What’s your name?”

“Bwony,” she told her with pride.

“That’s a beautiful name. I’m Willa, and it’s very nice to meet you.”

I watched Willa talk to my daughter, and it was obvious she knew Bryony was my child, not my sister. The kindness in her eyes made me like her even more. If she was still hooking up with Gunner, I’d be surprised. She seemed too smart for that.

“Are you homeschooling still? Haven’t seen you at school. I hoped maybe you would eventually show up.”

What all did Willa Ames know about me?

“I have my grandmother to take care of while my parents work, and Bryony. School isn’t an option for me. Besides, no one wants me there.”

Willa raised an eyebrow. “I do. Very few females there I’d be willing to call a friend.”

Did she mean she would be my friend? How had this girl not heard all about me by now? Was she a recluse?

“I wouldn’t be an option either. You must not have heard my story.”

A small frown tugged at her lips. “I’ve heard it. I just believe there’s some truth and facts missing.”

I liked this girl. Now I really hoped she wasn’t messing around with Gunner Lawton. He’d ruin her. Even if he and Willa had been friends as kids. He was different now.

“Thanks. You may be the only one in town who thinks that,” I replied.

Her frown turned into a small, knowing smile. “Oh, I don’t know. I think maybe Brady Higgens may believe as I do.”

What? Had Brady told her something?

“I’ve got to get this medicine to my nonna. She’s dealing with a migraine. But don’t be a stranger. Maybe come to a game. I could always use a friend to sit with.”

All I could do was nod. This was surprising and confusing. Were she and Brady friends? And if they were, why hadn’t he told me?

“Bye-bye,” Bryony called out, and Willa turned and waved at Bryony. “Bye!”

I opened the door and pushed Bryony inside. When I had given Willa a ride, she hadn’t been that nice and open. She had been closed off and sad. It was as if this town had helped her. The town that had torn me apart seemed to have made her a happier person.

“Canny!” Bryony announced, pointing to the candy aisle. I would have to get her something to keep her from pitching a royal fit. I walked over and picked up some yogurt-covered raisins. They were the least of all the evils, I figured.

“Be good while I get the medicine; then you can have the candy,” I told her.

She made a move like she was zipping up her lips, and I laughed. In moments like these I couldn’t imagine my life any other way.

My Life Isn’t Gunner’s to Control

CHAPTER 34

BRADY

Another successful practice. Anger really made me better. I wasn’t worried about anyone or the rest of the team. I just zeroed in on me and everyone seemed to like it. Tomorrow was Wednesday, and my dad normally came to Wednesday practices. If he did this week, I was walking out. I didn’t want this to be about him.

If I began to feel like this was about him, I’d quit just to hurt him. It would never hurt him as much as he was hurting us, but it was all I had as ammunition. I focused on seeing Riley tonight, and that made it easier to push thoughts of my father out of my head.

“Excellent practice,” Coach said as he walked past me. “Whatever has gotten into you, keep it. Best you’ve played in your life, and I didn’t know it could get much better.”

The bitterness of what had gotten into me simmered, and I could only nod before heading to the field house to shower and change. I wasn’t about to go home and face my father. I was avoiding him the best I could. He hadn’t been home last night when I got there, so I went to bed after hugging my mom and assuring her I was okay.

It had taken all my willpower not to slam my bedroom door and lock it when I went to my room. He wasn’t home, and it was after eight. His working late and after hours wasn’t actually working. It was fucking. Damn son of a bitch.

I tossed my clothes into my bag and quickly showered then dressed in my jeans and a clean T-shirt. I needed to see Riley. She’d calm me down. I wanted to hit something or someone. Anything to get all this aggression out of me.

“You okay?” Gunner asked, walking beside me as I left the field house.

“Yeah,” I replied, not wanting to get into anything with him.

“You’re different. Angry. Shit’s going on and you’re keeping it to yourself. Reminds me of . . . me.”

Nothing about me was like him. He was a cold, heartless bastard when he wanted to be. I was never like that.

“I’m good. Just got things on my mind. Don’t want to talk about it.”

He sighed. “Been there. But I found someone to talk to, and she was what kept me from drowning or losing my goddamn mind. You need to talk.”

I was talking. With the one girl he hated above all others. Telling him that would shut him the fuck up.

“I’ve got someone to talk to. Don’t need anyone’s approval.”

“You’re acting like this is my fault. What the hell did I do?”

He’d let his family ruin Riley’s life. He was still doing it. That was what he fucking did. I inhaled deeply and tried to calm down. Confronting him about this right here while I was raw from my dad’s bullshit wasn’t the way to handle it.

“Just back off and give me space,” I told him as we reached my truck.

“Y’all good?” West asked, stepping out of his truck to look at both of us.

“No, he’s fucked-up about something. Can’t you see it?” Gunner replied.

“I think backing off and letting him be is the best idea right now,” West told him.

I jerked open my door and climbed in. I’d thank West later. Tonight I wanted away from Lawton. All of it.

* * *

Pulling up outside Riley’s house, I wondered if Gunner had followed me. I almost hoped he had. I was tired of secrets. There were too many in my life right now.

Riley shouldn’t have to be a secret, and the Lawtons owed her an apology and a chance to live free again in this town. The front door opened just as I climbed out of the truck, and Riley stepped out wearing a pair of tight jeans that showed off her amazing legs with a blue sweater that matched her eyes. Bryony wasn’t with her, though.

“Hey,” I said as I walked to meet her.

“You didn’t have to come to the door.”

“Yeah, I did. You deserve that.”

She blushed and her eyes lit up. “Bryony ate with my parents and she didn’t get her nap in today. Mom said to leave her here so she could go to bed early.”

So it was just us. As much as I’d been looking forward to spending time with Bryony tonight, it might be best that she wasn’t with us. My anger was still there under the surface, and if anyone confronted me about this, it was going to get ugly.

“Next time we’ll go earlier for her sake,” I promised.

I opened the truck door for Riley, and she climbed inside. Just as I closed it, Gunner’s truck rode past the house. He slowed and our gazes locked. This was it. He knew now, and I would deal with it. At least there would be one less secret in my life.

I turned and headed for my door. When I climbed inside I thought about not telling her what had just happened. But it was going to come out and there would be a confrontation tonight. Gunner was too hotheaded for there not to be.

“Gunner just drove by,” I told her, then started the truck.

“Do I need to get out?”

I turned to look at her. “No. My life isn’t Gunner’s to control.”

Her worried frown made me want to lean over and kiss it away.

“You have too much on you right now to deal with this, too.”

This was the least of my worries. My mother’s world being torn apart and destroyed made Gunner’s temper tantrum seem mute.