The Way We Play (Bradford Boys #2)

Chapter 10

10

Rachel

D o not cry. Do not cry.

Dammit, Rachel! I shove the tears off my cheeks roughly as I burst through the door of the small guest bathroom, quickly locking it behind me.

Do. Not. Cry.

The stubborn tears don’t listen to me. They continue coating my cheeks, and I press my palm to my chest trying to calm my breathing. Stupid emotional rollercoaster.

I’ve been so happy with all the good things, like Edward’s progress, feeling like we’ve finally found a community where we have friends and where we can make a home. Seeing Edward sitting tall and proud on the back of that beautiful horse.

Then Gran tells me my dad’s snooping around, asking about us, then I act like I have some masochistic death wish by kissing Zane Bradford.

He fooled me with all that talk about my brother and acceptance and not punching down. He turned my head, sharing his favorite books and being all funny and sweet. Why the hell did I tell him I’d never kissed anyone?

“Real smart, Rach.” I turn on the cold water, patting it on my hot cheeks.

I got exactly what I wanted.

I wanted him to kiss me, and like the fairytale-believing, hopeless romantic I am, I thought it would change things between us. When has my life ever been a fairytale?

Did I really think he was going to change? Did I think he was going to fall in love with me?

My throat tightens, and I jerk out my phone, tapping the icon for the rideshare app. I know one thing, I’m not riding back to the house with him today.

Searching for an excuse, I check myself in the mirror. My nose is red and my eyes are swollen, and for once, I’m thankful Miss Gina is blind and Edward doesn’t care what I look like.

I scoop a handful of water to drink, clearing my throat before opening the door and going to where they’re standing outside. Edward is holding a kitten, and she’s petting it slowly.

“He’s solid black, which is rare.” Edward’s voice is matter of fact as always. “Black cats typically have some markings.”

“What color are his eyes?”

“Yellow.”

“Oh!” She puts her hand on her chest. “He sounds gorgeous!”

“Hi, guys.” My voice wavers, and I clear it again quickly. “I need to duck out a little early today if that’s okay?”

Miss Gina turns to me. “Are you okay?”

“Yes!” I force a smile, taking her cool hand. “It’s just that Dylan’s been working every evening on the Christmas program, and I’ve got to talk to her about school stuff. We really can’t let another day go by.”

“Ah.” Miss Gina’s lips tighten, and she nods. “Of course.”

I can tell she’s not quite sure I’m telling the whole truth, but I can’t worry about that now. I’m more worried I’m going to bump into Zane before I can get out of here, and I will not let him see I’ve been crying.

“Edward, will you be okay riding back in the Jeep like always?” I don’t even want to say his name.

He shrugs. “Sure.”

“See you tomorrow.” I step forward to give the old woman a squeeze, then wave at my brother. “See you later.”

A noise comes from the greenhouse, and I skip a jump at the first sight of his dark head emerging from the glass door.

Our eyes meet, but I turn away fast, dashing to the side gate and down the stone steps to the street where a white car is just pulling up.

“How is it possible I never see you these days?” Dylan pulls me into a hug. “You live in my house!”

We’re in the kitchen at Cooters & Shooters, and Thomas is taking out the ingredients for his famous burgers. Craig is in the dining room restocking the condiments for the dinner crowd, and Allie has Kimmie following her around carrying utensil rolls.

I stopped off at the house to fix my makeup and put some powder on my nose before jogging down here. The last thing I need is everyone asking why I’m crying—because I’m not crying.

If life has taught me anything, it’s how to dust myself off and get back on my feet. I’ve been taking care of Edward and me for a long time, and I’m getting my head out of the clouds and focusing on what’s important—getting Edward in school and keeping my dad out of our lives.

I return her hug. “We’re like ships passing in the night.”

“At least we’re not crashing into each other,” she laughs. “I’m lucky if I even get a goodnight kiss from Logan half the time, between helping Jack with Kimmie, teaching, and running this place. ”

Chewing my lip, I don’t say I’ve heard her and Logan doing more than kissing a few times getting my morning coffee—and run right back upstairs. Why be a wet blanket? She can’t help it if their bedroom is right across the hall from the kitchen, and at least somebody’s getting love.

“Miss Gina said to tell you her guest house is open whenever you’d like to use it.”

“Isn’t she the greatest?”

“Yes!” I answer fast.

“And that house is absolutely gorgeous,” Dylan sighs. “I might take her up on the offer if only to spend the night there.”

“And to get some…” I elbow her, and she snorts. “By the way, you are seriously working the ballerina-core today.”

She’s dressed in a black leotard with beige joggers and pilates shoes, and her thick dark hair is wrapped in a bun on her head.

“I’ve got to get back to school.” She catches my hand, leading me out of the kitchen. “I spent thirteen years studying ballet, and all I’ve got to show for it is style—and good posture.”

“I think you got a little more than that. You got a class of students who love you, great memories. This guy.”

I hook a thumb at Craig as he passes us on his way to the kitchen. “Clint said to tell you he’s waiting for you to okay the table bouquets.”

“I don’t know why he keeps asking me to approve things. I told him I trust him completely,” She calls after him.

“He wants it in writing.”

She shakes her head, but I know their bickering is never serious.

“How’s the wedding planning going?”

“We’re on track for June, and I’m trying not to freak out over all the details.” She pulls out her phone. “Craig’s boyfriend is doing the flowers, and his taste is impeccable. Let me text my okay real quick.”

“Show me!”

She turns her phone so I can see the delicate flower arrangements of what look like pure-white hydrangeas in mason jars filled with tiny lights.

“They’re so pretty—I love them.” I look up at her frown. “What’s wrong?”

“I agree, and he needs to stop sending me all these options. I trust you!” She catches my wrist, pulling me with her. “Nevermind. We’ve got to help Edward. Can you come with me now? I’ll introduce you to Mrs. Laverne. She’s the principal, and she’ll help you get everything you need to have him ready for spring semester.”

“Let’s go!”

We take off out of the restaurant, hopping into a sleek, bronze Range Rover. “I usually ride my bike everywhere, but Logan won’t mind if we use his car.”

“It’s so nice.” I slide the belt over my lap as I sit in the beige leather seat. “It smells brand new!”

“It’s the first time he’s owned a car in years. Can you imagine? He said it was more of a hassle than it was worth in New York.” She reads the question on my face. “He had a car service.”

“Ah.” I lift my chin, trying to imagine what it would be like to have that kind of money.

Of course he was a professional football player, but Dylan told me his dad is also a media mogul and never understood why Logan would choose to play professional football. From what she’s told me, his dad didn’t understand much of anything about his only son.

It’s something we all share—difficult backgrounds. Dylan and I bonded immediately over our young-adult losses, although she lost both her mom and her dad.

My dad’s still hanging around causing problems.

“Is Edward with you for good now?” She glances at me. “I mean, are you his guardian?”

Nerves twist my stomach. “Not legally. After our mom died, Edward and I went to live with our grandmother in Pine Apple. Then when I got the job with Miss Gina, Gran told me to take it and go, live my life for once. I’d been taking care of him full-time up until then.”

“But your parents were still around, weren’t they?”

“It’s kind of a long story.”

“We’ll be in this Rover at least ten minutes with all the lights now.” She gestures to the traffic signal impatiently.

Tracing my fingernail along the seam of the leather seat, I think of how to say this. “My dad kind of lost interest after Edward’s diagnosis, and my mom started drinking all the time.”

Her lips pull into a frown, and she reaches over to squeeze my hand. “I’m sorry.”

“They might’ve hired someone to care for him, but they didn’t. I could’ve ignored him, but I didn’t.” I swallow the ache in my throat. “I played with him and kept him in my room when he was awake. Then when he got older, I took him with me everywhere. He wasn’t hard to manage. He was actually pretty easy… just different.”

“Sounds like Zane and me.” Dylan’s voice is thoughtful. “Our mother wanted to spend time with us, but I guess with five kids, it’s hard.”

“At least she wanted to have a relationship with you.”

“But now you and Edward are totally bonded, right?”

I exhale a laugh. “Yeah, and I have no life.”

Her nose wrinkles. “That part kind of stinks.”

“It was like I had a baby at sixteen, and trust me, the guys weren’t interested in my younger brother spouting little-known facts about everything all the time.”

“I guess that does put a damper on your social life.”

“Yeah,” I look down, remembering those days. “I read a lot, and I watched a lot of YouTube videos.”

“We all did that,” she laughs. “But then you went to college, right?”

“Night school. I worked every day at the nursing home. Not a lot of guys there. ”

“Wait—are you telling me you’ve never had a boyfriend?” Her eyes widen, and I feel like I’ve made a critical error.

“No.”

“So you have?”

“No.”

“I’m confused.”

Waving my hands, I explain fast. “I haven’t had a boyfriend, and I’m not looking for one. That’s not what I meant. I shouldn’t have even said that.”

“Oh-kaay, but I heard Sam Allen was hanging around you the other night. He’s really nice.”

“Dylan, seriously. No. I’m not interested in Sam Allen.” The memory of Zane’s lips covering mine, tugging and pulling them, our tongues curling together, his strong arms around my waist, my entire lower belly flooding with heat…

She gives me the side-eye. “You’re thinking about somebody.”

“Edward.” My voice is firm. “I’m thinking about Edward and getting him all set up at school.” And keeping my dad off my case.

Exhaling slowly, I confess, “I can’t help feeling like what happened to him at school was partly my fault.”

“You can’t go to school with him, Rach.” She gives me a sympathetic smile.

“I know.” My fingers twist, and I study my hands. “But maybe leaving him behind scared him. He’s never done anything like that before.”

“And you can’t get any help from your dad?” Her expression is perplexed, and I figure now’s as good a time as any.

“I don’t want our dad in our lives. I didn’t know what he did to your parents until Zane told me, but now that I do, well, I’m not surprised. I am really sorry, though. He’s not a good person.”

“What do you mean? What did he do?”

“Ditching your parents with the restaurant? Jayden Wells?”

“That was your dad?” Her eyebrows rise .

I nod looking down again, wishing there was some way I could divorce my family.

She doesn’t say anything, and I wish I could tell what she’s thinking. I hope she’ll still be my friend. I hope she’ll judge me on my own merits and not by some man she’s never met, who happens to be my dad.

I hope she’ll still be willing to help us.

“Zane told you all this?”

“Yeah.”

“If Zane knows, Jack must know.” Her voice is quiet. “But he didn’t tell me.”

The radio plays softly in the background, and I think about all the high hopes I had when I came here. I think about my dreams of finding a new life, a career, living on my own terms. I think about my silly dreams of falling in love with a handsome man. And I think about how it’s played out so far—once again, thanks to my dad.

After a few more minutes of silence, I finally ask her, “What do you think?”

“Well…” She exhales, nodding as if she’s made a decision. “It all happened before we were even born. If it mattered today, my brothers would’ve said something about it. Instead, the restaurant is a big success, Zane’s helping Edward, and we’re friends. I think we’re safe to leave what happened in the past, and we can keep moving forward.”

The breath I didn’t know I was holding bursts through my lips, and I drop my face into my hands.

My chest aches, and I swallow the knot in my throat. “Thank you.”

“Oh, honey.” She pulls into a parking space and pulls me into a hug. “It just makes sense. We’ve all grown so close, and you and Edward are the sweetest things.”

“I was so discouraged when Zane told me that story.” I blink back more tears. “I’ve worked so hard to make a better life. I want to be your friend, and I couldn’t take another rug being pulled out from under us.”

Dylan sits back in her seat, her brown eyes misty like mine, and she tugs the side of my hair. “You’ve come to the right place. We help each other here. Now let’s get in there and see what we can do to help your brother.”