The Way We Play (Bradford Boys #2)

Chapter 27

27

Zane

G loria stands in the center of the pool room directing the kids where to go. They’re all pretty rules-oriented anyway, so they’re happy to follow her organization.

All of the kids earn money for the ranch by playing, but she has them segregated by age to start. The winners will advance to playing each other until a sole champion emerges.

The longest part of the night will be weeding out the beginners. Still, it’s nice to see all the parents here cheering on their kids. I know a handful, since I’m only there in the early mornings.

“Ben had so much fun playing with Eddie!” Alice Maxwell touches my arm. “Thanks for putting them together. I almost wish Ben were going to Newhope next year.”

“I’m sure you could put in for a variance if he’s not happy at Barnwell.” I watch the small boy moving around the table with more confidence than I’ve ever seen.

Ben is a lot like Eddie. They thrive on structure and accomplishment, and they learn new skills quickly. I do my best not to be angry at a society that would deem them “different” simply because they don’t react to stimuli in a “normal” way. These young men have a lot of potential.

They’ve also started dressing alike in jeans and T-shirts with long-sleeve shirts on top.

After an hour, the tables have condensed. Weaker players have been eliminated, and we have two tables going. At one Eddie Nashville is up against a sixteen-year-old kid I don’t know well.

His parents are so nice, I almost feel bad hoping their son loses.

Ben is playing a little girl, who I have to say is killer. Kimmie is enthralled, waving her stuffed turtle over her head and cheering for “pool girlies” in a way that makes me wonder how Jack will ever get her to sleep tonight.

I’ve had my eye on Olivia and Rachel chatting nonstop. It’s curious seeing Liv back in town, but they’re hitting it off, talking about Birmingham.

Considering all the shit he’s given me, I couldn’t resist snapping a photo and sending it to my brother.

Look who’s here.

Garrett

She looks good.

My brows rise, and I’ve never known him to be so reserved.

She looks real good. Rachel seems to like her.

Garrett

Does Rachel like you?

Very much.

Garrett

That’s what I’m talking about.

That’s all you get.

Garrett

That’s enough. I only want to see you happy, bro.

I only want to see you happy. Will you be in town next month?

Garrett

Not for Christmas, but I won’t forget my people.

Liv is taking care of her mother. Maybe you’ll see her when you’re here.

Garrett

Last I checked, Olivia’s married to a lawyer in Bham.

I don’t see no ring.

He doesn’t respond, and I count it as a win. After all his harassment, I could do a lot worse, but it’s not really my style.

Gloria calls out the winners, and we’re down to the last match-up. My brows rise when I see it’s Eddie and Ben.

“Oh no!” Rachel hops over to hold my bicep, frowning up at me. “They’re best buddies!”

I slide my arm around her waist. “If I know these guys, they’ll be very logical about how it all plays out.”

Sure enough, the two of them are already talking at the head of the table as they put chalk on their pool cues.

“It only makes sense I’ll probably win,” Edward speaks low. “It’s for charity anyway.”

Ben nods, glancing at the table. “It’s possible I could win, but the odds are overwhelmingly in your favor.”

They walk to opposite sides of the table, and I can’t help a grin. I knew as soon as I met Edward, he’d be a good match for Ben. They’re only a year apart in age, and they have the same approach to the world.

Edward breaks, and a solid and a stripe go in opposite pockets. He calls solids, and it almost looks like he’ll win in a sweep. He only misses one ball, and the crowd gasps, clapping at his skill.

Rachel is at my side, holding my arm. Her green eyes blink rapidly, and I can’t tell if she’s on the verge of happy tears or if she’s simply excited.

Ben steps up, and for a young beginner, he puts on a good show, sinking three balls in a row before bouncing the fourth off the corner of the pocket.

Edward reaches for his hand, and the two boys shake companionably. The room is silent as everyone holds their breath. I glance around at the amazed faces, and I can’t help a smile of pride.

“Is my friend Eddie about to nail it?” Miss Gina’s low voice cuts the silence, and a low chuckle ripples across the group.

“I think he is.” I answer.

His eyes are focused as he steps up to the table, rubbing the chalk square on the tip of his pool cue. I’m not sure if he’s aware, but he’s doing a great job building drama.

He steps forward, surveying the table, then leans forward and quickly finishes the game in three plays.

When the eight ball sinks into the corner pocket, the entire place erupts into cheers. Eddie ducks, lifting his shoulders defensively against the noise, and Rachel steps forward to gently hold his arm.

“I’m so proud of you,” her voice is quiet, and their eyes meet.

I wasn’t there when they were children, when she would go into his room and lift him out of his crib because he was crying. When she was the only one who comforted him. I only know she won’t be doing it alone as long as I’m around.

Stepping forward, I put my hand on her back, ready to congratulate them when a scratchy voice cuts through the din.

“That’s my boy!” Loud clapping causes the voices to fade, drawing all our attention to a stocky man in a corduroy jacket. His light-hair is streaked with gray. “Another Wells for the win.”

Rachel’s body stiffens. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Jayden Wells, and I turn, stepping between him and my girl .

“Jayden.” My hands are on my hips, and I’m gratified to be several inches taller than him.

Not to mention a few years younger.

He’s a fighter, though. Stepping forward, he squints one eye at me. “You’re one of those Bradford boys, aren’t you?”

“He is.” Jack’s voice at my side gives me the backup I need. “I’m Jack Bradford, and this is my brother Zane.”

“And I’m Logan Murphy.”

My eyes cut to Logan, and I give him a nod before turning to Jayden again. “What do you want here?”

“Well, you sure have grown up. I came to get my son.” He’s not intimidated by the three of us, which gets my back up more. “Edward, pack your bags. You’re coming back to Birmingham with me.”

“Eddie’s not going anywhere with you.” I step forward, arms crossed.

Jayden only laughs, shaking his head and looking down. “I appreciate the welcome wagon.” He circles his finger between the three of us. “But he’s my son. You can’t stop me from taking him, unless you’re planning to commit a crime.”

“I’ll stop you.” Rachel steps around from behind me. “I’m taking care of Eddie now. I always have, and you can’t come in here and disrupt his life this way.”

He shakes his head slowly. “Sorry, daughter, but in fact I can. You see, I’ve been getting calls from the school for a month wanting to know where he is. It seems you drove up to Birmingham and took him, and now he isn’t in school anywhere.”

“He’s starting school here in January. In the meantime, he’s been studying at home.”

“Looks like he’s been hanging out in a pool hall to me. Gotten pretty good at it, from what I can tell.”

“You don’t look like my dad anymore.” Edward steps forward, still holding his pool cue. “You look old.”

He pushes his light brown bangs off his head and frowns up at the man standing at the door of the pool area .

“Don’t be stupid, boy.” Jayden’s tone has my fists clenching. “Of course, I’m your dad.”

“Eddie’s not stupid!” Kimmie stomps forward, brown curls bouncing around her little shoulders. “He’s a genius! He knows about kittens and turtles and giants and pool…”

Jack reaches down to lift his angry tornado onto his hip.

“Yeah, yeah, I know, little lady. He’s not stupid. He’s just reta?—”

“Don’t say that word.” I fist the neck of his shirt so fast, and my jaw clenches so hard, the muscle cramps.

Lifting him off the ground, I shove him out of the pool area and into the dining hall, away from the crowd, and I’m ready to kick his ass all the way back to Birmingham.

Rachel follows me, along with Jack, Dylan, and Logan. Craig and Allie hang back in the room to distract the crowd and celebrate the winners.

Gloria speaks, and gentle clapping follows whatever she says. Thankfully, it seems the tournament attendees are easily redirected away from what’s happening here.

“Hey, okay!” Jayden holds up his hands as he puts space between us.

Protective rage burns in my veins, and I’m sure he sees it in my eyes. “If I ever hear you say that word to him or about him, I’ll ram it down your ignorant throat.”

A satisfied grin curls Jayden’s lips, and it crawls on my skin. I’m starting to realize this is all a game to him, another ploy—but to what end?

“You’re not taking Edward.” Rachel steps past me. “You don’t even want him. You’re mean and spiteful and everything you do is only to hurt people. You use people until you get what you want or until they don’t live up to your expectations, then you throw them away.”

“You sound just like your mother.” He huffs a laugh at her. “You’re even starting to look like her.”

“Mom was a good person until you came along. ”

“We can debate that another day.”

I step up beside Rachel, putting my hand on her shoulder. Rachel knows this man a lot better than I do, but I’m a fast learner. I told her before she wouldn’t face him alone ever again, and I want her to know we’re here.

“It’s time for you to go.” Dylan enters the room. “I run this restaurant, and I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone—that includes you.”

Jayden steps back, looking around Cooters & Shooters. “You know, I was a part of this place. It looks real good now.”

I take another step forward, ready to throw him out the door. “You were never a part of this place. You were supposed to be, but you ghosted when it came time to commit.”

“I never had that kind of money.”

“Neither did they.”

“Give me a break. Your dad had all his football earnings saved up. He was set.”

“It was all he had, his life savings. He hadn’t played in years, and he had all of us to think about.”

“Looks like it turned out all right.” Jayden squares off facing us. “Your family is secure. That’s all I want for mine. I’m not the bad guy here.”

I’m about to argue when Miss Gina enters the room. “Then don’t act like the bad guy.”

She holds Olivia’s arm as the two of them step forward. “Don’t do this Jayden. Leave Eddie be. He’s happy here with us. He’s thriving, and we’ll take care of him.”

“Miss Gina.” He studies the old woman with a calculated eye. “Are you making me an offer?”

Her lips press into a frown, and she shakes her head. “That’s all that ever matters to you. One day you’ll see there’s so much more to life than money.”

“Easy to say when you got it.” His voice rises, and he levels his eyes on Rachel. “I’ll be back in a week to pick up my son. I expect you to have him ready to go. ”

Turning, he stalks out of the dining room, letting the door slam behind him. My chest is tight, and when I look at Jack, he nods. We’ve been here before, and we have an idea of what to do.

I think about what he said, what Miss Gina said, the past, and what it all means. He gave us a week, but I’m not wasting a day.

“They tried to take Hendrix and Dylan after our parents died.” Jack is standing by the bar holding a beer. “We were able to stop it then.”

After the awards were handed out, the tournament crowd slowly dispersed, and Dylan took Eddie with his first place trophy and Kimmie with her cooters back to the house.

Most of the attendees weren’t aware of Jayden, and the few who were, didn’t understand what was happening. Gloria helped Craig and Allie wrap up the tournament, and we promised to fill them in as they left.

Now it’s Jack and Logan, Miss Gina and Olivia, Rachel and me standing at the bar trying to formulate a plan.

“How did you stop it?” Rachel’s eyes are wide, and I can hear the desperation in her voice.

“Miss Gina was a big help. She stood beside me before the judge and made sure it didn’t happen.”

“What did she do?” Rachel looks from him to the old lady whose face is uncharacteristically angry.

“She’s got a lot of money and a lot of influence.” I put my hands on the tops of Rachel’s shoulders.

“I simply knew the town council,” Miss Gina interjects. “Nobody wanted to go on record as being the one who broke up the family of our local hero. We all came together and helped them see they were making a mistake.”

“It helped that it’s a small town,” Jack adds.

“We won’t have any of that going for us in Birmingham.” Rachel’s voice is quiet. “Jayden is no hero, and we don’t have influence on anybody.”

“No, but you have me.” Olivia steps forward. “I know several good family lawyers who will help us. I’ll draw up papers, and we’ll get him to sign over custody to you.”

“He won’t do that without some incentive.” Disgust is in Rachel’s tone. “He must owe somebody money. I’m pretty sure that’s the only reason he’s back, sniffing around.”

I motion to Olivia. “I’ll go with you to Birmingham. If you’re up for it, we could go tomorrow. If that’s okay with you, Miss G? I need to take off for a few days.”

“Do what you have to do, Zane.” Miss Gina reaches out to grip my arm, determination in her voice. “Protect our Edward.”

“Let me check on Mom, and I’ll make some calls.” Olivia takes Miss Gina’s arm as we start for the door. “If I can’t get away, I’ll find the best person to meet you tomorrow.”

We break it up and head back to the house. I’ve got some packing to do.