Chapter 4 #2
“Well, I started running as sort of a way to escape, I think. After losing my mom, and all that happened with my dad when I was young, I just sort of needed something to…” I paused and shook my head.
“Take me away, I guess. And it was the first thing I felt like I was good at, so I knew it was my ticket to go to school and have a future. I figured that out at a young age.”
The table was quiet, and I wondered if I’d shared too much.
“You won the California state championship all four years in high school, and you were the first female in the state of California to accomplish that, so I’d say good is an understatement,” Hugh said, catching me off guard that he’d remembered those specific stats.
“And then you went on to be the collegiate national champ. You’ve more than proven yourself. ”
“Thank you. But I guess I don’t feel like I need to prove anything anymore.
I don’t need to set a record or win a race to get me to the next place I want to go.
I’ve been so busy looking forward, I haven’t enjoyed just being where I’m at.
I don’t miss racing because I never loved race days, to be honest. I love running, and I still do, and it feels good that I can just do it for myself now.
For the first time in my life, it’s just for me. ”
“I think that’s amazing, Lila. And I’m sure glad you’re back home for a while. I’ve missed that sweet face of yours,” Alana said, her eyes wet with emotion. “And who knows, maybe you’ll end up wanting to stay.”
Hugh shot his mother a look, and I knew what he was saying without even speaking the words.
Travis didn’t want anyone giving me any reason to stay.
He thought my dad would bring me down, and he was so determined that I deserved more than this place that we all called home.
My brother had spent his entire life protecting me, and I didn’t need protecting anymore.
He’d been in battle so long that he didn’t know how to stop.
“Well, all I know is that it feels good to be here now. And thank you for having me tonight. I don’t think there’s anyone that has a better Sunday dinner than the Reynolds family,” I said, and everyone chuckled.
“We’d be so pleased if you’d join us every Sunday while you’re home,” Alana said, and Hugh chuckled.
“I hope you keep coming and that you aren’t running for the hills after the infamous black lace bra strap showing,” Georgia said with a dramatic gasp. “And my big brother trying to boss me around.”
“Daddy is a boss!” Gracie shouted over her giggles.
“You got that right, baby girl,” Cage said.
“But remember who the real boss is,” Hugh whispered, loud enough for us all to hear.
“Uncle Hughey is the real boss, Daddy,” Gracie sang out as Hugh blew a raspberry on her neck, and she fell back in laughter.
“Damn straight!” Hugh shouted.
“Hey, I thought I was the boss.” Finn feigned offense, being the natural actor that he was.
“I’ve gots me a lot of bosses.” Gracie shrugged.
The rest of the night was more banter and laughter and way too much food.
I said my goodbyes to everyone, and Hugh insisted on driving me home. I offered to walk as I’d left my car at home this morning. I preferred to walk most places, and I enjoyed it, but he was never going to agree to that, and I didn’t fight it.
“Thanks for inviting me tonight. Your family is just as amazing as I remembered. I can’t imagine how much fun it must have been growing up with all of your siblings.”
Hugh turned down the street and headed toward my father’s house.
“Yeah, it was a lot of fun, but we all have our moments. Both good and bad, just like everyone else. You know Trav just wants what’s best for you, right? He always has.”
“I know. But it doesn’t mean that I can’t come home and be happy, too. I grew up here, just like he did. We have the same father. I think I’m capable of handling myself. He’s so hell-bent on keeping me away, and I just wish he realized I’m not a little kid anymore.”
My eyes narrowed as I saw a tall man standing on our front porch with his hands flailing around, and I could hear the shouting from inside the truck.
His left hand reared back and made contact with the person he was blocking with his big body, and I saw my father fall forward.
I reached for the handle just as Hugh pulled to the curb, not even certain the car had come to a full stop. I was out and running toward my father.
“Hey! Leave him alone!” I shouted as I approached him.
His arm was lifted again, and I knew he was going to hit my father who was sprawled out on the ground and not fighting back.
I reached for his hand, but it swung back too quickly and nailed me right in the cheek with a force I hadn’t been prepared for.
Everything was a blur when I stumbled to the ground, and Hugh came out of nowhere, diving through the air and tackling the guy who’d just hit me.
I crawled over to my father to see if he was okay, and he just sat up, laughing as blood poured from his nose.
Two men stood in the doorway, holding beers in their hands and watching Hugh punch the guy in the face as he shouted at him.
“Don’t you ever fucking put your hands on her again, do you hear me?” I jumped up and raced over to him, reaching for his arm that he held above the man who was bleeding and begging him to stop.
“That’s enough,” I said, and my voice broke on a sob.
Flashbacks of a childhood filled with ups and downs flooded my head.
Reminders of why running had always been such an escape for me.
What was happening? My father had been fine when I’d left earlier.
“Damn, Lila girl. I’d have knocked him out myself if I would have known he put his hands on you,” my father’s words slurred.
He was drunk or high; I wasn’t quite sure which.
In my lifetime, I was more familiar with this version of my dad than the sober one. But I hadn’t seen him drunk or high since I’d returned home, and I’d hoped that him having all these health issues would mean he was trying to get better.
It wasn’t my first time being wrong, nor would it most likely be my last.
But I’d never stop trying.
Because beneath all that sickness and addiction was a great man. I may be the only one that still knew it, but that didn’t matter to me.
If you had one person in your corner, there was still hope. And everyone deserved that, didn’t they?
“Lila James. Look at you,” Bradley purred from our doorway, looking like the creep he’d always been. He was the friend dad used to get into the most trouble with. I couldn’t stand the man.
Hugh pushed to stand and lifted the guy on the ground to his feet with him. “You’re lucky I don’t call the cops. Apologize to her, and then get the fuck out of here and don’t come back.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t see you behind me,” he sputtered and spit blood on the grass. “You owe me twenty bucks, Tate. You will pay me.” He stormed out of our yard and down the street.
“You all right?” Hugh asked as he stalked toward me, almost predatory. His large hand grazed my cheek, and he held up his phone and turned on the flashlight before cursing under his breath. “Come on. You’re not staying here.”
“What? I live here.”
“Not anymore. You have two choices. You pack your bags and go to Travis and Shay’s, or you stay in my casita. That’s it. What’s it going to be?” His green gaze was hard, and he turned to glare at my father when Dad pushed to his feet and started apologizing.
“I’ll stay with you. Please don’t call Travis right now. He’ll be furious, and I’ll talk to him tomorrow. I promise.”
Hugh nodded. “Let’s go pack up your shit.”
He stormed past my father and shoved Bradley and Pat out of the way. There were two more guys I’d never seen sprawled out on the couch, with beer cans covering the coffee table.
“Party’s over, boys. Leave.” Hugh pointed toward the door and then raised an eyebrow at me and tilted his head toward the hallway leading to my room.
I hurried inside and swiped at the tears rolling down my cheeks.
Travis would hate our father even more now.
He didn’t understand that this was a disease, and he was doing his best to beat it.
That was why I was here.
But nothing was going to get resolved tonight. Dad was drunk. His friends were creepy as hell, and I didn’t want to be here, anyway.
And I knew Hugh well enough to know that he wasn’t going to leave without me, so I tossed a bunch of clothes in my bag and grabbed my toiletries, as well.
When I came out of the room, wheeling my suitcase behind me, my father sat on the floor of the living room with a bottle of vodka in his hand, and he tipped his head back and took a long pull.
Bradley was still there, of course, laughing his ass off just like he always did when Dad fell off the wagon.
I often wondered if that term even made sense anymore. Because in all honesty, my father had been off the wagon more than he’d ever been on it.
I hated that so much for him.
But it didn’t mean that it had to be his reality for the rest of his life.
“I’m sorry, Lila girl. I love you. I just had a slip.” Dad tried to push to his feet and fell back on the floor as Bradley’s laughter filled the small space around us.
Hugh stepped in front of me and took my bags, blocking my line of sight to my dad. “Truck. Now. I’ll be right there.”
I did what he said because I was too tired to fight him.
My cheek throbbed with pain as I climbed into his truck.
But nothing compared to the way my heart ached.