Chapter 34
CHAPTER
THIRTY-FOUR
GUNNER
As the bus zooms past the ‘Welcome to Lucky Falls’ sign, I unzip the front pocket of my backpack and grab the pink velvet jewelry case. Unclasping the lock, I open the case and touch the thin silver necklace with the pink gemstone.
The moment I saw it, I knew that it belonged to Rebel. The big question is… how do I get her to accept it?
A phone rings.
I snap the jewelry box closed and search for my cell.
Renthrow’s sitting next to me and he does the same.
“It’s a video call.” Renthrow points to his device. “Do you mind…?”
I shrug.
He swipes a thumb over the screen and smiles brightly.
It still freaks me out the way Renthrow changes on a dime when it comes to Gordie. He goes from grim and grumpy, to smiling toothily in a second.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Renthrow says, throwing his daughter a wave.
“Hi, daddy.” A sweet voice sings through the quiet bus.
Every head swings upward on command.
“Is that Gordie?” Theilan yells from the back of the bus. “Hey-o, Gordie!”
“Hey, Gordie!” Watson, who’s sitting behind us, pops his head up to see the screen.
“This is a private conversation,” Renthrow growls, but his voice lacks the bite that he intends.
“Nah, Gordie would rather talk to her favorite uncle than to boring old dad,” Watson argues.
“What’s up, Gordie?” Chance leans across the aisle to push a hand at the screen.
Gordie laughs sweetly and sings, “Hi, everyone!”
“Enough.” Renthrow yells at the team. “Give me a second, pumpkin. Let me plug in my headphones.”
Enthusastic boos! ring from the entire bus.
I turn my face to the window and smile softly.
“Daddy are you here yet?”
“We just rolled into town. I’ll be there very soon.” Renthrow’s voice thickens with concern. “Why? Is something wrong?”
“Miss Candice was asking.”
My ears perk up.
Chance gives Renthrow a pointed look.
Max clears his throat.
“Why was your teacher asking for me?” Renthrow asks, as clueless as a newb on his first play. “Did you get in trouble at school, pumpkin?”
“No.” She giggles. “Miss Candice always asks about you. I think she likes you, daddy.”
Ooohs break out next.
Twin circles of red flush across Renthrow’s face and he mumbles, “I should have used the stupid headphones.”
“Gordie! ” Someone calls from the background.
“Gotta go, daddy. We’re baking brownies.”
“Save one for me!” Theilan yells.
“I’ll see you soon, pumpkin,” Renthrow says and then he ends the call.
A wolf whistle erupts from the back of the bus.
Theilan’s voice rings with mischief. “Candice Pott? What does she see in the likes of you, Renthrow?”
“Maybe it’s like Beauty and the Beast?” Watson teases.
“Must be,” Theilan agrees, laughing loudly.
I think of the slim, cheerful kindergarten teacher. She’s the polar opposite of Renthrow who’s on the gruff, quiet side. However, what matters is that Candice is good with kids.
Renthrow ignores the commotion about his love life, and eventually, the bus quiets down. Theilan, especially, only pokes at people who give him a response and Renthrow’s perfected the art of acting like he doesn’t care.
The bus chugs to a stop in front of the arena.
Bobby swings around from the driver’s seat, a smile etched into his dark face. “Alright, fellas. This is your stop. Make sure to swing by The Tipsy Tuna sometime today. Mauve’s got a welcome home drink, courtesy of us.”
The team cheers.
I smile and nod my thanks.
Max gets up next. He claps his hands together to bring us to attention. “Alright, guys. We got some decent momentum going, but we’re still a few points short. This last game will determine whether we make it to the finals. So there will be no slacking off. I expect everyone…”
“… at morning practice five am tomorrow ,” the team finishes for him.
Max’s mouth flicks up in a grin. “Exactly.”
We dismount the bus.
Renthrow takes off to his truck, speeding to see his little girl.
Theilan and Watson head straight to the Tuna to soak in the local praise and grab some drinks.
“You want a ride?” Max offers me, pointing to his truck.
Chance passes us at that moment, his phone glued to his ear. “I’m back, Tink. Are you at the garage? I’m coming over.” He sees me watching and lifts a hand. “See you later, guys.”
Is Chance going to the garage?
I picture Rebel working in her pink jumper, her hair pulled back into a ponytail and her blue eyes narrowed in concentration.
“Gunner?” Max says. “Car’s this way.”
“We’re not going in the same direction,” I mumble to Max and then I take off after Chance.
“What are you talking about? I live fifteen minutes away from you!” Max yells at my back.
I catch up to Chance fast. “Can I get a ride?”
He motions for me to get into his Lamborghini.
The first time I got a ride with Chance, I couldn’t figure out how to open the door. Now, I easily engage the latch and slide in.
As soon as Chance starts his car, his phone connects to the speaker system and April’s voice blasts through the car.
“She was so upset, Chance. I had to beg her not to drive. I called one of those sober-driver chauffeur services to pick her up instead.”
Instantly, all my nerves tighten and I sit straight up. “Are you talking about Rebel?”
The line goes quiet.
Chance looks over at me and winces.
“Chance, is Gunner in the car with you?” April shrieks.
“Uh… yeah.”
“Why didn’t you tell me!”
“What happened to Rebel?” I demand.
“Oh. Now you care?”
“April.”
“What?” she snaps.
“Tell me.”
“Or what?”
April Brooks is a fierce little thing and she sounds like she’s ready to reach through the cell phone and grab me by my collar.
“You don’t intimidate me, Gunner. I don’t care if you’re a Kinsey. I don’t answer to you.”
“I’m not trying to intimidate anyone. Just… please. What happened to Rebel?” My voice breaks on the last word.
I’m already imagining the worst.
What if Uncle Stewart found out I’m investigating our family? What if he decided to make good on the threat of ‘bad things’ happening as a result? What if Rebel got hurt because of me?
“Tink,” Chance’s voice is coaxing, “Gunner’s about to have a heart attack over here. I think you should tell him.”
I lean forward, staring at the fancy dashboard display and waiting on pins and needles for April to speak.
She pushes the words out reluctantly, “Rebel got an opportunity to pitch her community service project to a bunch of wealthy businessmen. She stayed up late for days, practiced her speech, and put her heart and soul into doing a good job.”
The knot in my chest loosens with every word from April’s mouth. This has nothing to do with Uncle Stewart or my family. That’s good.
Then…
Why was Rebel so distraught she couldn’t even drive her car?
“Did she get rejected?” I ask, frowning.
“Not exactly,” April says. “She was accepted… without having to present at all.”
“I don’t understand.”
“That’s all I’ll say for now. Chance, I’ll call Rebel again. It’s been a while since I talked to her and I want to check in.”
“I’m almost at the mechanic shop,” Chance says. “I’ll wait with you until Rebel comes.”
Chance steps on the gas and I wish he’d go even faster.
What did April mean by that last statement? Rebel got the funding without having to do anything? That doesn’t sound like something that would make her cry. Unless one of the men came on to her? Is that it? Did someone do or say something inappropriate to her?
My fingers fist at my sides.
Chance parks the car in front of the mechanic shop and I notice a motorcycle glinting in the sunshine.
That’s not the only vehicle parked outside.
I recognize Benji’s fancy black car from that day at the community project. He sprints out of the vehicle, hurrying into the garage.
“Isn’t that…” Chance is saying.
I’m already hopping out and storming into the auto shop.
An unfamiliar woman with short black hair looks up from behind an open hood. Her eyes skate past me, flit to Benji and then widen. She ducks her head under the hood again and doesn’t look up once.
I ignore her and look across the bay just in time to see April send Benji a scalding look.
“What are you doing here?” the female mechanic fumes.
Chance walks in, his eyes narrowing. “Sounds like my girlfriend wants you to leave.”
The tension in the air is high.
I stand beside our team captain, my arms folded over my chest and my heart speeding up from the anticipation of a fight. I’ve been searching high and low for a reason to punch Benji in the face and I feel like my time might be coming.
Unfortunately, April puts her hand on Chance’s arm and whispers, “It’s fine.”
My fists twitch in disappointment.
Benji looks haggard. “Is Rebel here?”
“No, she hasn’t gotten back yet.”
He runs a hand through his hair, his voice faint. “I heard what happened at the meeting. I drove straight over to clear things up.”
“There’s no need, Benji. Your dad made everything exceptionally clear.”
“I had no idea he would pull something like this. Honestly.”
“Tell that to Rebel, not to me.”
Actually, I’d prefer if he kept a five mile distance from Rebel at all times.
Benji scrapes his hands through his hair again. “Rebel’s not answering my calls. Can you please tell her I need to speak with her. I’ll wait at the burger place. I’ll wait as long as it takes.”
“No need. I’m right here,” an upbeat voice says.
We all turn to face the door.
Rebel strides in. She looks stunning in a pink blouse and a black skirt that shows off her long, toned legs. Her hair’s twisted up into a bun, allowing my eyes to scour every inch of her face.
She’s… smiling.
But those eyes… they’re not crinkling at all.
“Rebel,” Benji says, taking an unconscious step forward.
I slam a hand in front of him, barring his way.
The movement draws Rebel’s attention to me. Her blue eyes widen and then narrow in calculation. A second later, the plastic smile on her face widens, “Baby, you’re back!”
B-baby? I gawk at her.
“Did she just call him ‘baby’?” April whispers to Chance.
Rebel makes a running leap toward me.
The entire world gets fuzzy at the edges except for the sight of her lean arms swinging back and forth and her heels thudding against the concrete floor.
My heart slows to match each rhythmic beat of her feet on the ground.
Thud, thud, thud.
A second later, Rebel collides into me.
I stumble back, placing both hands on her hips to steady her while fighting to keep my own balance. In a fluid motion, her arms wrap around my neck, bringing my head down just as she pulses to the tips of her toes.
Without warning, our lips crash together in a harsh, searing kiss.