Chapter Thirteen
Carly drove down the road a few days later, humming to herself. Three nights ago, she and Jesse had made out on her front porch like a couple of teenagers, and then when their mouths were finally both too sore to kiss anymore, Jesse pulled back and said he needed to get going.
But before he left, he reached inside his pocket and pulled something out. He handed it to her with a wink and said Good night, Carly in a tone that made her shiver.
After he left and she went inside, she glanced down to see what he’d handed her. It had been the bobby pins he’d pulled from her hair. The sight of them made heat coil inside her all over again, and she’d gone in the bathroom to take a cool shower.
They’d spent the next day texting with silly little tidbits about what they were doing. Carly had to repair some stalls in her barn, while Jesse had to work on his future home. She’d sent him a picture of Nieve, and he’d responded that he could feel the horse’s judgment through the pixels.
Carly was falling fast and hard, even as she tried to put a brake on her emotions.
Just because Jesse was an incredible kisser and he’d confirmed he wanted to date, it didn’t mean he wanted—or was ready to offer—forever with her.
She needed to proceed with caution like she did with every other relationship in her life.
She was pulled from her thoughts when she saw a familiar teen walking down the road. What on earth was Oscar doing? He had his backpack on, and he was coming from the direction of the high school, but…he couldn’t have walked the whole distance. The school was miles away.
She pulled up next to him and hit the button on the passenger side window. “Hey, Oscar,” she called out as to not scare him. Lord knows she would not react well if a car pulled up next to her and she didn’t know who the person was.
He stopped walking, but he didn’t look at her. “Hi, Carly.”
“Where you coming from?”
“School.”
Carly’s mouth dropped as he confirmed what she’d suspected. “That’s pretty far away. Did you miss the bus?”
He sniffed. “Felt like walking.”
He wiped at his eyes, and she could finally see that they were red and puffy.
Her heart cried for him. “You want to talk about what’s wrong?”
Oscar didn’t say anything. He kicked a pebble toward the side of the road.
“Come on,” she encouraged. “I’ll give you a ride home, and you can tell me all about it.”
He hesitated for a second before his shoulders finally slumped and he dragged his feet over to the car. Once he was inside and buckled, she put the car in Drive again and they headed for the Abernathy property.
“So…” she said. “What’s going on?”
His face was turned away as he stared out the window. “Did you hear that the football team is going to the district championship game next weekend?”
Remi and Shane had told her all about it. Given how far everything was from Tenacity, they planned on doing the drive to the stadium, which was an hour away.
“I did hear that,” Carly said.
“It’s an overnight trip. There’s no way Dad will ever let me go.
” Carly noticed that Oscar’s fists were closing and opening on repeat, a sign that he was starting to stim, from what Jesse had told her.
“Coach Finn is really great and wants my advice, but the guys don’t always want to listen.
I’m tired of trying. I’m tired of this whole stupid town. ”
Carly was careful on how she answered. “Why do you want to go on this trip, then?”
The hands opened and closed even faster. “Because…”
When he didn’t say anything, she pushed, “Yes?”
Oscar gave an exasperated sigh. “Because I love football, and if I go, then maybe they’ll see that I have something to offer too. I’m not just the weird kid with all the stats who has to wear sensory headphones. Maybe they’ll see me.”
“Oh,” Carly replied, finally understanding what was upsetting the teen. He had a chance to go off on an overnight trip with everyone else—to be like everyone else. This might be a great time for him to make some friends or for the kids to get to know him better at least.
“What did Coach Finn say?” she asked.
“He said he’d make sure I was treated fairly. The school put him in a suite, and he said I could have the spare room. So even though I’d be staying in the suite with the coaches, do you think Dad will let me go? No!”
They pulled up to the Abernathy property. “Let me talk to your dad,” Carly finally said. “I can’t promise you anything, but I’ll see what I can do.”
Oscar finally looked at her, and her insides lurched at the sad hopelessness on his face.
Once they pulled up to the house, Jesse stepped out onto the large porch. He seemed confused for a second before he saw who was in the car with her.
Jesse hurried over to them as they got out. “Oscar? What’s wrong?”
Oscar didn’t meet his eyes as he brushed by him. “Later, Dad.” He stormed into the house, shutting the door firmly behind him.
Jesse rubbed at his face. “What the hell was that about?”
“I found him walking home from school—” Carly started to explain.
“What?” Jesse interrupted. “It’s miles away. How could they let that happen? I’m going to call them right now.”
He started to turn, but Carly grabbed his arm, stopping him. “Maybe give Oscar a chance to speak with you first before you chew out someone who doesn’t deserve it.”
Jesse was clearly frustrated, but he was careful with his response. “I appreciate your help, but Oscar shouldn’t be walking this far.”
“I understand that,” Carly said. “He’s also a teenage boy.”
“I know, but as his father I need to be his advocate.”
Carly knew she needed to back down. This was really none of her business, but her emotions ached for Oscar. “He’s a kid who wants to be a real part of the team.”
Jesse looked away guiltily. “He told you, right? That the football team is going to their district game next weekend. They’ll be spending the night in a hotel. Oscar wants to go.”
“He told me,” Carly confirmed. “You’re worried.”
The side of Jesse’s mouth quirked up. “He’s never spent the night with someone who wasn’t family.
I can’t go because Grayson and I managed to screw up the HVAC install, and a professional is coming out to take a look at it, but they can only get to the ranch Saturday morning.
I need to be on hand. Coach Finn assured me that he’d keep an eye on him, and he’s been really good with Oscar so far, especially when he gets overstimulated, but what if it becomes too much?
We’re talking about a football stadium where the college a few towns over plays.
That’s a big crowd and a lot of screaming. What if it’s too much for Oscar?”
“Have you talked to his school counselors? Teachers? Did any of them have any advice?”
“I talked to the counselor. He specializes in autism, and he seemed to think that Oscar would do all right as long as he wears his headphones.”
“So…”
“It’s still far away.”
Carly looked at Jesse sadly. “I know you’re worried, but I think Oscar really needs this. He loves you—I know he does—but do you ever think that maybe you’re not giving him enough space to figure things out on his own and it’s making him resentful?”
Jesse stiffened. “It’s my job to protect him.”
Carly’s palms went to her hips. “I’m just saying he’ll be in good hands if you let him go.
The school has assured you of this. Let him live a little.
Worst case scenario, my cousin Remi and Shane are going to the game.
I can ask them to keep an eye on Oscar, and if things get bad, they can always bring him home. ”
A muscle ticked in Jesse’s jaw before he said stiffly, “You think they’d do that for him?”
“I know they would,” she responded.
Jesse nodded before glancing back at the closed door of the house. He lost some of his rigidness as he let out a deep sigh. “I’ll think about it.”
He took a step toward Carly and brushed his lips lightly against hers. “Thanks for driving Oscar home. I should go talk to him. I’ll call you later.”
“Okay.” She squeezed his arm before he left.
Carly felt uneasy as she got back into her car.
She hated the tension between father and son.
But as much as she probably shouldn’t have, she didn’t regret speaking up on Oscar’s behalf.
For so long growing up, she’d felt helpless—like she didn’t have any control over her own life.
She hated that Oscar might even remotely feel like she had.
He’d made it more than clear on multiple occasions that he resented his father’s hovering.
Carly cared for Jesse. Deeply. And because of that, she worried that if he didn’t loosen the reins a little on his son, he might end up losing the one person he loved the most.