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“Then it’s probably because your life has been so charming that you don’t actually know what feeling unloved or unsupported looks like,” she replies, her voice cracking at the end.
And the full weight of what I’ve just said to her hits me as soon as I see her rolling her lips in to disguise the way she’s started crying. She turns around, but I watch as her shoulders shake lightly, and I know she’s only stifling her sobs.
I blow out a breath and step forward, reaching a hand toward her. “Loren, I’m so?—”
“Don’t you dare touch me, Blake,” she grinds out before I can get my apology out.
“Yeah, okay,” I say, jerking my hand back and shaking my head. “Sorry.”
“Just go away. You aren’t supposed to be in here, anyway.”
“Yeah,” I repeat, swallowing hard. I only thought I felt sick to my stomach before, but it’s nothing compared to the way I feel now.
“Hey, is everything okay?”
I turn to find my former history teacher in the doorway. I clear my throat as I turn to offer her a smile. “Hey, Mrs. Rachel. It’s good to see you.”
“Hi, Blake. Glad to have you back, baby,” she returns, eyeing me suspiciously. “Are you all right, Loren?”
Loren sniffles again and turns to face her. “Yeah, all good. Blake and I were just catching up.”
Mrs. Rachel places a protective hand on Loren’s shoulder. “Then why do you look upset?”
“Oh, you know us,” I start, trying to lighten the situation. “We’ve never been able to manage a conversation without turning it into an argument.”
“Yeah. Turns out I’m more sensitive than I thought about the whole UL-LSU rivalry.”
“UL-L,” I correct her. “You’re not a flagship school.”
“Then you should know you graduated from LSU A&M, the Louisiana State University Agricultural and Mechanical College, you ass,” she retorts, making Mrs. Rachel laugh.
“I guess college hasn’t changed either of you. Maybe you should have gone to McNeese instead,” Mrs. Rachel says, winking and giving Loren’s arm a squeeze before letting it go. “Come on, Blake. I’m going out for cheer practice. I’ll walk you to the field, where you belong.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I nod and force another smile, because Mrs. Rachel isn’t one to be contested. “I’ll see you around, Ms. Reed,” I add, shooting her a remorseful look.
“Not if I can help it,” she mutters. And for some reason, that tightness in my chest is replaced by a few flutters.
CHAPTER 36
Loren
“This might bethe best Fourth of July barbecue I’ve ever been to, girls,” Mrs. T comments from her kitchen sink, nudging Tenley and nodding her head toward the back yard.
We both move in closer to gaze out the window, and I watch Blake peel his button-down shirt off of his arms and toss it on one of the deck chairs outside.
“Well, shit,” Tenley curses under her breath as JD’s polo flies over and lands on top of Blake’s discarded shirt.
I stifle a laugh until Blake’s eyes dart to mine while he jogs over and catches the football Ethan tosses his way. Then he winks at me before he stretches his arms.
“Hot damn,” I say a little too loudly. “I mean, go sports!” The other ladies laugh at me.
Now, one would think I’d have at least a basic understanding of football, given my family history, but I’ve never cared enough to pay attention … until now. I look back to my boyfriend as he picks up the football and shuffles his feet, then launches it forward while JD runs out to make a leaping catch. JD comes back around to initiate a brotherly celebration handshake, and both Tenley and I are rendered speechless.
“It really isn’t fair that he looks like that, and he’s still good at everything,” I mutter to myself.
“Isn’t it annoying?” Tenley adds.
“The worst.” I watch Blake’s back muscles flex as he steps back and hands the ball off to Ethan this time. “Dang, Ten. What have you been feeding that kid? I just realized how much he’s grown since school let out.”
