Page 60 of Under the Influence

Daria slides her fingertips down his arm, assuring him that it’s gonna be okay, and after a few more minutes of silence, Lainey and Drayton come strolling in the house.

Her attitude is commanding, turning everyone’s head, “What the hell did he do, Carson?”

Drayton swaggers in, kisses his mom’s head, but returns right back to Lainey’s hip.

“I don’t know.”

Nathan rounds the counter, typing furiously in his phone, “Who is he with, Carson?”

I hesitate, not wanting to get Cori in trouble, but I know she could be in real danger. I go to speak, but Lainey cuts me off, “Corinne Clark. He probably kidnapped her!”

Nash’s dad raises his brow, eventually calling Trey Clark to let them know what’s going on, cutting the call short when he gets another call.

“That was the Coast Guard. They haven’t found them yet.”

I watch as Drayton whispers in Lainey’s ear. I always thought Lainey and Madden were secretly a thing, but I guess not. Maybe I just wished for it, knowing that he wanted Avery.

Everyone’s chatter ceases as the front door is swung open and Nash and Cori walk in, completely soaked.

Lainey rushes to the door, grabbing Cori. “Oh my God! We thought he killed you.”

I can see the anger brewing behind Nash’s eyes as he takes in his audience. “We did not think that,” I whisper, defending my friend.

“What the hell is this?” He looks around, his eyes darting from his father to his stepmother, and lastly, Drayton. “If this is some kind of intervention, you can count me the fuck out.”

Daria takes a couple steps closer, “Nash, honey, we were so worried about you.”

Nash steps backward, not allowing her to get close to him, “Why is she here?”

Nathan grabs Daria’s arm, rubbing it assuringly, her weak voice barely audible, “He’s right, I should go.”

Drayton sits smugly on a stool at the bar, “Well, your mom isn’t here, so I thought I’d lend you mine. Clearly the better option.”

Nash bolts from Cori’s side, rushing at Drayton, but his dad steps between them, “That’s enough. Both of you.”

I jerk my eyes away from the train wreck of family drama in front of me to Cori, who is visibly pale. “Are you alright?”

She crosses her arms, drawing my attention to a black piece of fabric around her arm, blood covering her elbow. Geez, what the hell did Nash do?

“Uh… yeah. I’m fine.”

Lainey pushes her wet hair out of her face, “You don’t look fine.”

“It’s okay, I just… I might need a couple of stitches, that’s all.”

Nash rolls his eyes, “Which we are going to do right now. Crew is on his way to take us back to my Jeep, and I’ll run her by the hospital.”

Drayton speaks up, “So you kidnapped Cori and nearly killed her. You must be stupid if you think she’s gonna wanna go anywhere with you.”

Nash laughs, “This is ridiculous. We’re leaving. Come on, Corinne.”

He turns to walk out the door. Cori stalls, but she’s reading the pain in his eyes pretty well. Will she stand up to him or keep playing his games?

“No,” Nathan booms. “You aren’t going anywhere.”

His voice is demanding and dripping with anger. “Carson, do you mind going into the master bathroom under the sink? I should still have a suture kit in there.”

“No,” Nash quips. “No. It’s okay, I’ll take her to the hospital. We’re fine. Your boat is fine, and you can go.”