Page 87 of Under the Influence

We make it to Nash’s house, where everyone is currently living, and I feel the dread cover me like a blanket.

“He’s not coming.” Drayton says, sensing my hesitation about walking into Nash’s house. “He’s actually in quite a bit of trouble, so don’t worry.”

I nod, feeling the contents of my stomach swirl as he opens the front door. Daria meets us in the foyer, grabbing my hands, “Lainey, you look adorable. Drayton, she’s so beautiful, don’t you think?”

Dray smiles, pulling me into his side, “She’s perfect.”

He kisses my temple and snakes his hand around my back protectively.

Awareness makes every hair on my forearms stand up. I have a boyfriend, and I am having dinner with his family. We enter the dining room, and it is easy to notice the changes that have already been made since the last time I was here. I search the table, counting the place settings.

Four.

That had to mean Nathan Langdon was here. He’d never acted as if he disliked me, but that didn’t matter if he was anything like Nash. I was guilty by association.

I am not my father.

I repeat that phrase in my head, over and over, as we sit down at the table. Daria places a basket of bread in the center, “You kids must be excited for tomorrow. You will finally be at the same school.”

I shake my head to agree, but all I feel is dread. I want Drayton near me, but I know that it will be hell for him. Nash will make sure of that. He wants nothing more than to see Drayton suffer and prove to him that he is nothing when it comes down to it. It will be hard for Drayton to go from the top of the food chain at Oak Valley to the dumpster crew at Legacy.

Nathan enters the house, quickly hanging up a business call to kiss his wife. The affection that I’m not sure Nash ever saw between his parents, and I know how that must eat him alive. His dad did everything possible to stay gone before, and now that he’s found Daria, he’s home for dinner every night?

Everyone takes their seats and we begin filling our plates.

“Lainey, you okay?” Dray whispers, and I nod, but my mind is anywhere but here at the table. Still, I try my best to be present and smile.

“Did you talk to Carter? Is Nash okay?” Daria asks, pouring herself a little wine from the bottle in the middle of the table.

“He’ll live,” Nathan growls. “He’s stupid, but he’ll live.”

“What happened?” Daria asks, obviously not knowing the whole story.

“Flipped down the mountain in a RZR, landed on its top. He has a broken arm, but it could’ve been a lot worse.”

Drayton drops his fork onto his plate with a clank, “A broken arm?”

“Yeah,” Nathan sighs. “I’ll have to take him to an orthopedic doctor when they get back. Hopefully, it’ll just need a few weeks in a cast.”

“What if he needs surgery?” Drayton questions.

“Then I guess he can kiss baseball goodbye this year.”

I make a mental note to text Cori and ask if she’s talked to him.

“Do you think he needs help?” Daria asks. “Like professional help?”

Nathan takes a bite, chewing it entirely before responding, “No, he needs structure and parents. I just didn’t realize how bad.”

She rubs her hand against his, “You can still fix it. It’s not too late.”

We finish up our plates, everyone begins to scatter, and Drayton leads me by the hand up to his new room, pulling the door closed behind us. He’s been here for about a week, but I’ve yet to step foot in here. It’s different from his old room, but it’s still his stuff.

“I hate it here,” he sighs. “It doesn’t feel like home. My mom is anxious, too. She won’t tell Nathan because she wants to help him with Nash, but being in a place this big is scary for her.”

Right. The fire.

I can’t imagine how that must’ve been for them. Awful.