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We got sucked back into Peyton’s conversation. She was telling the girls about her date with Sean. Except it didn’t sound much like a date to me. But that was Peyton. She didn’t like to put a label on things.
“He does this insane thing with his tongue,” she said around a secretive smile. Poppy and Sofia giggled, hanging onto every word. “I swear, I saw stars.”
“I can’t believe you did it… in his car.”
“Technically, it was on his car.” She smirked, flicking her long hair over one shoulder. “But he’s texted me like five times since school got out.”
“And?”
“And we’re not together. He doesn’t need to check in every two seconds.”
“I think it’s sweet,” Poppy said.
“Sweet usually leads to catching feelings and I’m not looking to go steady.”
She was so sure of herself, but I saw the cracks. Peyton was afraid to let people in. Even in our small group she kept herself guarded. Not to me though. I saw the pain in her eyes, the vacant look she often wore. Peyton had attachment issues. It wasn’t any surprise given the crappy life she’d had at the hands of her deadbeat dad and junkie mom.
Ever since we’d made friends in ninth grade, Peyton had spent a lot of time at my house. At first, I just thought she preferred hanging out with my family. But then I noticed a pattern. She always accepted my mom’s offer to stay for dinner or sleep over. Then she started joining us for breakfast before school. Any excuse, and Peyton came over. The day she’d turned up with a bruised cheekbone was the last day we sent her home. My dad drove her to get her stuff and informed her mom Peyton would be staying with us until she got the help she needed.
Now she was as good as family, and my dad had another female in the house to contend with. One who was wild and reckless and a little bit broken. But my parents accepted her, flaws and all.
“Holy shit,” Ashleigh breathed. “Your dad is—”
I noticed them immediately. My dad and the guy Kaiden had been talking to, squaring up to one another.
“Oh God,” I choked out, realization slamming into me. “That’s Kaiden’s dad.”
“Shit,” Ashleigh said, but I was already moving toward them.
Kaiden reached them first. His eyes wide with concern. “Dad, we should go.”
“Not until I’ve said my piece, Son. Jason Ford… didn’t think I’d ever see this day. It’s been a long time.”
“Lewis,” Dad said coolly.
“I heard you benched my son for the opening game next week.”
“I didn’t bench him, Lewis. I already have a quarterback. Kaiden knows he’s got to prove him—”
“Prove himself?” He spat. “My son has one of the best records in state. I bet he’d run circles around the schmuck you have running—”
“Lewis, this isn’t the time or place,” Dad said, lifting his hands up slightly in a non-threatening gesture. “If you have a problem with how I do things, you can make an appointment and—”
“Make an appointment? You’re a high school football coach, not the goddamn town mayor.” He stepped forward, putting them chest-to-chest. They were matched in height, but Dad was a little broader and had muscles in places a lot of forty-something dads didn’t. “My boy has a lot riding on this season, and I’ll be damned if I let,” he jabbed his finger at my father’s chest, “a dried up has-been like you, ruin it.”
“You’re drunk. I suggest you go home and sleep it off before you do or say something you’ll regret tomorrow.” Dad knocked his arm off and turned to walk away, but Kaiden’s dad lunged for him.
“Dad, no!” Kaiden rushed over and grappled his father away.
“Someone get him out of here before he hurts himself.” Dad shook his head, anger simmering in his eyes.
“Oh my gosh,” Mom appeared. “What on earth happened?”
“Two words, Aunt Fee,” Ashleigh said. “Lewis Thatcher.”
She went as white as a sheet. “I’d better go see to your dad, baby, okay?”
“Sure thing, Mom,” I said, watching as security ushered Kaiden’s dad out of the bar. He went after him, flanked by his friends.
