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When I arrive, Ben is already standing outside.
“What’s going on?” he asks.
I fill him in on everything. Rehashing it makes me fume all over again.
“What are you going to do?” he asks.
“I have no clue, but I know I can’t go home. Can I crash here tonight?”
“You know you can.”
He heads back to his house, and I follow him, knowing tonight is going to be the worst night of sleep I’ve ever had in my life. I’ve never felt so helpless, so guilt-ridden, and so heartbroken, all at the same time.
How could I fuck things up any worse?
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Dalton
The last thing I want to do today is go to school, but I’m hoping Natalie will be there so I can at least talk to her. When she doesn’t enter our first period class, my blood boils. When she’s not in second period, I get up and walk out of the class, knowing I can’t sit through another hour of pointless nonsense.
Of course, the gossip of Natalie and I and what happened spread like wildfire through the rumor mill, and everywhere I go this morning, people are whispering and staring at me, so I’m done.
I hop in my truck and leave the school parking lot without looking back and head straight to her house.
I shouldn’t be surprised that when I get there, Thomas has his truck blocking their entrance and is sitting there with a shotgun, most likely waiting for me to show up. I guess he’s right.
When he sees me approach, he hops out of the bed of his truck. I keep my strut, making sure he knows I’m not afraid of him. That is, until he grabs the gun sitting next to him and cocks it. Even though he keeps it pointing down and not at me, the thoughts running through my head don’t know the difference.
When Mr. Spencer pointed the gun at me, I wasn’t afraid. Deep down, I knew he’d never shoot me. But Thomas … he’s got nothing to lose, and he’s just young and dumb enough to actually do something.
“I’d advise you to stop right there,” he bites out making my heart pound uncontrollably.
I hold my hands up in surrender, praying he knows I really don’t want any trouble with him. “I just want to talk to Natalie,” I plead.
“Yeah, well, she doesn’t want to talk to you.”
“Please. I need to know she’s okay.”
“No!” he shouts, lifting the gun slightly, making my breath hitch. “She’s not okay. Our dad is in jail because of you. Our mom had to drive to Billings to a bail bondsman after the bank denied the loan she needed to bail him out. What part of that don’t you understand?” His voice is so loud and strong that it makes me flinch in fear.
I’ve had my dad yell at me many times, but this is different. This is a crazy man, one second away from snapping, and I know if I push at all, that might be the end of it for both of us.
I drop my head in shame. “I’ll fix this.”
“Yeah, like you’ve fixed things so far? Now, get the fuck out of here before I go to jail for what, in my mind,would be justified, and I wouldn’t feel a lick of guilt for it either.”
I sigh and nod, turning to head back to my truck, trying to figure out what I can do. I want to talk to Natalie, but I fear if I push this right now, it will absolutely make things worse.
I head downtown to where a local attorney’s office is located next to my favorite diner. After my encounter with Thomas, I need to calm my breath. I take a few minutes to work out in my head what I need to say before I walk in.
Once I’m ready, I hop out of my truck and head into his office, trying to be as adult about this situation as possible so he’ll take me seriously.
“Dalton?” his receptionist asks.
Of course everyone in this town knows who I am.
I try to hide my disdain. “Hi. I’m hoping I can talk to Mr. Diaz.”
