Page 32 of The Ones We Fight For

Chapter 12

Walker

The drive to the school was mostly silent, but Walker’s brain was anything but. His thoughts were scattered, flicking between anxiety about whatever incident Cooper was involved with and anxiety about Talia reading the terrible romance novel he had contributed to. So, in summary: anxiety.

Cooper was the kind of kid to talk your ear off, so whatever happened at school probably had something to do with his mouth. Truly, the only time Walker had seen Coop at a loss for words was when he was around Jayla, which was why he couldn’t imagine that she had punched Cooper considering how stoically silent he was in her presence. The assumption that they were somehow involved in something together made more sense. Walker could see his nephew co-conspiring with Jayla (as long as Jayla was the ringleader).

And then there was Talia. Walker longed to snatch the book from her purse and throw it out the window. He also had the urge to call up his publication company and demand that they not sell his books to any local establishments where Talia could end up purchasing them. Better yet, he could call up all the places that did sell those sorry excuses for novels and formally request that they never sell to her. He knew Talia well enough to know she was going to research his publishing company and start working her way through all of the crap they pushed out, trying to guess which ones he had a part in. He should have just kept his mouth shut—let Talia read Contracted Love and never mention his involvement.

For the first time in his life, Walker wished he had put a bit more effort into his writing. He’d been mostly content writing stupid, silly stories because he got paid decently and had little stake in the game, but now, knowing Talia was reading them, he was rethinking not pouring every ounce of his abilities into his work. The idea of Talia sitting at home reading the smut scenes he’d written was traumatizing… and maybe a little erotic. He couldn’t remember for the life of him what happened in the book she was reading, and he hoped to God it wasn’t one of the times he’d gotten a little too creative with his writing. Or maybe he was hoping it was one of the more experimental pieces.

Being self-conscious about his writing hadn’t occurred to Walker before since his name was never on the cover. Paisley even read a few of his crappy books, and he wasn’t embarrassed about it, even with the sex scenes. It was his job, so why would he be? But Talia, she was a different story. The girl that danced around in the morning to loud music while she brushed her teeth, bantered with him without missing a beat, looked drop-dead gorgeous in both a T-shirt with ripped jeans or a blouse with a skirt and heels, all while being the most kind and genuine person he’d ever met—she deserved to read something worthwhile. She deserved to read a book written by someone who was an expert on love, sex, all of it. All of his previous works were written by a fraud.

When they pulled into the parking lot of Archwood Elementary, Walker took one deep, calming breath to force his anxieties down and prepare for whatever calamity awaited him inside. He would remain cool and collected in the face of any of Cooper’s behavioral issues. Whatever had happened, he would deal with it. Panicking about the unknown wouldn’t help anything, so to avoid spiraling into every “what if” scenario, he focused his thoughts on his work ethic, talking himself into trying a hell of a lot harder on the current novel he was writing. Those awful fictional characters who were sleeping around behind their brother’s back were going to be the definition of love when he was done with them just in case Talia happened to read the book eventually.

With a sense of purpose, Walker mimicked Amala’s confidence as he trudged beside Talia into the school. Amala seemed mostly in control of her kid, the current incident notwithstanding, so he took note of her parental stance, hoping to glean any helpful tips for the future. If he had to bet, whoever Jayla punched probably deserved it, even if it was Cooper. After attending to Cooper’s possible broken nose, Walker would have to find out what his nephew did to provoke Jayla so much that she felt the need to sock him.

In reality, an entirely different scene awaited them in the principal’s office. Cooper was sitting in a chair untouched beside Jayla, who was also unharmed. Roscoe was already standing at the ready behind his daughter and waved politely when the three adults showed up, a look of empathy shot in Cooper’s direction that Walker wouldn’t entirely understand until later. The other parties in the room included the principal, Cooper’s teacher and a woman standing protectively behind a kid with a growing black eye who was holding an ice pack to his face.

“Good, we’re all here.” Principal Steward stood up from his desk.

“Mind telling us why we’re here?” Walker took his place behind his nephew, frustrated by the theatrics.

“It’s a very delicate situation. I hope you understand,” Steward said with an expression that Walker knew all too well: pity. It automatically set his teeth on edge.

“Right, delicate,” Walker regurgitated, not bothering to hide his annoyance. Talia set her hand on his shoulder for comfort. For once in her presence, Walker had forgotten she was there at all, so focused on Cooper that the realization she was forced him into relaxation. He adjusted his stance, finding his calm again. “I apologize. Please continue.”

“As you know, we have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying. It has come to my attention that Camden,” the principal gestured to Jayla’s victim, “has been continually making fun of Cooper.”

“I’m sure that’s not true!” the woman standing behind the boy chimed in, wielding the classic my kid never does anything wrong defense. The calm Talia gave Walker was quickly replaced with anger.

“All of this could have been avoided if you did anything the first time I came to you,” Roscoe rebutted Steward, looking just as roused as Walker felt. “You’re going to stand there and pretend that I didn’t come here two days ago and inform you that Jayla keeps hearing that little asshole bullying Cooper?”

“Officer Winston, we don’t use that language to describe children here!” Principal Steward said hastily.

“None of this is true!” the mom of said asshole insisted.

“I’m a little lost here,” Walker glared at the mom, then Steward, before looking down at his nephew. “Coop?”

“He,” Cooper swallowed and gave a short nod of his head. “Camden keeps saying that Mom and Dad were probably happy to… die so they wouldn’t have to talk to me anymore. He said it again today, and Jayla punched him.”

“He deserved it!” Jayla shouted, glowering at Camden.

Walker focused his energy on the principal. He could feel Talia’s hand on his arm, but his blind fury was too much for it to give him any real peace anymore. Words were coming up his throat with a frightening lack of control, his fist slamming down on Principal Steward’s desk.

“Roscoe came to you two days ago and you did nothing? I want that kid to stay the fuck away from Cooper from now on,” Walker yelled before turning his attention to the offending party, an accusation at the ready for Camden’s mom, who was shamefully staring at the floor. “How dare you raise your kid to torment other kids whose parents just died. Who the hell does that?”

Talia set a hand on his arm. “Walker, maybe just—”

“Mr. Hartrick!” Mrs. Rensie, Cooper’s teacher, interrupted, raising both of her hands placatively. “I attempted to reconcile this. I sent a note home with Cooper and a note home with Camden so that we could all discuss this. Mrs. Wylder did respond and was ready to set a meeting.”

“I didn’t get a note,” Walker snapped.

“I didn’t give it to you,” Cooper murmured, kicking his feet, which were hovering above the ground in discomfort.

“I… why?” Walker blinked stupidly down at Cooper.

“I didn’t want to bug you. Piper, Carter, and Colin keep doing things, and I didn’t want to…” Cooper trailed off sadly. Walker closed his eyes, letting out a long sigh. He came around the side of Cooper’s chair and bent down to his nephew, shaking his head.

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