Page 4 of Fighting the Odds

“No, not really,” Brax interjects.

“Then what was it?” Dad tosses the dish towel on the counter, before crossing his arms over his chest, glaring at us.

“Jason, calm down, honey, and let the kids explain.” John places his arm on Dad’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. Instantly Dad’s posture relaxes, just a little.

“You’re right.” He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes. That’s his go-to move when he’s trying to calm down and think about what he wants to say. “Okay, Braxton, tell me everything.”

I turn to head up to my room. I don’t need to be part of this shit, cause I don’t fucking care. She’s a bitch who got caught in her lies. Serves her right.

“Stop right there and get your butt back over here.” My foot has barely hit the first step when Dad’s deep voice hits me.

I roll my eyes before turning to face him.

“Really, Dad, this has nothing to do with me. I wasn’t in the fight and I don’t care about what’s happening at her house. I have plans with Wes and I want to shower and change before meeting him.”

“Well, those are plans you won’t be making, since you were told tonight is family night. Now get your butt over here,” he orders before turning back to my brothers. “Okay, go ahead, one at a time.”

This bitch is fucking ruining my life.

“Like I said, we got there, and a guy opened the door. Sierra came into view, and Dad, she looked like someone had used her as a fucking punching bag.” Brax is being over dramatic, flailing his hands around.

“Language, Braxton. Now did she tell you he did it to her? Or what happened?” John questions after reprimanding Brax.

“We didn’t give them a chance,” Zander says. “We took action. You always preached to us that you never hit a woman.”

“The two of you did. I heard her pleading with both of you that he didn’t do it. Then you knocked her down in the process, but it serves her right,” I blurt, so over this whole conversation.

“Young man, that is not how we talk about people. So she told you he didn’t, yet you continued? Where was her aunt? Her sister? And why would it serve her right, Colton?” Dad looks between the three of us as the questions fly.

“They weren’t there. And from what Wes told me, she ruined his life. It’s known around school she’s a whore. I’m positive the dude was her pimp.” I move over to the kitchen table, collapsing into a chair, huffing in frustration.

“Why are you talking about her like that, Colton? Those are harsh accusations.” Dad gives me a stern look full of disappointment, and I cringe. I hate feeling like I’ve let him down. When I don’t answer, he tries again, “Well?”

“It’s what Wes told us, Dad. Apparently, she really messed up his life, and everyone knows she’s loose.”

“What did she do? Have you seen her act in any way that would come off as promiscuous? Or are you just believing some potentially scorned boy and treating a decent girl horribly?” Dad’s words hit hard. Thinking back over everything Wes has told me, not once has he ever mentioned what exactly happened. But I did see her flirting when she was here.

“I—”

“No, Colton, I don’t want to hear anything else from you at the moment. Instead, I want you to truly think about how you’ve been talking about Sierra. I’m so disappointed in you right now. We taught you better than to make assumptions about people without knowing the truth.”

“Yes, sir.” I slouch down in the chair, hurt and pissed off. This is all because of her!

“Okay, I need a drink to deal with this. Go ahead boys, explain.” Dad takes a seat as John pours each of them a glass of wine and then sits down beside him.

“So we got in a fight, accidentally knocked Sierra down, and then CPS showed up with a cop. And we were asked to leave. Dad, I think she’s been taken in as a ward of the state along with her sister. We’ve got to help her,” Zander pleads, as he drops in the chair beside me.

He’s fighting to hold back tears. I hate seeing my brother like this, and it’s her fault.

“Are you one hundred percent sure about this?” John asks as Dad circles the rim of his glass with his fingertip.

“Yes, Dad, please, we’ve got to help her,” Brax pleads.

“I don’t know what we can do, but I’ll reach out and see what I can find out. Now I know I taught all three of you better than believing everything you hear about people. Unless you know the facts and that they are the truth, you never believe hearsay. Frankly, I’m ashamed of you, Colton. What’s gotten into you?”

My head drops and I keep my eyes on the floor. All I’ve ever wanted is to make him proud and until this moment, I thought I had done a good job. I can’t even look him in the face.

“I don’t know,” I mumble quickly, running the words together.

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