Page 16 of Too Hostile

FLETCHER

Yeah, that did not go as planned. Not even close. Jesus fuck, what the hell was that? Why does the universe seem to hate me?

I swear, when I saw my favorite professor through the window of the coffee shop as I was jogging by, I was thanking that universe. But now, as I’m running out of the shop, I realize it was just a cruel trick.

I’m embarrassed and unstable as I run back to my apartment, but instead of going inside, I climb in my Jeep and behind the wheel. I turn up the music and head for the highway, trying to clear out my head.

I don’t want to think about what happened. I hate that he witnessed it. It was a kid throwing a tantrum and a parent getting angry. It happens every single day. I’m sure that kid was just fine.

But I can’t seem to make my mind believe that, and my heart is racing as I drive, turning the music up a little louder. My phone beeps with a notification, and I glance at it to see it’s a text from Bree.

She’s in town.

I take a deep breath and turn off the highway, going toward one of my favorite spots. When I reach the lake, I park my Jeep, grab my phone, and hop out, finding a large rock to sit on as I look out at the water.

I text Bree and ask her to meet me here. She’s been here a couple of times with me. It’s a spot I found my first week of college when the jumble of so many normal kids in one place was too damn much for my brain.

I wound up on a drive after my first class where I found this place, and when Bree visited me a few weekends later, I brought her out here to show her. She shows up about an hour later, just her, even though I’m sure she’s in town to stay with Shana. She must have sensed I didn’t want to be around anyone else.

She joins me on the same rock I’m sitting on, leaning her head on my shoulder. “What’s wrong, Fletch?”

I shrug, lifting her head a little bit as I move the shoulder she’s resting on. “I just needed to go for a drive.”

“Right,” she says, not believing that for a second. “What happened?” I like that she doesn’t waste any time. She gets to the point and doesn’t put up with my bullshit. She’s one of the few who won’t.

I look out at the beautiful water, hoping it will calm me. Maybe I should have chosen the library instead. The drive didn’t help, and the water doesn’t seem to either this time. “I was totally fine, Bree.” I shake my head sadly. “I was flirting with this hot professor who hates me?—”

“Okay, we’re for sure coming back to that part later,” she interrupts with a laugh.

I smile, figuring she wouldn’t let that part go, but my mood is still darkened by what happened. “I heard this kid throwing a fit. You know, totally normal tantrum to get what they wanted.”

I feel her nod against my shoulder as she listens.

“But then the dad yelled at the kid. His deep voice—he sounded so damn angry. So mad.” I feel her stiffen, but she doesn’t say anything. “I just froze. Completely. My heart was racing, and it was like I couldn’t breathe. It was just a dad angry at his kid for throwing a fit in public, but I...”

My heart rate starts to speed up again, and I curse myself for not being able to control it.

“Fletch...” she says as she pulls back from my shoulder, and I turn to look at her as she turns her body to face me. I can feel her concern.

“Don’t. I’m fine.” I try to quickly shut her down.

But Bree doesn’t back down from anything. “Are you?” she asks so simply, but there’s nothing simple about her question.

“Bree...” I groan, but again, she doesn’t budge.

She’s brave. Always has been. Lifting her chin and looking me right in the eyes. “We all had trauma. We were all in horrible places, off and on, but...” Her chin wobbles slightly, and her voice cracks. “I know no one ever actually put their hands on me.”

“Bree...” I plead, my eyes closing because I don’t want to talk about this. I never want to talk about this.

“But I still hear it. I can still feel like what it was like before,” she whispers.

I open my eyes and let out a deep breath, noticing that her eyes are watery as she stares at me. I know she does. I know we all do. Our lives have been so damn good since we went to live with Rhys and Blair. So damn... effortless.

That sometimes we can fool ourselves into forgetting what it was like before we met them. Of being bounced around from home to home. When some really weren’t that bad, but they still weren’t a real home for us. When some were godawful.

And no, thankfully, as far as I know with Bree, no one touched her. Or Rhett. I wasn’t so lucky. The last foster home I was in was a goddamn nightmare. It was what really forced Rhys and Blair into taking Rhett and me on.

I’ll never forget them showing up in their fancy car in the crappiest neighborhood. I was just sitting on the porch with a black eye, hating life. Wanting to run away. My foster father still screaming at me as he walked around inside, tossing shit on a drunken rampage.

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