Page 23 of When Wrecked Meets Ruined
“Will he be okay?” I asked Jude. I was thinking about the story Ridge told me more than the fight. The guilt he still harbored over his friend’s death.
And god, he had watched his friend die. That would have fucked up anyone’s head.
Jude glanced at his SUV. “Yeah, he will be. Eventually.”
“He said he doesn’t have a home.” I’m not sure what compelled me to say that, except that Ridge had looked so sad. Like a lost little boy without a home.
Jude nodded slowly. “His brother’s away, so he’s staying with us for a few days. But I don’t think that’s what he meant or what you’re asking.” Jude rubbed his jaw, thinking about it and maybe trying to decide how much he could tell me without betraying Ridge. “It takes time. When you’ve been raised like he has, you don’t give your trust away so easily. But it’s our job to prove to him that no matter what he does or how hard he tries to push us away, we’re his family and we’re always here for him.”
I hope Ridge knew how lucky he was to have a family that loved him.
I forced a smile. “Well, I should go. It was nice meeting you.”
“And you.” I turned to go but he stopped me with his words. “Are you okay to get home?”
“Yeah. I’m parked right over there.” I pointed to my silver Toyota Camry that had more rust than paint. Jude eyed it dubiously like he wasn’t sure my car would make it out of the parking lot let alone get me home safely.
When I got into my car and turned the key in the ignition, he still hadn’t driven away, and it took me a minute to realize he was waiting for me to leave first.
On the drive home, I mulled over the events of the night and kept coming back to the same thought. Ridge should have minded his own business.
Was he trying to jeopardize his future?
The more I thought about it, the angrier I got.
I didn’t want anyone fighting for me.
Especially not Ridge. He had too much to lose.
CHAPTEREIGHT
Ridge
I was linedup at the ten-yard line waiting for my turn when I saw her in my periphery. She was sitting in the bleachers, and I had no idea why the hell she’d come to watch football practice, but I didn’t want her here.
“Wake up, McCallister!” Coach yelled. “You’re up.”
Fuck. See what she did to my concentration?
I ran a sprint down the field and Troy threw from the middle. The ball was high and went behind me. Twisting my body, I leaped for it. A walk in the park on any other day. The ball grazed my fingertips and bounced off the turf. Fucking hell. I could catch passes like that with my eyes closed and one hand tied behind my back. Not today though.
I ran back to the line and got in position.
Stay focused. Don’t let her fuck with your head. Don’t think about Elijah or how you spilled your guts all over the floor of the police station.
I was carrying more baggage than the cargo container of a Boeing 747 and four nights ago I unpacked some of it and laid it at her feet. I wanted to take it all back. Hit rewind and retract my words.
What had possessed me to confide in her, of all people? Not like she’d ever given me anything in return. She’d never opened up to me. Had never shared a single thing about her home life or her struggles. Everything I knew about her was through observation or school rumors. But since I never paid attention to the gossip mill or the drama, I knew jack shit about Evie Bellamy.
I blocked her out and the rest of the practice went better. In the sense that I didn’t fumble the ball like a fucking peewee football player. I was the king of catching uncatchable passes. My vertical leap could make grown men cry.
I was a powerhouse on the field, and I was going to secure the state championship for this team. Coach Becker, our new coach, had put in a lot of work to ensure that the scouts knew my name and came out to see me play.
And no girl, no matter who she was or how much I wanted her, was worth losing everything.
For now, Evie Bellamy had to be put on hold. I couldn’t afford the distraction.
After practice, I jogged past her as if I didn’t see her waiting on the sidelines.
