HUDSON
I kept sneakingglances at Kenna out of the corner of my eye as I drove toward Havenbrook. The sun had long since set, so I only had the headlights of passing cars to illuminate her expressions. Although, it had really only beenoneexpression since we’d left the hospital parking lot—guilt. Pure, undiluted guilt.
And I fucking hated it for her.
I’d lived with guilt, and it was exhausting. How it ate away at a person until they believed every single lie they told themselves during one of those spirals. And right now, I’d do just about anything to pull her out of it.
“You know what drivin’ this way makes me think about?” I asked, breaking the silence. I’d been trying to engage her in conversation the entirety of the ride, but she’d only given one-word answers in between staring out the window.
She turned her head toward me. “Hmm?”
I lifted my chin to the turnoff sign for Fort Ridley, Tennessee, a smile quirking my lips. “Remember when Nat and her dumb-ass friends thought it’d be a good idea to steal Philander’s tractor in retaliation for him tellin’ their parents some probably illegal thing they did?”
Her lips twitched in the corner, but it wasn’t quite the full-blown smile I’d been hoping for, so I continued. “Only the idiots drove it across state lines—because of course they did. Go big, or go home for those three, right? Except?—”
“The tractor died and stranded them in Tennessee.” She chuckled under her breath and shook her head. “It’s really a wonder they’ve only been arrested the once.”
“Lucky bastards, all of ’em.”
“Lucky and persuasive. If you and I hadn’t gone to pick ’em up and tow that thing back, they’d’ve probably been sent off to juvie.” She shook her head, a grin quirking up the side of her mouth. “You know he never did find out? I think those three will take that to their graves. And I sorta like havin’ something to hold over Nat’s head.”
“Like you’d ever tell.”
She cocked an eyebrow at me. “You don’t think so?”
“Not in a million years.”
“What makes you so sure?”
I brought our clasped hands to my mouth and kissed her knuckles, then darted my eyes to hers before focusing once again on the road. “Because you’re the most loyal person I’ve ever known, Kenna. You might wanna strangle your sisters sometimes, but you’d never give someone else ammunition to do so.”
“Loyal but not dependable, apparently,” she said so low, I was certain I wasn’t supposed to hear it.
“Hey.” I tugged her arm to get her attention. “Loyalanddepend?—”
“Hud. Can we not?” she said on a sigh. “I’m so exhausted, I just wanna close my eyes for a while.”
I split glances between her and the road, trying to get a read on her expression, but without any oncoming cars, it was too dark to be able to do so. I could hear the exhaustion in her voice,though that wasn’t all I heard. There was an underlying emotion I couldn’t quite name. But it didn’t matter. If she wanted to rest, then I certainly wasn’t gonna stop her.
With a nod, I said, “Go ahead and rest, then. I’ll wake you up when we get home.”
She snapped her head to mine, her voice vehement. “No, town hall first. Momma said?—”
“Okay. All right. Town hall.” I squeezed her hand. “But then home.”
I figured she was too tired to argue—which meant she wasreallytired—because she hesitated only a moment before she nodded, then settled into the seat, her head turned toward the window, and went silent.
By the time we pulled into the parking lot at town hall, I wasn’t sure if she’d actually slept or had just pretended to in order to avoid talking. I’d give her some time, but I wasn’t going to let her go around carrying this unnecessary guilt on her shoulders. Not when it was absolutely unfounded.
I followed behind her into the dark building, our steps echoing in the empty corridor. It was creepy as fuck to be here at night when there wasn’t anyone else around, and the thought of her doing this without me made me uneasy as hell. I knew she could take care of herself, but try telling that to the part of me that was desperate to keep her safe.
“You don’t come here alone at night, do you?”
“Not usually, no. But I might have to start since Daddy’ll be off for a while now.”
“I’m not sure that’s?—”
“I’m gonna laugh if you’re about to say safe.” She tossed me a look over her shoulder. “It’sHavenbrook, Hud. Besides, the police station is directly across the street.”
