“He’s just getting patched up by the nurse real quick.”
I hover over the phone. “What in the hell, Melody? You just told me he isn’t hurt. What is going on?”
“Ms. Hileman.He has a cut lip.” Her voice is curt. “But he will be just fine. Let me get him for you.”
I look up into Ryker’s hot brown eyes and then glance at Gideon, whose hands are fisted.
We’re all pissed.
“Aunt Willow.” My boy’s voice sounds so defeated, it makes my heart clench.
“Hey, sweetheart. Are you okay? Do you need me to take you to the doctor?”
“No, it’s just my lip. It’s okay.”
“Buddy, I need you to be honest with me right now. Do you hear me?”
“Okay.”
“Do you feel safe where you are?”
There’s silence on the other end of the line, and that’s all I need to know.
“I’m on my wayright now. You sit and you keep quiet. Don’t answer any questions until I’m there, do you understand? I’ve got you, baby.”
“I understand. How long?”
“As fast as I can get there, but I’m at the ranch, so it’ll be a bit.”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to hurry. I’m safe.”
I shake my head. I don’t trust anything that I’m hearing right now. “It’s okay, buddy. I’m coming. Just hang tight.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“I love you.”
He ends the call without saying it back, which doesn’t surprise me at all.
“Sorry, guys, I’m out. My kiddo needs me.”
“Wills, what the fuck’s going on?” Gideon demands, but I shake my head.
“I don’t trust that woman, and I don’t trust whoever hit my boy. I’ll go straighten it out. He likely won’t tell me what’s going on, but if he’s hurt, I don’t want him sitting there.”
“We can come with you,” Ryker offers, and I want to cry.
God, it would be awesome to have help.
But this isn’t their fight.
“Thank you, but it’ll be okay. This isn’t our first time in the principal’s office.” I offer them each a smile that I don’t feel because I don’t want them to worry, and then hurry through the house and out to my car.
I need to get to my boy.
“So he didn’t start it, didn’t throw the first punch, but he’s the only one being suspended? Come on, Melody, that’s not fair.”
The other woman, with perfectly coiffed red hair, straightens her navy blue power suit and purses her lips. I’ve known Melody Hileman since we were in the third grade and she moved to town from Wisconsin. She’s always been a jerk.
