I’m so fucked.
“What the hell were you thinking?”
I jerk my head toward Mr. Everest. Settling my gaze on him for the first time since we left, my whole body tenses when I see how wrong I was. It’s not anger on his face. This is worse. Anything would’ve been better than the disappointment I find wrinkling his eyes and weighing down his shoulders as he watches the road.
Rubbing my palms on my thighs, I stare out the passenger window. “I needed money.”
“That’s a crap excuse.”
“It’s the truth.”
“No, it’s the easy answer. I want to knowwhyyou were fighting just now, why you were so on edge this morning, and why you lied to me about your father.”
My muscles stiffen as I rerun what he just said. Slowly, I turn to him. “My father?”
He nods, taking a long breath. “I meant what I said at dinner the other night, Hunt. You’re a good kid, and I respect you. Despite some questionable things I’ve seen throughout your time staying under my roof—”
“Questionable ...?”
He snaps his gaze to mine before eyeing the purple marks scattered across my biceps, the same ones he saw this morning. “You’re usually good at hiding them, I’ll give you that, but you slip now and again. Besides, who wears long sleeves all through summer in Texas?” This time, his lips twitch, and despite being found out, I relax a fraction.
We’ve only gone a few blocks when he pulls over, shutting off the car. It’s dark out, and without the engine’s low purr, the sudden silence is suffocating.
“Look,” he continues, “you’re an adult, and I’m not your father. I know that.”
“But ...” I shift in my seat, already tense again.
“But I knew something was off when I ran into you earlier. Now, I’m not gonna ask you what happened between you and Blue because I’d rather let my daughter talk to me about that if she chooses to.”
A swallow works through my throat, guilt wracking my insides.
“But it did spur me to do something I talked myself out of multiple times before.” When I furrow my brow, he clarifies, “Look you up.”
“I don’t have any social media—”
“You don’t.” Tim presses his lips, staring me down. “Conway Hunt, on the other hand ...”
Shit.
“Shitis right.”
Guess I said that out loud.
He scratches his chin, squinting slightly. “Hunt, do you want to continue our living arrangement?”
“I thought ... is that an option?”
“Of course it is. You’re basically family. Family has each other’s backs, right?”
I look away, not totally sure why my throat is burning and my chest is suddenly thundering against my rib cage. “Yeah. Right. I’d like that, sir.”
“All right. Then I want you to tell me everything.”
“Everything?”
“Like I said, I trust you. Now, it’s time for you to trust me—starting with you telling me everything that led you to the fight I just picked you up from.”
I clear my throat and rub the side of my jaw. “Then what? What happens if I talk?”
