Chapter 22
Gray was fuming by the time he exited the police station. It was almost midnight when they finally released him, though he’d passed the Breathalyzer test long ago. “Paperwork,” the jailer had said with a smirk. Clearly the department was happy to help Remington pressure him to leave Grandville. Nice having a firsthand look at the American justice system at work.
Gray hadn’t seen Remington since being placed in a holding cell with nothing but a steel toilet and a hard cot. With bars on two sides of the room, he couldn’t help feeling like a caged animal at the zoo.
Or like his dad, who survived each day in a similar environment. Of course, his dad actually deserved the punishment. Still, Gray made a mental note to send him an email. He’d been a little distracted since arriving in town.
Shadow trotted at his side. At least the officers had been kind to the dog. Shadow received plenty of attention and treats from the watch commander and jailer.
Gray shot the happy canine a wry look. “Could’ve used a little loyalty in there, pal. Those guys are not our friends.”
Shadow seemed unconvinced.
Gray came to a stop at the edge of the parking lot. He couldn’t even walk back to his vehicle—Mason had gloated about having it towed.Gray fished his phone from his pocket. Three missed calls, a voicemail, and two texts—all from Patrick. He returned the call and his friend answered after only one ring.
“Hey, is everything okay?”
“It’s fine. Sorry to stand you up tonight. I’ll explain later. Listen, I hate to ask for a favor when it’s so late, but I could really use a ride.”
Rustling sounded through the phone. “Sure, of course. Where are you?”
“The police station.”
A beat of silence carried over the line. “Okay. Be right there.”
Gray pocketed his phone as warmth spread through him. That was the sign of a good friend right there, coming without a single question. Too bad more people couldn’t be like Patrick.
His allegiance was almost enough to push away the dark feeling that had set up camp inside him tonight. The whole incident had unleashed that old sense of shame. The shame of being poor. Of having an alcoholic father. Of being viewed as less than. Once again he felt as if he were walking around with a neonLosersign over his head. He shouldn’t allow anyone to make him feel that way. But being back here, being subjected to all those old judgments, all those accusers, had brought those feelings to the surface again.
Cars passed by as he walked Shadow in front of the station. The area was well lit and near the road. He should’ve asked Patrick to pick him up down the street. Anyplace but the police station. But nothing was open this late except the bars, and he didn’t want to be seen hanging around there either. There’d been enough speculation that he’d turned out just like his old man.
Ten minutes later Gray’s rescue came in the form of a white Audi. The interior light flashed on as Patrick threw open the passenger door. “Hop in.”
Gray surveyed the pristine leather seats and carpeted floor mats. “I forgot to mention I have Shadow with me.”
“My dogs are in here all the time.”
A minute later they were settled and leaving the parking lot. Gray was so relieved to get off the property. He wanted to forget this night ever happened.
“So...” Patrick said as he pulled onto Main Street. “I can hardly believe it.”
And here came the questions.
Patrick arched a brow his way. “You finally got around to naming the dog.”
Chapter 23
Eleven years ago
If Shelby had learned anything in the past three months, it was this: Being with Gray was night and day from being with Brendan. She stared at her reflection, a giddy smile curving her lips, as she fixed her hair using only her bedroom night-light.
They hadn’t yet told anyone they were together, and meeting secretly had been challenging. They shared only one class together: chemistry—ironic since she spent the whole class trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. It was so distracting she could only be glad they didn’t share lunch hour. She couldn’t imagine trying to stay away from him.
Her two best friends, Monica and Lindsay, had noticed her staring at him and teased her about her crush on the school’s bad boy. She’d been tempted so many times to tell them the truth, but her fears of Brendan retaliating stopped her.
Her ex-boyfriend had begun dating Kelsey Stevens before summer’s end. But another matter now pitted him against Gray. They’d both applied for the Warner Scholarship, which would be awarded to the applicant with the highest GPA, and so far the two of them were at the top of the heap. A fact that Brendan and everyone else were now well aware of.
As autumn progressed Brendan’s friends amped up their harassment—always done furtively, of course, and meant to stir up Gray’s temper.
