Page 199 of Always Love You More

His face pinches before he clears his throat. “My wife.”

“Think about how you would have reacted if someone said that shit to you. Said that shit about your wife.”

Before Principal Hansley can answer, my father guides me out the door.

“Thank you,” I mutter, my eyes on the floor. “For saying all that.”

He grunts a non-response as we step outside, heading for his car.

I slide into the passenger seat as my father takes his spot behind the wheel and starts up the car.

We drive in silence, and it’s not until we pull in front of the house that he turns to me. “He was wrong. What you did”—he shakes his head—“after what that girl said, was perfectly fucking acceptable.”

I stare back at him.

“There’s gonna be consequences,” he tells me.

“I know.”

“But you’ll deal with it.”

I nod. “Yeah.”

For Johnny, I’ll deal with it.

Because nobody talks about my brother like that and walks away untouched.

Chapter 47

Jameson

Ipulluptothe park just outside of town and watch as Sam strips off a bright yellow vest before bounding over to the car, a smile breaking across her face when she sees me.

She got eighty hours of community service and a six-week course of anger management classes after the whole “lunch tray incident.” Luckily, she wasn’t expelled. Her grades and the fact that she’s only months away from graduating must have made them lenient. Still, adding on the classes and this community service was the last thing she needed in her already hectic schedule.

Over the last few months, since it happened, I’ve tried to do all I can to support her—driving her around, bringing her take-out, anything I can to make it a bit easier.

I lean over, pushing open her door.

“God, I’m sweating like a whore in church,” she groans, wrapping her hair up and lifting it off her neck.

A laugh springs from my lips as I grab the Coke I got her. “Extra ice,” I say, holding it out.

Her head falls back. “I fucking love you.”

“You’re easy to please.”

She grabs the cup, humming in satisfaction as she drinks it.

“What time does the show start again?” she asks as I pull onto the street. “I desperately need a shower.”

“They’re on at seven.”

The band Billy used to play in is opening for a local group tonight down at Red’s. It’s all the same guys from high school, so we’re going to show support.

I asked Billy if he was okay going, not sure if it would upset him to see what he had to leave behind, but he just waved me off in his usual fashion.

Sam leans back in her seat, lighting a cigarette. “I can’t believe they’re playing at a real venue.”