Trouble From the Start Read online

Fletcher looked at me, and I saw everything he felt for me in his eyes. “More than care. I just haven’t told her that yet.”

  “They’re not easy words to say the first time,” Dad told him. “I understand you wanting it to be a private moment.” Then he and Mom went into the house.

  I swung around and faced Fletcher. “You don’t have to say the words. I know how you feel.”

  “You deserve the words.”

  “I don’t know that I do. I hurt you. You mean so much to me. I was afraid to trust what we were feeling and that I might lose you. That maybe it wasn’t permanent. I was afraid if I told them that I might lose them, too.”

  He cradled my cheek. “You’re not going to lose me, Avery. I like being your boyfriend.”

  He kissed me, and it was better than any other kiss we’d shared. It was out in the open; we were out in the open.

  I heard a door close, then Dad clearing his voice. Fletcher and I drew apart.

  Dad held up his phone. “They just called me. Smiley’s awake.”

  “That’s great,” Fletcher said.

  “But do they know why he said it was Fletcher?” I asked.

  Dad rubbed his chin with his thumb. “Apparently, he was trying to say ‘Fletcher’s dad.’”

  Fletcher stiffened beside me. “My dad robbed Smiley’s?”

  Dad nodded. “The evidence is pointing that way. They just arrested him. Found Smiley’s cash bag in his car. Most of the money is still there.”

  “I need to see him,” Fletcher said.

  “I’m on my way to the station now,” Dad told him.

  “I’m going with you,” I said, but I wasn’t sure if Fletcher heard me. He was already heading for the car.

  Chapter 38

  FLETCHER

  I stood outside the window looking into the interrogation room where I’d been sitting a short time ago. Now my father was sitting there, slouched back in the chair, his handcuffed wrists resting on the table. I didn’t know if I’d ever felt more ashamed.

  Avery was beside me, holding my hand. Every couple of minutes she squeezed my fingers. That was the only thing that stopped me from feeling completely dead inside.

  “You’re not responsible for his actions,” Avery’s dad said.

  “Why would he do everything he did?”

  “Sometimes there’s no explanation that makes any sense.”

  “Can I talk to him?”

  “Do you think that’s a good idea?” Avery asked.

  “Probably not, but I need to talk to him. He’s my father.”

  “I’ll go in with you,” she said.

  I was so glad she was here, but I couldn’t expose her to him. Shaking my head, I touched her cheek. “I need to do this alone.”

  “You won’t be completely alone,” Avery’s dad said. “I’ll be in the room.”

  “I’ll wait out here,” Avery said.

  I looked back at the man in the room and realized that I didn’t really know him. We’d shared a trailer for most of my life, but it was like looking at a stranger.

  Avery’s dad placed his hand on my shoulder. “Ready?”

  Not really, but I needed to do this. I took a deep breath, nodded, and followed him into the room.

  My father glanced up, sneered. “Got nothing to say.”

  I took the chair across from him, while Avery’s dad leaned against a wall.

  “Why’d you do it?” I asked.

  He looked at me with dead eyes. “I ain’t talking until my lawyer gets here.”

  “This is unofficial,” Avery’s dad said. “Talk to your son. I’m not recording anything.”

  My father curled up a lip, lifted a shoulder. “Okay, then, sure, why not?”

  At least I realized where I’d learned the art of conversation. I’d once revealed as little. Until Avery.

  I knew no matter what I asked, he wasn’t going to give me an honest answer. That didn’t mean I couldn’t talk to him honestly.

  “When you used to hit me, I thought it was because I did something wrong.”

  “You gonna cry about it now?”

  “No. I didn’t cry when your fists came down. I’m not going to cry now. But I wanted you to know that I can’t seem to not love you. I guess because you’re my father. But I don’t like you. I don’t know if I ever liked you. But I do know that I’m not going to be like you.”

  I leaned forward. “I’m going to make something of myself.”

  “Make me proud?” he mocked.

  “It’s got nothing to do with you. I’m doing it for me, because I deserve it. When I walk out of here, I hope I never see you again. But I wanted you to know that if you ever come at me again, I will flatten you.”

  “You couldn’t—”

  My fist hit his face so quick, so hard that I felt the force of it shimmering up my arm and through my chest. “That was for Smiley.”

  Gerald Thomas—I no longer thought of him as my dad; I didn’t want anything more to do with him—was moaning, cursing, rolling on the floor.

  I didn’t remember coming out of the chair to strike him, but Avery’s dad had his arms around me and was pulling me back.

  I was breathing harshly, my body was coiled.

  “Got anything else you want to say?” Avery’s dad asked.

  I shook my head.

  He pushed me gently in the direction of the door. “Then get on out of here.”

  I put my hand on the knob, looked back over my shoulder.

  Avery’s dad was crouched near Gerald Thomas. “You need to watch how you sit in the chairs, Mr. Thomas. It’s very easy to topple yourself over and break your nose on the floor.”

  I opened the door and walked out without another backward glance.

  Chapter 39

  AVERY

  I almost cheered when Fletcher walked out. His father had so deserved that.

  But Fletcher didn’t even look at me. His face set in a stony mask, he simply walked by. I followed. Normally I could keep up with his stride but he was moving too fast.

  By the time I did catch up with him, he was outside, standing on the front lawn by the flagpole. His back was tense, his hands fisted.

  My heart ached for him. “He deserved that, Fletcher.”

  He shook his head. “I never hit anyone before. It didn’t feel good, I’m not proud of what I did, but I’m glad I did it. I didn’t even think about. I just did it.”

  “You’re not your father,” I said as I pressed my hand to his back.

  He spun around, and I could see the anguish on his face. “He hit Smiley over the head with a wrench. He could have killed him. What did Smiley ever do to him?”

  “What did you ever do to him? He’s just a horrible person.” I took a step closer. “But you’re good.”

  “Avery—”

  “You helped me with Tyler when he was sick. You didn’t have to do that. He’s not your responsibility. You repaired Mrs. Ellis’s car because her husband isn’t here to do it for her. On your own time. Again, not your responsibility. You made my car purr like a contented cat. You made sure no one took advantage of me when I was drunk. You can say it was because of the bet, and that you took me home because of the bet, but I think you did it because you knew I was vulnerable. You’re a good guy, Fletcher. You’re tough on the outside, but inside you’re a marshmallow.”

  “I’m not a marshmallow,” he groused.

  I pressed up against him, wrapped my arms around him, and held his gaze. “Am I right, Fletcher, about Scooter’s party, about the reason behind the bet?”

  “I needed a few bucks,” he said. He cradled my face. “And yeah, I was standing with a group of idiots who noticed you weaving around the patio, knew you’d been drinking, and were trying to decide who should make the first move on you. Made me mad. I thought, ‘Einstein’s got nobody watching out for her.’ I’ve loved you, Avery, for longer than you know.”

  He kissed me. I wound my arms around his neck and kissed him back. I loved the way he held me