Brady Remington Landed Me in Jail(58)

"What did you say?" I was on the edge of my seat. Literally.

"I'm stupid."

"Kid!"

"I asked him if you were still single because you were pretty easy on the eyes before. Then I might've said something about how easy you could be in bed."

My hand flew up and I slapped him. Then I thought about it some more and slapped him again.

Kid cupped his cheek. "I deserved that and I realize Brady would've pounded me even if he wasn't in love with you."

"You're the ass**le. Not Brady," I seethed and folded my arms over my chest. "I thought you were the good guy. I thought you were always so nice. You disappointed me. You just reminded me that you're male."

Kid chuckled. "You make that sound like an insult."

"It is," I snapped. "I cannot believe you. You were always the smart one. You were the one who did the right thing even when you didn't want to. Then you said those awful things about me? I don't even care that they're not true. I don't care that you said them about me because they don't hurt me. They hurt Brady. They hurt him."

"That's what I wanted."

"Congratulations. Your father hurt you, so you hurt someone else. Way to think only about yourself. I am so tired of everyone thinking about themselves. No one thinks about the rest of us, the ones who are the secrets. Don't you think that our lives are going to be affected too? That we're going to be hurt just as much, probably more so? No. No one thinks of us."

He relented, "I didn't think about Brady. You're right. My dad kept this other kid a secret from me. Do you know what that's like? To find out that you have a brother? Or that your own father had been lying to you all your life?"

"No," I replied dryly. "I have no idea what that's like."

He continued without pausing, "I knew my dad was a liar and a cheat, but I didn't think he treated me like them. I was his son. I thought he loved me. And he's probably got more kids out there."

"Newsflash: your dad isn't nice."

He stiffened next to me. "I get you're mad, but back off a little. He's still my father. And he hasn't had it so easy lately. He just got back from a funeral."

"So you can gripe and complain about him, but I can't? Another newsflash: his other son is my best friend. I can say whatever I want. I don't know who died. He seems to only care about himself and be damned with everyone else, including his children…" My heart was thundering so loud, it was deafening. I knew I had to calm down. Kid had no idea about my situation. Then I realized that I was doing what he had done. I was hurting so I wanted to hurt someone else. "I am so sorry, Kid. You're right. I can't say anything. Your father is still your father. I apologize."

Kid scooted over a little. "Sometimes, you're odd. This is one of those days. And it was my dad's old business partner died. It sounds weird, but he respected the guy."

It had been an odd day, an odd week. And I was suddenly exhausted. As I wiped a tear away, I asked, "Can you give me a ride home? My grandfather gave me a ride in today."

Kid nodded. "Is this really about me hurting Brady? Is that why you're kinda off today or is there something else wrong? You're not you, not completely."

"It's the last day of school. I didn't get much sleep last night." I knew I was becoming a good liar when Kid didn't question me anymore. He patted my hand this time.

Then a different thought came to me. "Why are you here, Kid? You don't go to this school. You don't even go to school."

A guilty look flashed over his face, but the back door opened at that moment. Clarissa hopped inside. From the determined look in her eye and the apology in Kid's, I knew I'd been set up.

"Oh no. You both did not just manipulate me."

She rolled her eyes. "Get over it. I called him to talk to you. Something was seriously wrong with you and Brady today. Kid's the only one I thought you might talk to about it." She folded her arms over her chest and leaned back. "I was being a good friend."

"A good friend? You know what those are?"

"Yes!" She flicked her braid over her shoulder. "What's going on with you? What's going on with Brady?"

"Leave it alone, Clarissa. Please, leave it alone. It's complicated."

"Does this have to do with your mom being in town?"

The world fell away underneath me. I was starting to hyperventilate…

Clarissa continued from a distance, "I saw her at the Stephens' house when I went over to tell Kid that something was wrong with you. Does this have to do with her? Because if it does, that's horrible. She's a bitch. Does she not want you and Brady to be together? That's the only thing that'd make sense to me."

I reached around the seat and grabbed her braids to yank her close. "Why was my mother there?" I glared at Kid, "Why was my mother with your dad?"

Kid's eyes were wide and he leaned all the way back against his window. "She came back with him from the funeral."

"What funeral?" I ground out.

"The one my dad was at."

"Where?" My heart was racing. I couldn't catch my breath. Everything was rushing at me so fast now.