Without You (Love Wanted in Texas #1)(4)
As we walked out of the barn, Will grabbed my hand right in front of my father.
Will looked at me, winked, and whispered, “I think that went well.”
I just looked at him with my mouth hanging open. “You must have a death wish.”
I didn’t say another word to Lex as we walked back up to her house. Grams, Ellie—Alex’s mom—and my mother were all sitting on the back porch. Grams and Ellie both looked down at Lex’s hand joined with mine. Grams smiled.
My mother said, “Oh Lord, all hell is fixin’ to break loose.”
Ellie laughed as she shook her head. “By the look on your face, Alex, I’m going to guess your father knows?”
Alex stopped walking and stared at her mother. “What do you mean? Did you know?”
Ellie and my mother both started laughing.
“I have eyes, darling,” her mother said.
I glanced over at my mother, who smiled sweetly at me. Last year, I’d told my mother how I felt about Lex, so I knew what was about to happen wouldn’t surprise her.
Grams smiled as she looked at Lex. “Alexandra, I wish you had taken my advice and told your daddy.”
Lex’s face blushed.
Ellie snapped her head over to Grams. “Emma, you knew?”
Grams laughed. “Of course I knew. I walk with the girl every morning. I probably knew it before she did.”
Lex giggled. “Grams…”
“Go into the kitchen, Alex and Will.”
My skin crawled at the tone of Gunner’s voice. I peeked over to my father.
He mouthed, Good luck.
I grinned slightly and dropped Lex’s hand. I started to follow her and her father into the house.
Grams grabbed my hand. “William, you stand up for your feelings. Don’t let Drew bully you. Do you hear me?”
I nodded my head. Grams always called Gunner by his real name, Drew. Everyone else would call him by his nickname that he’d gotten in high school football.
“But you be respectful of his feelings as well. That’s his baby girl.”
I smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”
I opened the screen door as Lex sat down.
Gunner leaned against the counter. “How long have you been sneaking around behind my back?”
Lex stood up. “Daddy, we weren’t purposely hiding it from you. We just didn’t know how to tell you. I was scared.”
His eyes filled with sadness. “Alex, why in the world would you be scared to tell me?”
I walked up and stood next to her. She reached for my hand, and Gunner stood up straighter. He gave me a look that I’d never seen before, and I wanted to drop Lex’s hand, but I knew better.
“I’m going to ask again. How long have you two been dating?”
I swallowed hard and cleared my throat. “Over a year, sir. We, um…it started when I was helping Lex train Banjo.”
He closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. When he opened them again, Lex dropped my hand and sat down. All I wanted to do was run and hide behind my own daddy. I didn’t think I’d ever seen Gunner so mad in my life.
The screen door opened, and Ellie walked in. She walked up and smiled at Lex and me, and then she sat down on the other side of Lex.
Gunner looked at me and said, “I trusted you, Will.”
My heart dropped.
He pushed his hand through his hair. “Have you…have you both…have things gone far?”
I began shaking my head. “No, sir. I would never do that to Lex—ever. Gunner…Mr. Mathews, um…” I paused and took a deep breath. What in the hell do I call him now? This was twice I’d stumbled over what to say to him. “I would never do anything to make you lose respect for me, sir. I love Lex too much.”
His face softened a bit, and he nodded his head. “I appreciate that, Will. But that doesn’t excuse the fact that you’ve been making out with my daughter in my own goddamn barn for over a year! I ought to kick your ass right here and now.”
“Gunner!” Ellie yelled as she jumped up.
I looked down at the floor. I couldn’t deny it, and I wasn’t about to lie to him.
“Daddy, I’m eighteen years old. You can’t tell me what to do anymore.”
Oh shit.
Gunner glared at me. “Since you seem to be interested in my daughter, cut the Gunner shit. It’s sir or Mr. Mathews.”
“Gunner,” Ellie whispered, “stop being so mean to the boy.”
He turned to Lex. “What happens in two months when you go to the University of Texas and Will goes to A&M?”
Oh hell, it keeps getting worse.
I turned and looked out the window. My father caught my eye, and I pleaded silently for him to come protect me. He laughed and shook his head.
Bastard.
Lex slowly stood up. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you and Mama about that. I’ve decided to go to A&M.”
Gunner laughed and shook his head. “Excuse me?”
“Daddy, I really—”
“No. You’re not going to A&M. You’re going to UT.” He pushed off the counter and began pacing back and forth. “We already have it all set, Alex. Just because Will is going to A&M doesn’t mean you will change your whole life to follow him there.”