Page 4 of So Long, Honey
“What the hell is wrong with you, boy?” He asked as we approached his truck.
“Nothing, it was a mistake.” I looked around to ensure the parking lot was empty. “I’ll get it straightened out.”
His hand shot out and came down across the side of my head. The pain from the slap rang through my spine, shooting across my muscles in short, painful vibrations until it dulled and my eyes focused again.
“You have to take things seriously, Ryan. Do you think your mother and I work ourselves raw to support you and your sister so that you can throw it all away because you’re too busy to hand in some stupid English assignment? You embarrassed me today.” He grabbed the collar of my hoodie and slammed me against the truck.
“Dad,” I said, wanting to push back but knowing I couldn’t and probably shouldn’t escalate the situation, at least not in public. “I’m trying.”
“You’ve been acting like a child, sneaking out, pissing away your talent with drinking at that Landry house. You better smarten up, boy, and figure out how to act like a man, or I’ll remind you how to.”
His threats were never empty.
“I’ll sort it out, Sir.” I nodded tightly, “I have to go to class.”
“Do not disappoint me,” he warned, finally uncurling his strong hand from my hoodie. His finger came inches from my face, a warning. “I mean it, boy. Do not make me come back down here, or you’ll never play ball again.”
I heard him loud and clear.
Easier said than done.
He slammed the truck door and was gone before I could get my bearings. When I turned to look back up at the school, Lorraine Field was standing there. Her tiny, pretty face creased in concern as her fingers tightened around her books. The wind pushed through the long, dark strands of her brunette hair anddanced around on her pale skin. She wore a long brown skirt and warm sweater that swallowed her frame whole.
Her bright blue eyes looked so sad in the daylight, and for a second, I forgot the ringing in my head.
She blinked, and a flash of heat rose to my neck.
“What are you staring at?” I barked at her, still on edge from my dad and now…embarrassed that someone had overheard that conversation.
She turned and started toward the school, forcing me to jog just to catch up to her.
“Fuck,” I swore under my breath. “I’m sorry,” I shook out the frustration, just trying to get her to stop for a second, but she only picked up her speed. “you’re that girl from the porch!”
That didn’t stop her, either. She reached for the door as I slid between her and it.
“I know you aren’t mute,” I teased, but she glared at me. I leaned into her space, watching her lean back. “Oh, come on, is this how you treat a boy hopelessly in love?”
“Excuse me,” she said quietly, a rosy blush forming on her cheeks.
“That’s it?” I exclaimed and leaned against the door as the bell buzzed over our heads. “How much of that conversation did you hear?” I asked her.
The look in her eyes told me everything I needed to know.
“He’s not always like that,” I brushed it off. “He’s a pretty good dad. Your dad is the Mayor, right?”
“Sure,” she blinked slowly, the disbelief evident as a tight scowl formed on her lips as she stared past me.
“You’re very nervous,” I noted, pressing against the door to give her space. “But very pretty.”
“Can you move?” She hid the blush well, but I could see it creeping on her cheeks.
“Why haven’t I seen you around before?” I asked her, shifting my bag on my shoulder and tilting my head into her eyeline with a bright, forced smile.
“Do you know where the library is?” She asked me.
I knew our school had one.
“Uh,” I lifted my shoulders and tilted my head back, trying to find an answer.