Page 48 of Gunner

“Nope. His past actions won’t allow for that. Not to mention, he still hasn’t broken it off with Holly.”

“Yeah, she’s gonna be a problem.” Jess nodded. “But if Sarah is pregnant, and he does right by her, he could redeem himself.”

“True,” Claudia agreed. “But he still has the problem with Mike and Beth to contend with, because Mike will only accept one outcome. Then there is King.”

“I can take care of my uncle,” Jess offered. “Besides, he has his hands full with Bailey. I’m more worried about Sarah. I mean, do we even know what she wants?”

“You’re right,” Claudia sighed. “She may not even want his sorry ass. I mean, who would want to be shackled to the man whore of Rosewood?”

“HEY!” I shouted. “I’m sitting right here!”

Ignoring me as if I didn’t say shit, Jess added, “First, we need to talk with Beth and Mike. See where they fall in this pile of shit dumbass created.Because if Mike’s out for blood, then that opens a whole new can of worms.”

“Right. But I think he needs to break it off with Holly first. Because if he lets this go further and she finds out, she can make his life a living hell.”

“True,” Jess agreed.

“Are you two going to seriously sit there and talk as if I’m not here? You know I can hear you, right?”

Claudia groaned. “Jesus fuck, Gunner. We know you are sitting there. We’re trying to come up with a way to save your ass. Now be a good boy and shut the hell up!”

I gulped before sitting back on the couch as the two women brainstormed my life as if I was some inept errant child who couldn’t tie their own shoes.

I could, though.

Tie my shoes, I mean.

Learned that when I was five years old.

Oh, God...I was going to have to teach my kid to tie his shoes!

Chapter Thirteen

Sarah

The second Gunner bolted from his house, leaving me alone with my father, I knew my ass was grass and my dad was the lawnmower.

Could this day get any worse?!

Yeah, looking back, I should have known it could because when dad ordered me into his brand spanking new truck and hauled my ass down the mountain to mom’s coffee shop, I knew the life I once lived was over.

Walking in the shop, I looked at mom who just sighed and pointed to the shop’s office. I knew when not to argue. I may be irresponsible, but I wasn’t as stupid as everyone believed.

Taking a seat on the couch mom kept in there for dad when he wanted to take a nap, I sat and waited for my punishment.

I mean, I was eighteen, turning nineteen this fall. Could my parents still punish me? Was that even allowed?

When Mom entered the office followed by dad who closed the door, I gulped. The looks on their faces said it all.

I was about to be punished.

“What in the world were you thinking, Sarah?” Mom asked, refusing to sit.

I may have fucked up, but even I knew that was a rhetorical question. Looking up at the woman I’ve loved my whole life, I felt a pang of guilt that I disappointed her. I never wanted to do that.

In my defense, I knew exactly what I was doing.

I just didn’t think of the consequences.