Chapter 18

Stevie McGabe

After Darryl stormed out of class, I didn’t see him for the rest of the day, even though today was the day we shared several other classes together. I didn’t see Vinnie on the bus home either, which was odd.

Walking up to my house, I’m greeted by the sight of my dad loading up his car with overnight bags. “Hey, kiddo. Good day at school?”

I shrug, chewing on the inside of my cheek. “What’s going on?” I nod my head at his baggage.

“The team is competing out of state this weekend, so I’ve got to go with them.”

My dad was one of the head physios for the 49ers, and often traveled with them for their away games. “Your mom and Grayson are coming with me. We’re swinging by to collect him from football practice on our way. There’s room for you too?”

I smile. My dad knows I would much prefer a weekend on my own in the house than deal with the noise and the crowds of a football game.

Plus, since I had gotten older, some of the football players were now only a few years older than me, and I know dad hated the attention I received. I’m sure more than one of the team had been given a stern talking to by my dad.

“Thanks for the invite, but I’ll pass. There’s a new series on my Kindle begging for attention, so I’m good here.”

“Okay, kiddo,” he pulls me in for a tight hug. “I’ve put some extra money in your account, and your granddad is home all weekend if you get lonely. Or give your big sister a call. Or just pop next door and see Darryl.”

His eyes sparkle with amusement as he crosses his arms, making his biceps pop—my dad was still a slave to the gym even though he was approaching middle age.

I roll my eyes, leaning back against the car and crossing my own arms. “So, you’ve seen him then, huh?”

“Yup.” His mouth splits into a knowing grin.

“It’s not what it seems.” I shake my head, glancing over towards his bedroom window.

“I know. Believe me, we’d be having a much different conversation if it was…that.”

I giggle as my dad grimaces. He still thought of me as his little baby girl and hated being reminded of the fact that I was actually an adult. “But if anyone needs a friend, it’s that kid.” He pulls me back into a hug, kissing the crown of my head. “I’m proud of you, Stevie.”

“Thanks, dad.” I squeeze him back.

***

A few hours later, and I was in heaven.

Wrapped up on the sofa in my most cuddly blanket—a white fluffy one with pictures of characters from ~The Nightmare Before Christmas~ all over it—my Kindle resting on my lap displaying a sexy romance novel, and a carton of cookie dough ice cream next to me.

My cell phone lights up with an incoming call, and I frown when I see Jake’s name on the display. I swipe it open and hold the receiver up to my ear. “Hi Jake. My mom’s gone away for the weekend if you’re trying to get hold of her.”

“Yeah, no, I know she’s not home. Look, Abi’s not doing so good. The doctor thinks she’s got an infection at the site of her port. It wasn’t looking so good earlier, and we called the boys in,” I bite my bottom lip as I feel my emotions well up, threatening to spill tears at his words.

That must have been why they were both missing from the bus earlier. “Abi’s stable now, but Darryl stormed out of the hospital a couple hours ago and he’s not answering his phone.

I think he’s actually turned the bastard thing off. I’ve sent Vinnie home with my dad, but I can’t leave Abi here to go searching for Darryl. I know it’s a bit of an ask, but could you…”

“I’ll go find him and make sure he’s okay,” I say more confidently than I feel.

“Thanks, Stevie. You’re a good kid. Hopefully Abi will only need to stay in overnight.”

“Send her my love.”

We say goodbye, and I check out of the window to see if any of the lights are on next door, but the house stands in darkness.

For fuck’s sake. If Darryl hasn’t gone home, that means he’s either been sensible and gone to seek comfort at Smit’s, or he’s been a self-destructive asshole and gone to seek who knows what with Hunter and his douche-bag friends in the park.

I pull up Smit’s number and my thumb hovers over his contact for a moment. Who am I trying to fool? With a sigh of resignation, I make my way up to my bedroom to get dressed for a trip to the park.

The shadows seem to be reaching out for me as I pull my jacket around myself, trying to hurry to the playground where I know they congregate. It wasn’t particularly cold out, but goosebumps still patterned my skin.

A gust of wind makes the trees lining the path sway and rustle, adding to the ominous feeling of my journey. Raucous laughter up ahead almost makes me feel relieved that I’d found them, but the dull thud of skin on skin soon wipes that relief away.

In the center of a loose circle of people, I could see Darryl throwing punch after punch at some other guy. My mouth drops open as I take in the feral look on Darryl’s face.

His eyes caught the light from the flashlights of various people’s phones, and it was like looking into a stranger’s eyes. There was nothing there but rage. Pure rage.

I suppress a shudder as I watch him continue to pound the poor guy he was fighting. There’s a horrifying crunch of bone and gristle, and a spray of blood coats the pavement.

“Fuck yes!” Hunter steps forward from the shadows, clapping slowly, a manic grin on his face. His stringy, greasy, brown hair moves a little in the breeze as he claps a heavy hand onto Darryl’s shoulder. “I knew all you needed was a new punching bag.”

Darryl grunts in response, holding his hand out. Hunter presses something to his palm with a sleazy chuckle, and I watch as he strides out of the ring of bystanders, who had returned to drinking and talking now the show was over.

I trail him, trying my best to ignore the blatant stare of Hunter as I pass him by.

“Darryl,” I call, and his shoulders tighten at my voice, but he keeps on walking away from me.

“Darryl…please. Stop!”

He spins towards me, making me jump, his face a vicious mask of himself. “What the fuck do you want, Stephanie?!” he snarls.

I swallow, trying to keep the fear off my face. “Your dad called me…”

“So, little miss goody two shoes thought she’d come and look for the fuck up, right?”

He cuts across me, the moonlight casting shadows over his eyes making him look like a scary skeleton as he stalks towards me. “Because that’s the only reason you’d be out here, isn’t it…to do the right thing and run back to tell my folks how much of a fucking loser I am, right?”

“No!” I reach out to him, but he steps back so I can’t touch him. “Darryl…I know you don’t believe me, but I do care about you still.”

Darryl scans my face with narrowed eyes, before he steps closer, and my breath hitches as he lifts his arm and traces down my jawline with a featherlight touch. His eyes flicker down to my mouth, and as he leans in my eyes flutter closed.

“Yeah, right,” he laughs without a trace of humor, and my eyes spring open. “Are you hoping I’d press my lips to yours in a swoon-worthy kiss? Like I’d fucking kiss you.

“Look, you can go running back to mommy and daddy and tell them you’ve done your girl scout duties today. I’m here. I’m okay. Now leave me the fuck alone!”

A lone tear rolls down my cheek as I watch him walk away. I have no clue how I can save him—why he was so angry at the entire world.

Whether any of the sweet boy I once loved was still inside the violent man. A whistle behind me startles me, and I look over my shoulder to see Hunter standing a little way away brandishing a bottle of vodka.

“You know, I have a little trick which makes heartbreak feel a whole lot better.”

I look over to where Darryl had disappeared, seeing no trace of him anymore. I turn around to face Hunter with a sigh, and his fishy lips spread into a wide crooked grin showing the large gap between his front teeth.

“It’s not heartbreak if there’s no heart involved,” I close the distance between us, and grab the bottle from his hand, wincing as I take a slug of the strong liquor. “But it’s a good excuse as any to get fucked up, right?”

“Fuck yes!” He hooks an arm over my shoulder, and I wrinkle my nose as the scent of his body odor washes over me. “Let’s go get fucked up, princess.”