She had a lot to explaining to do the next time I saw her, that was for sure.
CHAPTER 17
Anna
Brandon had been found, and thank goodness, he wasn’t on drugs.
His life was filled with way too much drama for a mere high s
chooler though.
It turned out that he had a crush on a girl at his school, and she’d been getting abused by her boyfriend, a guy a grade ahead of them. And this guy—he was a small-time drug dealer.
Brandon had stolen a stash of the teenager’s drugs in effort to take his focus off his girlfriend and redirect them at him. While his plan had worked, he now sported a busted lip, blackened eyes, and various other abrasions in the aftermath because the small-time crook had found him before my family and the police did.
My heart ached when I saw his injuries even though he had tried to play them off, even going so far as to decline medical attention. But after getting his mother on the phone, she had demanded with me, Dad, and Autumn that he be seen by a doctor, so he finally agreed. Fortunately, none of the injuries were enough to warrant hospitalization.
And of course, the press had been there, trying to capture the story. But that was just a normal part of life surrounding my father now. And none of us could deny it—we were at least happy the story would be that his nephew was playing hero to an abused classmate rather than becoming an aspiring drug dealer. We all knew that ought to raise his approval ratings…
Nevertheless, Brandon wasn’t looking forward to going home, or to going to my father’s estate, for reporters were bound to be lurking.
At my place, on the other hand, he’d have some privacy. The press just didn’t care as much about the former senator’s older aloof daughter who’d had a child out of wedlock. Hence, Brandon had asked to come home with me for the night to get away from the press, and my father as well.
Dad’s intentions had been good, but he hadn’t been able to stop himself from lecturing Brandon about his decision-making and carelessness. Naturally, Brandon hadn’t responded well. So it was in everyone’s best interest that he stay with me for the night until things cooled off.
I had to admit though, I agreed with my dad for once. Brandon’s choices weren’t reflecting the smart and level-headed person we knew him to be.
On the ride home, however, I remained silent, not having the slightest clue what to say to my cousin about his choices without offending him. Realizing he didn’t need another person breathing down his back right now, I decided to leave the conversation for another time.
I glanced at the dashboard and checked the time, seeing that I had to pick up Garrett from daycare soon.
I also realized that I’d missed all my classes for the day and most importantly, my talk with Tucker to reveal that we had a son together.
I felt a patter in my heart just thinking about it. My hands grew sweaty around the steering wheel and my stomach clenched.
I had found out I was pregnant just after Tucker left for the military. Finding out I was carrying his child had been simultaneously devastating and thrilling, even though I knew my life would become ten times harder.
I had tried to imagine how Tucker would take the news. We had been careful, and I had never missed a day in taking the pill while we were together. Hence, I didn’t think he would welcome the news, especially not with the way he left.
I hadn’t wanted to tell him through a letter, email, or even over the phone; it just seemed like the kind of thing that needed to be relayed in-person. So I had sent him one email with a single line that he never responded to or acted on: We need to talk. Please contact me when you’re in town.
But he rarely came home and we never ran into each other.
As time passed, there were so many missed opportunities to tell him. Eventually, I started to worry that he would try to take Garrett from me or that we would end up in a nasty custody battle if he ever found out. So it became easier to just keep the news to myself.
Until now.
Would he understand why I kept it a secret for so long, or would he make me regret it?
I pushed the matter to the back of my mind. I could only deal with one thing at a time, and the brooding boy next to me needed my attention at the moment.
A few minutes later, we arrived at my place. I told him to make himself comfortable while I went to pick up Garrett.
“We’ll talk when I get back,” I assured.
“I know you’re mad at me,” he said, stopping me in my tracks.
“I am,” I responded honestly, “but I love you, Brandon. Nothing will ever change that. I just wished you would have trusted me to help you.”