Hawk (The Boys of Summer 4)

“And you accuse me of rambling. Just spit it out, Adrienne.” I’m annoyed with this beat around the bush tactic. Clearly, something is bothering her, and I have a feeling it’s Brett Larsen.

“Why are you propositioning Brett for sex, Bellamy?”

My mouth drops open and I swear my head is about to explode. “Wh-what?”

“I’m torn here, Bell. You’re my friend, but so is Annie. Brett tells Robbie everything and Annie, she calls here crying. I am a sitting duck here.”

“Um . . .” it takes me a very long minute or two to compose my thoughts. When I picture Brett sitting across from me at dinner, I’m murderous. He’s a scumbag and now he’s dragging my name through the mud. “Adrienne, I’m only going to say this once and it’s your choice on whether to believe me or not. Brett Larsen told me that if I slept with him, he’d put Chase on his baseball team, and when I refused, he said I’d pay for it. This was literally a few days ago and just yesterday he tried to have me fired from my job because I went to the youth center to try and find some way to help Chase play baseball as that’s all my son wants to do.” I pause and fight back the threatening tears. “I know your husband is close to Brett, but the fact that you’ve even called to ask, thinking that I would stoop so slow as to sell my body in such a way . . . I thought you knew me better.”

“It’s just—”

“It’s just nothing, Adrienne. You know me and you know I’m not that type of person. My husband cheated on me, destroyed my marriage and hurt my son. Do you really think I would do that to another woman? To another child?”

“No, but—”

“There are no ‘buts’ here. Like I said, you believe whatever you want. But if it helps you sleep a little better tonight, you can tell your husband that I wouldn’t save Brett Larsen if he were on fire and I had the only water in town. He’s a pig and, frankly, you might want to think about what kind of guy Robbie is spending his time with when he and Brett are off on their golf trips. Don’t call me again unless you’re going to apologize.” I hang up the phone and cover my face with my hands. My tears are hot, fast and steaming down my face.

“Oh, Bell. Everything is going to be okay,” Karter says as she pulls me into her arms. I don’t know how much she’s heard or how long she’s been standing there, but I need the comfort from her. “He’ll get what’s coming to him soon enough.”

“Some stupid land sale isn’t going to hurt Brett Larsen.” I’m a blubbering mess and I know my words sound like I’m speaking through a bubble.

“Nope, but karma is a bitch and I believe in her. He’ll get his.”

“Before or after my demise?”

Karter pulls me from my chair and into the bathroom. She doesn’t allow me to look in the mirror, for which I thankful, but she helps me clean up my face and does so with a genuine smile. “No pity parties allowed. You’re about to have dinner with a very handsome man, who by all accounts is interested in you. And even if you don’t feel the same way about him, ride this wave my friend. Let him dote on you until he has to leave.”

“I’m not going to lead him on or use him.”

“That’s not what I’m saying. Get to know Hawk, be his friend. Enjoy his company. Don’t jump into bed with him or drop down on your knees to give him a blowie.” Karter laughs.

“Oh, God.”

“I’m serious.”

“I assure you; I won’t be on my knees nor getting horizontal with him.”

“Okay, but if you do, I need all the details.”

I know she’s serious, but regardless she’s made me smile and that was her plan the whole time. She helps me clean up and fixes my make-up, so I don’t look like a zombie.

“There, now tell me the truth. Did you put in a little extra time because you knew you were seeing Hawk today?” she asks from behind me as she fixes my hair.

I look at her through the mirror and sigh. “Yes, but I know deep down this doesn’t turn out good for me so I’m going to proceed with caution. Be his friend and all that.”

Karter smiles knowingly. “Just as long as you proceed.”

With that statement, she ushers me out of the bathroom and pretty much out of the office. She stands in the doorway, waving as if she’s my mother and I’m off to follow my dreams instead of going home to have dinner with a man I barely know.

I arrive home just as Chase’s bus pulls up. He’s smiling when he gets off and turns to wave goodbye to his new friends. “Hey, Mom.”

“Hey, bud. How was school?”

Normally, I brace myself for bad, but I have a feeling today was a good day for him. “It was so cool. Nolan and I played catch during recess and we sat together at lunch.”

Deep down, I know Hawk had something to do with this. “That’s great! You know, Hawk’s coming for dinner. I didn’t know if you wanted to stay or go to Grandma’s?” Hawk and I never discussed where Chase would be, and I think that’s because Hawk expects Chase to be here.

“I think I’ll stay, but when it’s time for you to get cozy, I’ll go to my room.”