9. Chapter 9

Chapter 9

ISABEL

Once Uncle Blake arrived, we followed Ms. Lane to the large conference room next door.

“The Hernandez’s will be joining us in a minute. Principal Hiller is finishing up their discussion. He’ll be joining us, too.”

“Good.” Mom followed Uncle Blake to take a seat in one of the padded office chairs, and I sat in one beside her, my stomach flipping back and forth.

“I’m here to support you. Both of you.” Uncle Blake looked between us as he took the seat on the other side of Mom. “But I’m only going to step in if I’m needed.”

My lips pressed together in a small smile, already feeling better with him here.

Mom rested a hand on his arm by his wrist. “Thank you. I’ll take the support. I wish you could’ve seen that file.”

Voices quickly approached the room, cutting off whatever my uncle was about to say, and Principal Hiller opened the door to usher Zane and his parents inside.

Zane’s dad entered first. He was around six feet and had a well-built body that wasn’t much smaller than Zane’s. His handsome, chiseled features spelled power, and his excellent posture oozed confidence as he complained about accusations and what he could do to the school if his son was expelled.

I accidentally caught Zane’s gaze as he sat down across from me, giving me a smirk and a shrug as if he had nothing to worry about. The nausea rolled in my stomach. With lawyers as parents, I wondered if he was right.

I looked over at his mom instead, curious what she was like. I’d never gotten the chance to meet Zane’s parents while we’d dated. He had kept his life and his demons so private, but one glance at the woman told me she could be just as vicious in the courtroom as her husband. They both looked power hungry in their suits.

But the woman looked nothing like her husband at the same time. She had a very slender, almost boney build, and her thin face was more angular, her Native American features easy to recognize. For a moment, I flashed back to the night in Zane’s car when I’d first seen his tattoo and how he’d told me about his grandpa. How it had felt so momentous at the time. One of the few things he’d ever opened up to me about. Now, it was a bitter memory I’d rather forget.

“Oh, my.” Zane’s mom sucked in a breath, some of her harsh characteristics fading as she stared at my arms. “Zane, is that what you did to this poor girl?”

Alarm shot over Zane’s face, and his dad barked, “Evelyn!”

“There were witnesses and cameras, Brian, and just look at her! ”

He stopped protesting for a moment to finally look over at us, his eyes dismissing me as they passed, but when they landed on Mom, he fell speechless.

“Brian,” Mom greeted.

He quickly swallowed his surprise.

“Bridgette… Donovan now, is it?” He smiled.

My insides cringed at the familiarity of it. Zane had inherited that smile hands down.

“And Blake.” Brian glanced over at my uncle next. “It’s been a while.”

“It has.” Uncle Blake just stared, his expression unreadable but also cold. “I wish I could say it was good to see you right now, but under the circumstances…”

“Did you move precincts?” Brian seemed to ignore the implication.

“No. I’m just here to support my sister and my niece.” His gaze darkened as he sat back, taking himself out of the conversation.

Brian looked back at Mom. “I must say, I was not expecting to see you here.”

“Likewise.” Mom did not smile back.

Zane and I passed glances as we looked back and forth between our parents, but he seemed just as confused as I was. Our parents knew each other?

“I’m sorry,” Evelyn cut in, her long, red fingernails stretching across the table. “Bridgette? And Blake? The Bridgette and Blake?”

Mom eyed her cautiously. “Unless Brian knows some other brother and sister named Bridgette and Blake, I guess so.”

“Oh, of course, it’s y’all.” Evelyn laughed. “I’m surprised I didn’t recognize either of you from the pictures. Of course, it’s been years since I’ve seen any of those old photos. Wow. To think our children dated and we didn’t even know.”

I watched Mom trying not to say something snippy, her lips pressing together to fight the urge. “Mmmm… Let’s just say that if I’d known whose son he was, I never would have allowed it.” She looked at Brian as she spoke.

His eyes were cold in return, and Evelyn seemed taken aback. “Yes, well, I guess it is a little awkward. Especially after today. Coincidences are still funny, though. Don’t you think so?”

Mom’s return smile was taut, slightly mocking. “I’m sorry, Evelyn? I think it was, but I’m not exactly in the mood to find anything funny about this.” Her eyes narrowed back in on Brian. “I wasn’t even aware you had moved into the area. I thought you hated the beach.”

Brian crossed his arms over his broad chest, leaning back. “My wife has family in the area that required us to move closer. I’d heard you’d moved to the coast. I never dreamed it was here, though.” He looked at me with a smile. “Although, if our son had bothered to introduce us to Izzy, I would have known who she was right off the bat. You look a lot like your mother.”

“Thank you. I know.” I took a deep breath, looking around the table. Feeling awkward and just plain confused at how this had started.

“And my son looks a lot like his father,” Mom snapped. “Are we done with this chitchat yet?” She looked at Mr. Hiller, but before he could say something to start the meeting, Zane’s mom cut in.

“Did you want to wait for him to get here?”

“Who?” Mom grated .

“Your husband. We can wait a few minutes if he’s on his way.”

I watched Mom’s face pale, her eyes flitting between Zane’s parents as she fumbled for words. “Um…”

“Bridge…” Uncle Blake leaned forward, touching the arm of her chair while I reached over to place a hand on her arm. Mom smiled a warm thank you, though I still saw a touch of the pain in her eyes, and she took a deep, clearing breath before facing Evelyn again.

“No. Patrick passed away last year, but thank you for considering him.”

Evelyn’s dark eyes widened, the color and shape like Zane’s. “I’m so sorry. I never would have suggested it if I’d known.”

“But you didn’t. So, why don’t we put all the awkwardness aside and get to the real reason we’re sitting here.” Mom cast Zane a hated glance before turning to Ms. Lane. “Can we get on with this?”

The counselor straightened in her chair. “Of course.”

“Wait a minute,” Zane’s dad commanded from his spot near the end of the table. “We don’t even know why we’re all in here.”

Mom turned a heated glare on him that I knew had to burn. It rivaled some of the worst she’d ever thrown at me or Annie. “We’re in here to discuss everything your son has done to my daughter and what I can do to make sure he never touches or bothers her again.”

“Don’t be so hasty, Bridge. We don’t have all the facts yet.”

“I think I have a right to be a little hasty when your son left marks like those on my child, Brian,” she snapped. “And don’t call me Bridge. You lost that right years ago. ”

“Those weren’t intentional. I’m just trying to fight for what I want,” Zane interjected, his tone calm. Rational.

Evelyn gave him a disapproving look, but my eyes went back to Mom. Her voice lowered and malice threaded an intricate pattern through her next words. “Like father, like son. Go for what you want, no matter who it hurts.”

“Bridge,” Uncle Blake gently warned.

I frowned, wishing I could ask, all of these references to the past sounding like riddles. But the growing tension in the room was not helping my headache. It was pounding again, and I doubted I’d get an answer now, anyway. I slumped in my chair, starting to wish I’d just let Mom take me to the doctor.

Brian’s cool composure cracked a little as he frowned, but he didn’t get a chance to respond.

“Izzy?!” The door flew open as Annie charged into the room. “Izzy.” Relief touched her voice when she saw me, rushing to my side. “I just saw Jet’s text. I got a bathroom pass so I could come,” she explained as she hugged me, her embrace desperate and worry flowing through her.

“I’m fine, sis.” I squeezed her tight, sending what calming twin vibes I could manage. “You should go back to class. I promise I’m okay.”

“Yeah, no, class can wait.” She pulled back to look me over, her eyes widening when she saw the bruises. She turned to glare at Zane.

“Excuse me, Miss Donovan,” Principal Hiller cut in. “But class really doesn’t need to wait. You need to head back.”

“No.”

“Annabel, get your butt to class, now,” Mom commanded. “I’m sorry, Mr. Hiller. ”

He huffed, and Annie crossed her arms, resting back on one ankle to cock her hip as she gave Mom a look. “I just got here.”

“And now you’re just leaving.” Mom pointed towards the door.

“Annie, you should go,” Uncle Blake tried.

“And leave Izzy with Zane ?”

“Annabel, I am not in the mood to argue at the moment.”

“Good. Then don’t. I’m eighteen. I can go check myself out and then join.”

I heard Uncle Blake murmur something about stubborn women under his breath, and a chuckle sounded from across the table.

“Sorry. I just didn’t expect twins,” Brian said, an amused smirk on his face when we all looked over. “You always did want twins. I guess Izzy’s more like her dad because this one’s got you written all over her.” He gestured to Annie.

Annie whipped her head around to look at me, asking for an explanation, but I just shrugged my shoulders. “The most I’ve gathered is that he, Mom, and Uncle Blake used to know each other,” I whispered.

“Just shut up, Brian,” Mom spat. “Annie, leave. Now. Mr. Hiller doesn’t want you in here and neither do I. I’m sure your sister will fill you in tonight.”

“But–”

“Go!”

“Argh! Fine!” Annie marched to the door, but before she yanked it open, she turned to glare at Zane. “But you better make sure he gets what he deserves for once.” Her ponytail whipped as she stormed out .

Evelyn looked around the table. “For once? What does she mean, for once?”

Mom motioned to the file in front of Ms. Lane. “Apparently, this isn’t a one-time thing.” She sent me another disapproving look.

“This is a load of bull,” Brian protested.

“The hell it is,” Mom snapped.

“Bridge,” Uncle Blake warned louder this time.

“Let’s all try to calm down, please,” Mr. Hiller cut in. “I let it go at first, but if you can’t keep your emotions in check, we’re going to have to call this off.”

“Oh, no.” Brian laughed. “I’d like to hear what all my son has supposedly done.”

“Are you saying my daughter is lying?”

“Last warning!” Mr. Hiller’s voice boomed.

“Brian, please stop talking,” Evelyn pleaded.

God, yes. Please. Everyone stop, so we can just get this over with. What I’d give to be at home right now with my pounding head buried in a pillow in a dark room. The one thing I wanted more would soon be in a gym, completely inaccessible.

“Now,” Ms. Lane began when everyone managed to calm. “Izzy first started talking to me about what was happening in January, but some of the incidents she reported actually happened in the fall and last summer.”

Mom shook her head, clearly still pissed, while Evelyn eyed Zane with a look. He shook his head, and I glared at his denial before looking down with a wince, another stab pounding through my brain. Even my arms were starting to throb. So did my chest.

The door swung open again, and there stood Tucker wearing jeans and his practice jersey, only half-dressed for athletics. My heart lifted, and I could suddenly breathe through the tension.

Tucker looked wildly around the room, and he was at my side in what felt like a mere second after seeing me. I didn’t remember standing, but I was up and in his arms, the exact place I’d wanted to be. I buried my face in his chest, breathing him in as he bent down to kiss my head.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his hands gently caressing the sides of my face as I looked up at him, those whiskey eyes swirling dark with concern.

“Yes. I mean no. I mean… I don’t know.” My lower lip began to tremble. Suddenly, all the shock and tension were wearing off, and all I wanted to do was stay in his safe, comforting arms forever.

Tucker gently wiped away my silent tears, staring into my eyes. “You’re okay, princess. I’ve got you. It’s okay.”

“I know,” I cried, unable to stop it.

He gave me one last, strong squeeze before carefully pulling my arms from his back. “Let me see.”

His touch was tender as he stroked the delicate, purple skin high on my arms, but I could feel the rage flooding through him beneath the surface. He was furious but holding back. Just for me.

“Shouldn’t this one leave, too?” Brian’s cold, calculative voice came from behind me.

Tucker stiffened.

“I didn’t think it would hurt to let them have a moment. You’ve been wasting enough time yourself. Give Miss Donovan her turn, Mr. Hernandez.”

“Does it hurt?” Tucker asked, ignoring them .

“Some,” I admitted, my voice quivering. I leaned into him, not caring that I felt weak in his arms. Just needing him to hold me.

“Why don’t you sit down, princess?”

“No, this is perfect here.” I clung to him, burying my face further into his chest to drink in his smell and his presence.

“Izzy, come on. You need to sit.” Tucker lowered me back to my chair. “I’m right here.” He pulled up a seat beside mine, holding my hands in one of his as he squeezed my knee with the other. My chest swelled with his attention. How he knew I needed him.

“Mr. Pierce, you can’t stay. You’re going to have to leave,” Mr. Hiller finally said.

“Can’t,” he replied.

I hiccupped a laugh. God, I loved him.

“Of course, you can,” the principal argued.

“Okay, then. Won’t,” he corrected. I almost winced, not wanting him to get into trouble.

Pulling one of my hands free, I placed it over his cheek. “It’s okay, whiskey. I’ve got this. Go before you get in trouble.”

He tensed. Hesitant.

“Please. We’ll have plenty of time together tonight for you to chase any new demons away,” I whispered.

He dropped his head and then sighed, defeated before standing. “Tonight.” He squeezed my hand once more before locking eyes with my mom. “Take care of this.” Every bit of warning was there in his gaze if she failed.