Page 71 of Sunshine

“Says who?”

He looks at me, unconvinced. His eyes—even glazed from a night spent drinking—hold so much depth it’s hard to look away.

Rhett’s always been an asshole. He wears it like a badge of honor, something to be proud of. I’ve always thought it was all a bit attention-seeking, despite the obvious commitment to bully everyone away from him. But right now, I see the familiar traces of hurt and longing for somethingmore, somethingbetter. And I realize, maybe he isn’t as scary as he tries to be.

“No one wants to be caught associating with me, sweetheart. But you already know that, don’t you?”

I shrug, thinking carefully about my next words. “I think people are pretty unfair in their thoughts toward your family,” I clarify. “But I also think you don’t help the situation.”

He smirks. “Is that right?”

“Well . . . you’re a bit of a troublemaker, you know.”

He laughs again, and this time it sounds more genuine. “Yeah, I know.”

“Maybe you could try . . .notbeing one?” I suggest.

“I could,” he agrees. “But where’s the fun in that?”

“Is that why you do it? For fun?”

He nearly trips over a patch of uneven concrete, leaning into me for balance. I look up at him, finding his expression has grown softer. He seems to have lost most of the fight in him, and it’s a relief. Intervening at church was impulsive, but if Rhettreallywanted to cause damage to something or, god forbid, someone, I’m not sure I’d be able to stop him.

His slate eyes catch mine. “None of this is ever fun, Layla.” And there it is again, that detached melancholy. It knocks something loose in my chest, a kernel of unease that Rhett might need more help than an escort home. I think he needs a friend.

I wish Wells was home so I could encourage him to be a source of comfort. I make a mental note to bring it up to Jason next time we talk.

The sound of another car pulls our focus back to the street, and I recognize Kasey’s black pickup. “Oh goody,” Rhett mutters, his mask of indifference slipping back on.

Kasey pulls over and rolls the window down. “Where the fuck have you been, Rhett?” he demands.

“For fuck’s sake, Kase. I don’t need you up my ass all the time.”

Kasey scoffs. “Look at you, drunk on a Sunday morning. And you wonderwhyI have to be up your ass?” He shakes his head. “I’m getting real sick of your shit. Bigger things are going on in the world than you and your fucking tantrums.”

Rhett rolls his eyes, and all traces of their earlier depth are gone. “Thanks for the chit-chat,” he says coolly, and pulls away from my side.

I cross my arms over my chest, feeling awkward to be witnessing all of this. “No problem,” I say.

Rhett swings open the passenger door and gets in as Kasey mouths a quickThank youover his shoulder. As soon as the door slams shut, Kasey peels the truck away from the curb and they take off toward the ranch.

I stare after them until they’re nothing more than a black dot on the horizon of the open countryside ahead.

Back at the church,I decide not to go in—I don’t want to cause another distraction, and there are only a few minutes left of the service anyway. Instead, I sit on a bench in the front courtyard and wait, lost in thought about the Bennetts and Rhett and the possibility that he’s not actually a bad guy. That he’s just suffering, and misunderstood.

When the service lets out, my mother is one of the first out of the building, traces of both panic and annoyance marring her beautiful face. “Layla,” she breathes out when she sees me sitting here.

I stand and walk to meet her. “I’m sorry,” I say. “I was just trying to . . .”

“I don’t want you near that family anymore, you hear me?” she interjects. “With Jason and . . . hisfriendgone, there’s no reason for you to interact with any of them.”

I frown. “There’s nothing wrong with the Bennetts,” I say firmly. “I don’t understand what the big deal is.”

She sighs, a strand of her long brown hair blowing away from her face. “You know Bud Bennett was found passed out drunk inhis wheelchair in the middle of the road in front of their god-awful bar yesterday morning?” she asks. “They’re dangerous people—all of them. A bunch of law-bending alcoholics who don’t care about anyone else. And you’re too sweet of a young lady to get mixed up with them. I should have put my foot down a long time ago, but I’m doing it now.” She straightens her spine before laying the final blow. “No more Bennetts, Layla—tell me you understand.”

She seems genuinely worried that I’ll be tainted just by being around them, as if their family is a disease to carve out of our environment. I can’t help but think of Mrs. Bennett and her warm smile. Of Brooks and Melody and their beautiful boys, of Kasey and his dedication to the rescue horses and his patience in teaching me how to care for Lucky. Of Wells and his ability to always know how to help me, even when our friendship is on shaky ground.

“I don’t understand,” I say honestly. “Don’t you think they deserve some of the same grace you like to pray for?” Her cheeks flush as her eyes widen in shock. You’d think I slapped her.

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