Page 64 of The Closed Off Captain

He pulls back slightly, so he can look directly into my eyes. “You stood up for me, went to bat for me, called out my own mom and a stranger you don’t even know...for me.”

“Well, of course, Gunner. I was just speaking the truth.”

He stares at me, and I’m confused by the confliction in his eyes. “We have to go back out there.”

I nod. “Yes.”

“It would be rude to stay in here and ignore them.”

I frown. “Yes, very rude.”

The corner of his lip turns up. “Do you always do the right thing, Chloe Liessman?”

My frown increases, and I try to decide if this a trick question. He leans forward, and I hold myself completely still, wondering what in the world he’s doing. He blows out a breath, right next to my neck. “Don’t ever change, Chloe.” A moment later, he pulls back. He stares at me a moment longer before he steps back and shoves his hands in his pockets. “I have to go back out there.”

“I do too.” I’m happy to hear that my voice sounds somewhat normal. “But I, ah, need to go to the bathroom first.”

“Take your time; I’ll go see what the damage is.”

He opens the bedroom door and disappears. I’m not exactly sure how long I stare at the empty doorway. Gunner has always been an enigma to me, but I have no idea what any of that was. I head towards the bathroom. I didn’t lie when I said I needed to go; my coffee went right through me. I take my time washing my hands and leaving the bathroom. I’ve never been afraid to handle problems or problem people head on, but Gunner really threw me off with that whole thing. I take a moment to compose myself before I head back out. Mrs. Coftman closes the front door, just as I enter the living room. She turns back and puts her hand over her mouth. “Gunner, I didn’t know.” Her words are almost a whisper before she walks across the room and wraps her arms around him. I turn around, ready to give them this private moment. “Chloe.” Her voice stops me. “Thank you for standing up for my boy.”

“He doesn’t need me to stand up for him; he’s perfectly capable of that himself.”

Her eyes are teary. “You did what I should have done. Thank you.”

She looks up at Gunner. “I’m so sorry, Gunner.”

“It’s okay, Mom. I didn’t want you to know everything; I know Pam’s your best friend.”

I watch as she wipes a tear. “You should have told me. I’m so sorry. I can’t believe Jenny would do this to you. Tell me everything.”

“Are you sure?” he asks.

She frowns up at him. “Gunner, you are my son. I want to know everything that’s going on in your life, the good and the bad.”

I watch as they sit on the couch next to each other, knee to knee. I start towards the bedroom, so I can give them privacy. “You too, Chloe. I want to hear from you.”

I wait for Gunner to say that he doesn’t want me to stay for this private conversation with his mom, but he doesn’t. He begins to tell his mom everything that has happened. I add a few details he keeps out. By the end of it, Mrs. Coftman is so distraught; I wonder if it was a mistake to tell her. She pushes to her feet. “I’m going to go find Jenny and give her a piece of my mind.”

Gunner barely restrains his smile. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Mom.”

“It’s a great idea,” she says and starts towards the kitchen. I face Gunner with wide eyes. She comes back into the living room with her purse and keys in hand.

“Mom.” Gunner steps in front of her. “You can’t go talk to her.”

“Watch me.” I smile because I really like her now—now that she’s fighting for her son. Her eyes dart to mine and narrow. “I suppose you’re going to tell me too that I can’t go.”

“Not at all. I’ll go with you and be your wingman.”

Mrs. Coftman turns to Gunner. “I like her.”

His entire face softens as he looks at me. “I do too.”

“Don’t do anything stupid to mess this up,” she warns him. Her words hit like a bucket of cold water. Just like that, I remember that all this is pretend.

“Mom, we’re handling it. Don’t do this; you don’t want to lose your best friend.” I watch as Gunner’s words help calm her. Eventually, she puts her purse and keys on the table.

“I’m only not going over there to give her a piece of my mind because you asked me not to,” she says, waving a finger in Gunner’s face.

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