Page 109 of Unbearable

We laugh, his arms wrapping around me.

Turning the music to country, Hendrix asks my mom to dance about the time Tyler asks me. “So, since V and D are going steady….” He grins, boyish and flirty, his blue eyes shining under the lights of the deck. Turning me, sweeping my brown waves aside, he kisses the back of my neck, swaying to the music and holding me carefully. “Does that mean I can dance with you?”

I turn in his arms, raising my hands, I slide them over his shoulders, our bodies coming together. “Only if you promise to touch my ass in the process.” I arch my back, slightly, offering him more.

“Mmmm,” he growls, burying his head in my neck, his breath is like a whisper over my skin, one I have a hard time understanding, but know I need it. Drawing back, he tilts his head the direction of the house. “We could go try out your bed upstairs. I bet you thought of me a lot in your bed.”

He’s certainly not wrong, and I’m about to take him up on the idea when I hear loud voices near the house and a door slamming.

Glancing over my shoulder, I see it’s Rawley and his friend Beck. It’s been months since I’ve seen Rawley, but he still texts me randomly. One look at him and I know there’s something off about him. He’s drunk. Completely shitfaced and hopefully not driving. Beck’s at least sober, somewhat. They both look tossed.

I want to run to my brother, beg him to remember who he’s hurting by showing up here but the truth is, Rawley’s a shell of the person he used to be. If you knew him junior year of high school, and now, you wouldn’t think he was the same person. Even his looks have changed, eyes so dark, deep, and unbound.

Mom steps in front of him, her hands on his chest before he makes his way over to Sophie, which I assume is why he’s here with the way his glare is intent on her. “What are you doing here?”

He studies Mom’s face with eyes we don’t recognize, and then licks his lips before asking, “What do you mean what am I doing here?” He’s looking past her, and then slowly blinks and eyes our mother with a forced smile. “Isn’t this what you wanted, a nice family party? Well, I’m here. It’s what you wanted, right?”

Mom shakes her head, disappointment in her eyes and a set frown. “Don’t give me your crap. You know damn well I didn’t mean like this when I said I wanted you to come.”

Rawley throws his arms up, carefree and wild, walking backward away from her. “Well this is what you’re getting so take it or leave it.”

Hendrix steps toward him, his hand on his shoulder, warning him with cold brown eyes. “That’senough, Rawley. Why don’t you go get some food and sober up? You’re drunk.”

“I’m always fuckin’ drunk. It’s what I’m good at.” He shakes off Hendrix’s hand. “And you’re not my fucking father. You can’t just step in and try to act like my father. It’s enough I get it from Red what a fucking loser I am. I don’t need you doing it too old man.”

Rawley walks off, toward the beer.

My heart is in my throat knowing this isn’t the end because I know why he’s here. He’s here to make a scene. I look to Mom, and she brings her hand to her heart. “I just don’t know what to do with him and he won’t talk to me.” She’s watching him make his way through the backyard with Beck.

“You know what, Mom, he’s almost twenty-one,” I tell her, wanting to offer something. I don’t want her thinking his fucked-up shit is her problem. “You can’t fix him. You have to let him do what he’s going to do.”

Nodding, she’s on the verge of tears, leaning into Hendrix who wraps his arm around her. “I know.” She stares at Rawley, and he’s staring at Sophie and scowling as he fills a beer.

She puts her hand on her hip. “You said you weren’t coming.”

“It’smyfamily’s party.” He steps toward her, sipping his beer he doesn’t need. “Why are you here? You’re not family and the last time I looked, this was a family thing.”

Sophie scowls at him. “Don’t you dare come over here and try to apologize. I know this is what you expect, fuck up and then you can apologize but not this time. This is the kind of shit I was talking about this morning. You know that, right? You refuse to grow up.”

“Oh, I’m not here for forgiveness. We’re way past forgiveness, don’t you think?” He smirks, condescendingly.

“I can’t believe you’re acting like this just because I wouldn’tfuckyou,” Sophie spits, fed up and giving him what he deserves.

My eyes widen, as do Moms.

Rawley faces Sophie, his face now expressionless. Nodding slowly, he rakes his hand through his hair. “Sweetheart, I’m not looking to fuck you tonight.” He gives a dismissive nod to her friend. “Ask Kate.”

Sophie’s face blanches. She looks to her best friend standing next to her, betrayal written in their locked eyes. “Oh my God,Kate…. Is he serious?”

Gasping, I cover my mouth with my hand.

Tyler shakes his head and leans into me. “Jesus Christ, shit’s about to get ugly.”

It’s like an episode ofJerry Springer. No lie. There’s a moment right then when I look to Sophie and think she’s going to murder her friend with her bare hands.

“Tyler, go over there.”

Instantly, his body tenses and his hold on me grows more secure. He shakes his head, unsure if he should. “Raven,” Tyler says under his breath, “we should stay out of it.”

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