Page 110 of Unbearable
Sophie’s friend doesn’t say a word, or deny the accusations. Instead, she brings her beer to her lips, as if that’s going to distract Sophie. My brother’s life is definitely more fucked-up than mine.
Rawley laughs, taking a step toward her, sipping his beer. His voice lowers, but I can still hear him from our place ten feet away. “Hey, I had to get it somewhere. She puts out.”
Sophie huffs out a breath and throws what’s left of her beer on him and then pushes him as hard as she can. “You’re such a fucking asshole, Rawley!”
Rawley absolutely hates to be pushed. Believe me, I’m his twin and if you ever want to set him off, push him off the edge of a bunk bed.
Soaking wet from the full beer down the front of him, he stumbles for a moment and then throws his beer at the fence, the plastic red cup breaking on impact. He straightens himself out and grabs the neck of his shirt and rips it off, throwing it at her feet.
“Pick it up, Sophie,” he says slowly, rough with anger, the muscles in his body tensing with each word. His jeans hang low, showing the tattoos across his lower stomach. He points to the ground. “It’s where you left my heart, so go ahead, pick the fucking thing up.”
Tyler and I exchange a look. He glances around to see where Nova is and she’s thankfully not paying any attention to this, nor would she understand what’s happening.
Sophie looks down at the shirt, and then to Rawley. “I’m not picking it up. I won’t. Fuck. You,” is her answer, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. “You’re being a dick tonight. Just leave.”
I’m so pissed at my brother for treating her like this I have a mind to run over there and junk punch him.
“Don’t’ go and try and act like a goddamn victim in this Sophie! You did this. You fucking did.” He shakes his head, an annoyance in his glare. “You created this monster. That’s on you. I did everything I could to make you….” His jaw tightens, his muscles tensing. “You threw it back in my face. You broke me.Youfucking brokemeso this shit’s on you. Pick up the fucking shirt,” he says again, his voice thick with tears.
“Jesus Christ, no! I’m not picking it up!” she screams with everything she has, causing everyone to stop in shock when she slaps him across the face.
He growls out a forced breath, stepping toward her, anger shaking his body.
I’m suddenly afraid Rawley is about to do something really stupid and I push Tyler forward. “Tyler,do something! Don’t let him touch her.”
I would have never pegged Rawley to lay a hand on a girl but he’s not in his right mind and there’s no telling what he’s about to do.
Tyler moves toward Rawley, his hand on his shoulder. “That’s enough, man. Walk away from her.”
“This is none of your business,Tyler.” Scrubbing his hands over his face, Rawley drops them and faces Tyler. He looks at him with pleading eyes and mournful shoulders. You can see the defeat in his whole body. “You know… I know you think I fucked your girl. That’s why you hate me so much, isn’t it?”
Tyler doesn’t say anything at first, he just shrugs his shoulders. But then he mumbles, “I don’t hate you, Rawley.” His lips barely move over the words, as though he’s attempting to keep them between the two of them. “I may not like the way you act, but Idon’thate you.”
“Yeah, well,” he spits to the side, unknowingly near my feet, “I didn’t fuck your girl. I’m not Sophie. Maybe she fucked Berkley and knocked her up.” His glare slices to Sophie. “Or did you take Berkley on vacation with you and show her how to be a cheating whore.”
Unable to stop myself, I cry out, “Rawley, stop it!”
He cracks a sarcastic smile my way. “Raven, stay out of this.” And then he glances at Tyler. “You don’t get to tell me how to handle myself. You led my sister on for months.” He then shoves Tyler back. “Fuck you.”
I can see where this is going instantly when Rawley shoves Tyler and he immediately stands his ground.
Red rushes out of the house, Lenny following him and that’s when I see Nova. I want to run to her, shield her from the destruction that’s her uncle but I’m relieved to see Lenny has her.
“What’s going on?” Red asks, coming to stand between Rawley and Tyler. “Don’t do anything you’re going to regret.”
“Regret?” Rawley’s glare moves to Red. “All I have is regret so what’s one more thing?” And then he pushes Red, his hands on the center of his chest. “Stay out of it.”
It does nothing to stop Red because he’s big as fuck and Rawley doesn’t have any size on him, only they’re right back in each other’s faces. “I’m serious. Back off, Rawley. You don’t want to do what you’re doing.”
“I’m so sick of your shit!” He jabs at his shoulder, another warning to back up.
Red heaves in a heavy breath, scowling at Rawley. “You push me again, you little fucking asshole, and I’m gonna fuckin’ deck you.”
“Go ahead! Do it! You know you want to!” he screams in his face, hollow eyes lingering to Mom before slowly shifting to Red. “All you’ve done is look down on me and tell me how to live my life, and I’m fucking sick of it. You’re not perfect. Just because Dad left you the business doesn’t mean you’re Dad. You never gave a shit about me before. Why do you care what I’m doing now?” His voice bellows through the backyard, loud and threatening. I take a step back because his intensity is scaring me. I’ve never seen him like this. “I get it. You’re the good guy. The honorable one everyone looks up to and Raven”—he flicks his wrist my direction—“she’s the brains. Going to college like Mom and Dad wanted. You both have it all figured out. Then there’s me.” He raises his arms up, turning slowly. “Thefuck up!”
My eyes brim with tears, my heartbeats fast and heavy at the same time. What happened to my brother? Where’d he go? This vulnerable boy screaming at everyone with hollow eyes and the indifferent glares, isn’t Rawley. He used to be carefree and loving, cracking jokes and be the life of the party. Now he’s fucked-up and broken.
Rawley parts his lips, intent on saying more, but then it passes, and his eyes dart around the yard and to his shirt at Sophie’s feet before locking with Red. Throwing his hands up in the air, his shoulders shake, his body trembling and those bloodshot eyes wavering in their control. His hands fall to his head as he turns around and faces everyone, including our mother. I’m really hoping he notices Nova before he says what I think he’s going to say.
