Seth shook his head. “No.”
“I guess my dad owed this guy Crater a bunch of money.” I stared up at the ceiling fan, swirling around much like my thoughts.
Sitting up, Seth frowned. “Really?”
“Yeah.” I met his puzzled gaze. “I’m sure that’s why he tried to shake you down for cash. Apparently he started gambling again.”
“Crap.” He grimaced.
“Why didn’t you tell me my dad tried to get money out of you?”
His face flushed and he looked away. “Because I’d have had to tell you what he had over me.”
“Oh.”
“I wasn’t ready.” He gave me an apologetic look. “I should have told you sooner. I feel so much better now without that secret eating away at me.”
“I hate to think of you going through all of that.” I grabbed his hand. “I’d have never guessed what you suffered. One of the things I love about you is how optimistic you seem.”
“Gordon helped me with that.” He smiled. “He helped me see life has good and bad, and that we can choose to focus on the good.” He sighed. “Until I met Gordon, honestly, I didn’t have any good in my life.”
“Sometimes I’m a little jealous of how close you two are.” I grimaced.
A little smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “You don’t need to be. Gordon and I have never had that kind of relationship. He’s like the father I never had, and I guess I’m like the son he lost.”
My heart squeezed at how melancholy his voice was. “But you helped him through that. It’s obvious he loves you.”
“Yes. He does. And I love him.” He lay back down and rested his head on my shoulder. “You don’t have to be jealous of Gordon. He’s thrilled for me. He said he really likes you.”
“Yeah?” I smiled, pleased. “Good.” My phone buzzed on the nightstand. I lifted my head and grabbed it. “Hello?”
“Tanner?” My mom’s frightened voice came over the line.
I froze. “Mom? What’s wrong?” Seth sat up and I did too.
“I don’t understand what’s happening,” she sobbed into the phone.
“Are you okay?” My gut clenched.
“Someone threw a rock through the window. Tanner, what’s going on? Who is doing these terrible things? Who’s attacking our family?”
I rolled off the bed and started clumsily trying to tug on my underwear with one hand. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Did you call the police?”
“I called you first.” Her voice trembled. “I’m scared.”
“Call security—they’re closer—and then hang up and call the cops.” I felt guilty for not being there with her, and there was no way I could get there any faster than an hour and a half. “I’m on my way, Mom.”
“Okay.” Her voice was weak.
“It’s going to be okay.”
“Okay.”
“Call security and then call the police. Remember? Then you can call me back if you’d like. I can stay on the line with you.”
“No. It’s okay.” She exhaled. “I’ll just call security. They’ll come up right away.”
“Well, call me back if you want. It won’t bother me.”
