The Coach's Daughter

Chapter Eighteen

I pulled into the front of the Johnson household and honked the horn five times. I jumped out of the driver's side and walked around to the passenger's side.

Weston was still laying down on the backseat of his car.

"Wes, baby." I said quietly as I rubbed his shoulder

"Do you want your dad?" I asked him

He sat up, "No I want to feel safe."

"What happened?" Blake asked from behind me

I turned around to see Blake and my dad, "We were walking out of the mall and Ed was behind a truck. Weston had a panic attack."

Blake made a loud pissed off groan, "I pay the police, private investigators, and so many others thousands of dollars just for this son of a bitch not to be in jail. Not to mention the bastard is following my son! Where the hell is Matthew?"

"He's at my house with Luke and Carson. He's safe." My dad reassured him

"Did you call the police?" Blake asked me

I shook my head, "I'm sorry. I probably should have, but it all happened so fast and -"

"No, no don't stress you out. I'll call. Wes - come inside and lay in your bed." Blake told him

Weston slowly climbed out of the car and I walked with him inside of the house and to his room.

He kicked his shoes off, "Lenny?"

"Yes?" I answered

"Could you get me some water and a granola bar?" Weston asked me

I nodded, "I'll be back."

"Thank you." He responded as I walked out

I walked slowly down the stairs, but I stopped as soon as I heard my dad and Blake talking. Blake sounded so distraught and it reminded me the of the first time Weston told him everything.

"Grayson, I feel like shit. My one purpose in life was to make sure that my boys are always happy and healthy. I had one job, Grayson, I will hate myself for the rest of my life for not fighting the court for letting my boys stay with me. Just because she physically birthed them meant she was the better parent. Who stayed up all night taking care of Weston at twenty-something, because she wanted to go party? Me. Who planned all of the birthday parties? Me. Who was the only one that stayed when she left when Matthew was a month old! A month!" Blake cried

"Because I got too caught up in my career, my marriage, I ignored all of the signs of abuse when they visited. I feel like I permanently messed up Weston, by letting him live with her. It haunts me every night that I put my sons in that situation. I just think about that man putting his hands on my child in a way I never would. He wanted to go see her and let her see him glowing. But with him having a panic attack, I really just think we should wait until senior year. I  hope Weston is being genuine with me and doesn't secretly hate me." He continued

Then it was quiet for a minute.

"I'm pretty sure Weston genuinely loves you with everything in his heart." My dad reassured him

"Do you think Lennox knows?" Blake asked my dad

"Ask her. She trusts you too, you know?" My dad went on

I walked down the last few stairs and into the kitchen. They also stopped talking as I fixed Weston's water.

"Lennox, what was Ed wearing?" Blake asked

He was sitting at the island.

"Another raggedy torn up shirt, jeans, and he was by a rusty old Ford pickup truck." I explained