Page 76 of The Score We Never Settled

For both of our sakes.

19

BRIGGS

I watchAgnes fawn over and tease Layla’s Uncle Ben, trying to soften his mood since I’m currently sitting across a plastic table from him.

We’ve never shared a meal, and Agnes made sure Layla and I were seated next to each other, which only seemed to piss him off more.

However, she knows.

Whether that be Cruz and his big-ass mouth, or she had an inkling, that woman was bound to know sooner or later. Agnes has always been Team Briggs. I remember when she’d catch me at Maple & Main diner and straight up ask me when I was stealing Layla Jean away from my teammate. That he was no good for her, but she was good for me.

I haven’t had that kind of adult support growing up, so Agnes looking out for me and seeing something that I hadn’t told anyone was a bit comforting. However or whatever she saw, it’s still evident to her today. She’ll steal the smallest of glances my way, as if hinting she has my back, then try to butter Ben up some more.

Regardless of how much she knows or if she still has an inkling about the matter, it’s not my fault this time. Layla ran her mouth, and surprisingly, she hasn’t freaked out about it.

Yet.

She picks at her food, and I do the same to mine. I didn’t want to intervene on their little dinner date, but I was coerced. I’ve actually been thinking of a way out so she doesn’t have to go through him bitching at me about something.

Turning my head a little, I cover my mouth when I say, “I’m going to fake a phone call, then let you both eat.”

“Don’t,” she mutters, looking down at her plate. “He needs to deal with it.”

“Little too late for that.”

“Now you wanna bail and not worry about it. That’s all you’ve been doing for nine years.”

“You still haven’t said you love me, Layla Jean. I need those words?—”

“You wanna speak a little louder, son,” her Uncle Ben carps out, earning both Layla’s and my attention. “I can’t hear you.”

I mean…

“Yeah,” I say loud enough for him. “I was going to fake a phone call so Layla Jean will actually eat her food. She’s not because you’re pissed.”

He stops chewing and flicks his attention over to her. “I’m fine.”

“You’ve been grumblin’ over here since we arrived,” Agnes chimes in. “What’s your problem, Benjamin? It’s Briggs Kerrigan. We should all be proud of him for everything he’s accomplished and?—”

“I know who he is.”

Agnes’s expression turns murderous, and I place my fork down because I might need to drag Layla out of here if she starts throwing stuff at him.

“Are you going to keep interruptin’ me every time I talk? I didn’t know you were such a grudge holder toward someone who hasn’t done anything personally to you.Yet.”

Ben shifts in his seat. “He did something to all of us. As a town. We all experienced?—”

“And what didyouexperience? Specifically?” she presses. “I’m extremely curious.” Agnes doesn’t wait for him to speak and looks to me. “Why don’t you tell me, honey? Ben can’t seem to remember.”

“Nothing,” Layla chimes in on my behalf. “We all had to walk on eggshells around him.”

Ben scowls. “Eggshells? Why would you need to walk around anything? You didn’t do anything.”

“I fake-dated Cruz Weston so I could be around him.”

Oh…fuck.