Jonny's Redemption (Gemini Group Book 7) Riley Edwards (ebook reader screen .TXT) 📖

Oh, that.

Shit.

Evie was my bestest of best friends. Since I’d met her I told her everything that was going on in my life. Not necessarily about my past, but as for the here and now, she knew it all. But I couldn’t talk to her about Jonny’s mom. That wasn’t about me; it was about Jonny and he needed to be the one to share if he wanted to.

“Yes, she was arrested.” I thought about what I could say and offered more. “Driving while impaired.”

“You didn’t call when you left the beach,” Evie muttered.

She sounded hurt and my stomach clenched at the accusation.

“I didn’t and I’m sorry. But, Evie, this is important so please understand. There are things I can’t talk to you about. Not because I don’t want to. Not because I won’t need you to help keep me strong. But this is about Jonny. Not me. He needs me to let him work this out in his own time. Needs it, Evie, in a way that if I talk to you about what’s going on it will be an unforgivable betrayal and I will not do that to him.”

“His dad,” she guessed.

I had nothing to say. A confirmation was as good as an exhibition of disloyalty.

“Roberta Layne and her steadfast devotion to those she loves.” Evie smiled. “I get it. I won’t pry or push but tell me this, is Mrs. Spencer okay? Chasin told me that it was Mr. Spencer’s birthday and she was having a hard time.”

It took herculean effort not to grind my teeth and spit out the truth. If everyone knew what she’d done to Jonny—what his father had done—not a single one of Jonny’s friends would feel sorry for that woman. No, they’d feel sorry for Jonny and he’d hate that. He wouldn’t understand they would be pissed on his behalf. They’d feel like shit he hadn’t confided in them so they could help him. All Jonny would see was pity. He wouldn’t understand they were empathizing. Showing him support and friendship.

Suddenly I knew what Jonny needed from me. I had to guide him from the shadows, from his self-imposed isolation. Ridding him of the guilt that was not his to bear was a given. But perhaps more importantly I had to show him the true meaning of friendship.

No man was an island and Jonny needed to learn that everything he thought he knew about being a good friend was wrong. It wasn’t about always being there for the people you cared about. It was about allowing them to be there for you. It was about endless trust.

“Bobby?”

I blinked and Evie came back into focus. I’d been a horrible friend. I was as loyal as the day was long. I was a vault when it came to secrets. I would drop anything and everything and rush to a friend’s side if they needed me. But I never allowed them to return the favor. I’d withheld my pain, my secrets, my deepest fears from Evie because I was afraid of what she’d think of me.

Regret and remorse ticked up my spine.

“Did I ever tell you about the night I spent at the police station?” I blurted out, knowing damn good and well I had never uttered a word about that night.

Evie startled and shook her head. “What are you talking about?”

“I was thirteen. EJ gave me a bunch of stuff to take to the pawnshop to sell. He didn’t say, but I knew it was stolen. So off I went to do my brother’s bidding. I’d almost gotten away with it but the police came in saw what I had and since the jewelry had been reported stolen and the cops were there specifically looking for those items I was taken in.

“Daddy was coming off a bender, EJ was too scared to come down and pick me up so I spent the night at the station. This was after I’d convinced the cops I’d found the necklaces and rings on the side of the road. I guess I was lucky I lived where I did and the cops didn’t call CPS. They knew who my daddy was and they knew he’d come get me. I think they let me stay because they felt sorry for me and knew sleeping on a cot in the bullpen was better than me going home.

“The next morning Daddy came to get me. I waited while the cops reamed his ass. By the time I got into the truck, he was madder than a hornet. When we got home, he belted my ass for being dumb enough to get caught. Told me it was my fault the cops got in his face. I had to sleep on my side for a week because my backside hurt so bad.”

“What the hell?” Evie leaned forward and slapped her palm on my desk and frowned. “I’m so spitting mad right now I don’t know what to say. I don’t know if I’m so grateful you finally opened up I want to drop to my knees in thanks—which would be hard with my ginormous belly—or if I want to sic Chasin on your asshole of a father. I’ve waited years for you to talk to me. Years, Roberta Layne. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had and it kills me I haven’t been that to you.”

“I’m sorry, Evie. I…I don’t have an excuse. It was a shitty thing for me to do and I understand that now.”

Her frown deepened and my heart broke.

“He hit you,” she whispered. “That bastard hit you, Bobby.”

He did. He hit me so often I couldn’t begin to remember all the times.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t you apologize.” She shot to her feet and I followed.

“Calm down, Evie. The baby.”

“He hit you,” she screeched. “Goddammit, Bobby.”

With that, she turned and left my office.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I snagged my phone off my desk and did the only thing I could do. I called Chasin.

“Yo, Bobby. What’s up?”

He sounded chipper, which sucked because