“I understand that you probably hate him and want to see him punished,” I begin.
“I don’t hate him. I mean, I don’tlikehim, but that’s not the problem. He hatesme. That’s the problem. I don’t have to do anything to provoke his bullshit. In fact, in the past, I have been really nice to him. Now I try to stay in my lane and mind my own business, but it doesn’t get him off my back. He’s the one who won’t stop harassingme. It is not a mutual problem we have. I never did anything to cross Landon. He just zeroed in on me like a psycho because I tried to be nice to him one time, and no amount of demandingorbegging him to leave me alone since has worked. Your son has issues, and I don’t think jail is the place for him to get the help he needs, but you know what? Maybe it is.”
I bow my head, reevaluating my approach based on this new information. I expected a scared, belligerent teenage girl hell-bent on vengeance.
This girl is not angry.
She is calm and reasonable, and again, I cannot help liking her.
Sighing, I meet her gaze. “I’m going to be very honest with you, Parker, because I respect you. I’m going to talk to you like an adult because I think you deserve that, and I think you can handle it.”
She doesn’t say anything, just stands there with her arms crossed and her poker face in place.
“There is not a reality in which my son goes to jail for what he did tonight. That is not to say it wasn’t wrong. It was. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t work that way. Justice isn’t always black and white, and the court systems do not always provide it. I promise you that if you fight this battle, you will lose. It’s not your fault. You are simply outmatched. I do not relish that fact. I am not trying to embarrass you or hurt you. I’m just giving you the reality of this situation. You can stand your ground and refuse to budge from the truth, but Landon will not go to jail, and I urge you to remember you still have to endure senior year with him. If my son is as horrible to you as you say he is, can you imagine how much worse it will be if you try to defeat him andfail?”
Parker swallows, a glint of vulnerability in her eyes.
I can see that she does.
She doesn’t admit it out loud, but I know she’s piecing together that if Landon gets away with his bullshit and emerges unscathed, he will think he is invincible.
And he won’t be grateful for his good fortune and stop tempting fate—he will come at her even harder.
“Wouldn’t it be so much better if he believed thatyoudecided not to pursue this?” I suggest.
Parker’s gaze drops. I see her mulling over her limited options. Her gaze shifts back to mine, and she looks much younger, like the vulnerable teenage girl she actually is. It makes me feel like a fucking monster for manipulating her.
“I’m not a combative person,” she tells me, shaking her head. “I don’tlikeany of this. But he came to myhome. I don’t care what he said out there. I believe he wanted to hurt me. I think he would have if he could’ve gotten past my door.”
“I understand,” I say with sympathy I don’t have to manufacture. “And you can rest assured I will deal with my son’s behavior. I’m not asking you to let him hurt you or not to stand up for yourself. Whatever it takes, I will make this right with you and your mother. I just want to do it outside of the legal system. I was going to offer to pay off your house as a thank you if you’d let this go, but if you really want to steer clear of my son, I’ll purchase you guys a different home in a different school district and you can finish your senior year elsewhere. I know your mother doesn’t love the neighbors in your current neighborhood, anyway. She might welcome a change of scenery.”
She surprises me by shaking her head. “I’m not going to let him chase me out. I’ve worked hard for my accomplishments at the school I’ve spent my entire high school career at. I don’t want to go somewhere else.”
“All right,” I say easily. “It was just an idea.”
She eyes me distrustfully. “You’d really pay off my mom’s house?”
I nod. “Absolutely.”
“I’d want it in writing,” she warns me.
I can’t help grinning. “All right.”
Her eyes narrow with suspicion. “What?”
I shake my head. “Nothing. I just like you, that’s all.”
My answer surprises her.
“Not in the alarming way my son seems to,” I specify. “I just think if I had a daughter, I’d be happy if she were like you.”
I expect some part of that might make her cheeks redden, but I’m surprised when she flushes and what she seems to focus on is the first part. “Landon doesnotlike me.”
That’s not worth arguing about right now, so I nod as if I believe her and extend my hand in her direction. “Do we have a deal, then?”
She stares at my hand for a long moment, then she says, “I want something else.”
I lower my hand. “What’s that?”