Homewrecker (Into the Flames #1) by Cat Mason, Katheryn Kiden

my throat at just the thought of how careless Dixon and I were. There’s no way someone could have spotted us. Could they?
    Shifting my weight, I start to climb from the bed of the truck. Gunnar’s hand clamps over mine, stopping me. His eyes meet mine. “We’re headin’ back. Now.” No sound comes out, but his mouth moves before pressing into a hard line, listening to whoever is on the other end of the phone. “Thanks, for tellin’ me. Seriously, don’t be sorry dude. Someone would’ve told me sooner or later. This kinda shit always comes out.”
    Ending the call, Gunnar jumps over the side of the truck bed to the ground. Shoving into his shoes, he starts throwing stuff into the back seat. “You need to get down, Kennedy.” His tone is harsh and it cuts deep.
    “What’s going on?” I ask, swallowing hard.
    “I don’t even know how to talk about it right now.”
    Nodding, I slide to the ground, and walk around the truck to climb into the cab, feeling like my heart has been ripped from my chest. He knows. Fuck my life, I hurt the man I love. I’ve ruined everything by being selfish and reckless.
    And… he can’t even look at you, let alone talk to you.
    “Goddammit,” Gunnar shouts, slamming the tailgate. Getting into the truck, he says nothing. He jerks on his seat belt, starts the truck, and peels out of the spot, spinning mud and gravel everywhere as the truck gets traction.
    The entire ride is in silence. Not even the radio is playing and I feel like the entire world is coming down on me inside the cab of this truck as I try to hold it together. Pulling my phone from the console, I text Lynsey.
     
    G knows .
     
    Pushing back the tears that burn my eyes just at typing those six letters, I glance over at a seething Gunnar. His fingers are wrapped around the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles are white.
    The silence is deafening and by the time we make it back into the city, I’m damn close to wringing my hands in my lap. I force myself to look out the window, anywhere but at Gunnar. I don’t know what to say, so I don’t try to make conversation at all. He bypasses the exit to the house completely, heading into downtown.
    Thoughts race through my head. Knowing that he’s got to be headed toward the firehouse where Dixon is probably working. I sit back in my seat, figuring that he doesn’t want to say anything until he has us both together. That way, he can deliver his crippling blow to us both at once before walking away.
    Driving past the fire station, my eyes go to Gunnar when he doesn’t stop. I watch his jaw tick angrily, studying him, completely confused when he pulls into the school parking lot. “Gunnar…” I start, “Please, tell me what’s wrong.”
    “There’s Ralph,” he says, parking the truck. “Stay here, we’ll talk about this when I come back.”
    Without another word, he jumps out of the truck and heads over to his assistant coach, Ralph, standing in front of his blue Chevy Silverado. I watch as they talk, even if I can’t hear any of what they are saying.
    My phone buzzes with a text message from Lyn.
     
    The fuck?
     
    Gunnar turns back and heads toward me. Quickly, I type out a reply to Lynsey, letting her know that if I don’t end up at her place, I’ll call her later.
    “I can’t believe this.” Climbing back into his seat, he presses his head to the steering wheel and blows out a ragged breath. All I can do is wait. I don’t move, I don’t breathe. I want to scream, but when I open my mouth, nothing comes out. Resting his chin on the steering wheel, Gunnar looks over at me, his face filled with disbelief and hurt. It’s fucking crippling. My eyes fill with tears. Opening my mouth, I start to apologize, to beg for his forgiveness for the horrible things I’ve done.
    “Ralph said that after the game he saw Cody Hamilton buying drugs under the bleachers,” he says on an exhale.
    “The kicker?” I ask, blowing out a breath of relief. I hate this,