Making a U-turn

Jake stumbled over his words, his voice cracking under the moment’s weight. “Hey, sorry… I didn’t know… didn’t mean any disrespect,” he muttered, the bravado leaking out of him faster than he could patch it. Everyone watching understood what Jake had just figured out—McClain wasn’t someone you crossed lightly.

Beside him, Travis stood stiff, the tough guy routine stripped away, leaving nothing but a kid way out of his depth. His eyes darted around, desperate for a way out that wasn’t there. Once loud and proud, their tough act had crumbled to pieces against a man who needed no noise.