Page 14 of His Flawed Ride

I have a dinner invitation and though I’m more hopeful than I was this morning, I find myself beyond nervous.

While I’m dressing in my leggings and a hoodie, there’s another knock at the door.

Shit. I forgot about Shane.

I can’t mess up now that I’ve got an invitation into my daughter’s home. Though Shane is looking good when I answer the door.

“Sorry, you’ve had a wasted trip. You’re not coming in.”

“Seriously?”

I start to get pissed. “Like I’m the only pussy in town.”

I swing the door closed, leaving him out in the cold and I draw the shades to block him out completely.

With hope filling me, the loneliness has vanished.

The sun has risen, and I turn my phone on. Text after text floods through and notifications of sixteen missed calls and fourteen voicemails. I don’t need to read the texts or listen to the voicemails. I know who they’re from and what they’re going to say. I delete each one and turn my phone off.

From the bag I’ve hidden under the bed, I grab a few bills and head out to the toy store. I roam the aisles, glancing at toy cars and guns. There’s an entire aisle of dinosaurs and action figures. I have no idea what my grandson is into, and I fear buying him something he doesn’t like. I want to make a good impression with him, and kids are pretty easy to make friends with unless you bring them something that doesn’t interest them.

The bell tinkles overhead as I step into Kristen’s shop. She’ll know what Gunner is into.

My sister-in-law has had a superior aura around her from the day I met her. I don’t judge her, it’s who she is, but she workshard, and she loves my brother even after all these years and after everything they’ve been through.

I wait for her to finish up with a customer and step up to the counter.

“Slade said you were back in town. Back for good this time?” she asks with a small smile.

It’s nice to see some things never change, every smile she’s thrown at me has always been laced with pity. Occasionally it would piss me off but most of the time I am asking to borrow money or asking my brother to help me out of trouble. It’s warranted.

“That’s the plan. I need two favours though.”

Her look screams, of course I do, but I ignore it and ask, “First I wanted to find out if you know what Gunner is into? I went to buy him a gift and realised I don’t know what he likes.”

“He’s into coloring and painting at the moment. Anything creative. He was into dinosaurs, but JJ bought him this huge T-Rex and it scared the crap out of him.”

I chuckle and I wish I had that memory myself.

“What’s the second favour you need?”

“A job.”

Her mouth drops open and nothing but silence comes out. She shakes her head and then asks, “You? You want a job? Here in my shop?”

“Yes.”

Did I not make that clear enough?

“I’ve never known you to ask for a job, let alone hold down a job,” she murmurs.

All I can do is shrug. I’m well aware of what I have and haven’t asked for over the years.

“When was the last time you had a job?”

“I couldn’t tell ya, but I’ve been a letdown all my life so does that count?”

“You’re family, Lily, of course I’ll help you, but as family, don’t let me down.”