Page 33 of Tied up in Knots (Gummy Bear Orgy #4)

“Sorry about that,” I mutter, not really paying attention to the guy, until he talks back.

“Hey Warren. I heard you were back in town.”

I look up from my cart of parts to find Jim, my ex-coworker and fisherman, standing in front of me. Jim’s a nice guy, works hard to support his family, and never judged me because of my arm long arrest record.

“Hey Jim. How have you been? The family good?”

“Oh, we’re doing alright,” he answers, scratching at the bushy dark beard on his chin.

Lots of the guys have thicker beards right now, not having shaved them for the spring and summer yet. Mine is far shorter since I’ve been mostly in warmer climates all winter.

Jim is in his late forties, not as tall as me but a little wider around the middle. Clad in the typical plaid fleece, knit cap, and weather and slip resistant boots I wonder if this is what I’ll look like in twenty years. Except with far more tattoos.

“Heard from the boys you were back in town. How was your trip? I thought you weren’t coming back?”

As he would since it’s what I told everyone when I quit my job and sailed away with every possession I own.

“Plans changed.” I shrug hoping it’s enough of a reason for him.

It seems it is because he just chuckles and shakes his head at me.

“Yeah, ain’t that the truth? You sticking around for a while?”

“Planning on it. Have a few commitments I have to stick to,” I say vaguely. It’s the best I can do without preening over Bambi.

“Good man, it’s important to stand by your commitments and see them through.”

I grimace a little internally, knowing I hadn’t done the best job of that with Bambi so far, but I’m working on changing all that.

“You coming back to work on the boats then?” he asks, easily moving from one topic to the next. I appreciate a guy who doesn’t poke and prod and dig into my personal life.

“I hadn’t thought about it really,” I answer honestly.

Finding a job is on my list of things to do but I hadn’t gotten to it yet.

I don’t need to start working again just yet.

I like spending all my time with Bambi right now.

Even if I did find a job I wouldn’t want to start until after the baby’s born.

Leaving Bambi and our son to go work on a fishing boat is the last thing I want to do right now.

But it would be good to know if there are openings for when I am ready.

“Are there any openings?” I ask.

“Always looking for more guys to work the boats. Especially ones with experience like you. Lost a few guys over the winter, moving away or wanting to do something indoors. Not everyone is made for the ocean like we are.”

He’s not wrong. There are a lot of guys, especially young ones, who come to work on the boats thinking it’s the easiest thing in the world or their dream job, only to realize very quickly they were not built to be a fisherman on the Pacific Ocean.

It’s a lot different than casual family fishing trips.

I nod in agreement and give him a knowing smirk. “That is true. So, if I were interested? There’s an opening?” I hedge, knowing if I plant the seed now that I’m interested, he’ll let the boss know to keep me in mind before hiring someone else to fill the spot.

“Of course. I can let Gerald know you might be interested. I’m sure he’d love to have you back when you’re ready.”

Something settles inside me knowing I’ve managed to secure myself a little more.

Having a good job to support Bambi and the baby is one of the many steps to me proving to her I’m not going anywhere.

We can’t survive on her small income from the bookstore alone with a baby on the way.

I know she was more than ready to do it on her own, and I have no doubt she would have been great, but now she doesn’t have to do it alone.

She never should have had to at all. I should have been here from the beginning.

Internally shaking off my disapproval of my own actions, I smile at Jim and give him my best attempt at thankfulness.

“Thanks Jim, that would be great. I’ll definitely let y’all know. It might not be for a few months though,” I tell him.

He just nods and shrugs, not in the least bit concerned about it. I take that as a good sign.

“It’s no problem,” he adds as I shift to move past him intent on continuing my search for parts for Bambi’s car. “That part’s not going to work for your truck,” he says pointing at the part in my cart.

“It’s not for my truck. I’m doing some work on Bambi’s car for her.”

“She’s the one who’s pregnant and no one knew about it, right?”

I sigh because I’m starting to understand why she kept it a secret for so long.

Everyone wants to butt in on your life and know everything going on, even if it doesn’t concern them.

I’d like to snap back with ‘It’s none of your business’, but I know Jim is a decent guy and I need him to pass on a good word to Gerald about rehiring me in the near future.

“Yeah, that’s her,” I answer a bit flatly. I promised Bambi I wouldn’t discuss us or the baby with anyone and I stand by that.

“Sweet girl. Too bad she’s having to go through all that on her own?”

“She’s not alone,” I snap, interrupting him. I don’t need to hear whatever else he was about to say.

“No, I suppose she’s not,” he reluctantly agrees, eyeing me suspiciously. My irritated tone and defensiveness barely concealed. “She has her grandmother and friends to support her, I guess.”

“She has more than that, she has?” I cut myself off before I say something that would really get the rumors spreading faster than frostbite on your toes in the dead of winter. “We’re all supporting her,” I finish instead.

“Good. It takes a village and all that. Is she still driving that beater?”

I blow out a breath, realizing I had puffed myself up in my agitation and protectiveness of Bambi, glad for the topic change. If it were any other person they would probably probe at my odd behavior, thankfully Jim isn’t that kind of guy.

“Yeah. Hard to convince her to get rid of anything that’s still ‘functioning’ .” I put air quotes around functioning because her definition is not everyone else’s definition.

“Ah well, you let me know if you get into anything too complicated and need help.”

“I will, thanks.”

He pats my shoulder and continues on his way, waving over his shoulder and calling out a goodbye as I resume my own shopping.

Who knew a trip to the auto parts store would end with me securing a job possibility? At least I’m already getting a lot done on my list. This’ll be easier than I thought. However, keeping my mouth shut about me and Bambi won’t be.