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“Jag . . .”
“You can’t have a car that doesn’t work half the time, Charlie. Especially not now that you’re back here and will be driving Keith more. What if you go somewhere with him, and then get stuck?”
“I’ll call you?”
His face went void of any emotion. “Charlie. Look, I know I didn’t let you touch your money until you turned eighteen, but you’ve had access to it for four years now—that’s plenty of time to get your own car. A reliable car.”
“It just seems like a waste when I have a car already!”
“Again,” he began with a laugh, “a car that only works half the time! This car wasn’t exactly new when Grandma left it to you, and then it sat there for years until you were old enough for it.” When I started to defend myself and the car again, he cut me off. “You know I wouldn’t tell you to spend the money on something like this if I didn’t think it was necessary, but it’s necessary. It’s been necessary. You have the money—” He cut off quickly, and his eyebrows drew together. “You do still have your money, right?”
“I’m not Mom,” I bit out, and Jagger’s face softened.
“I didn’t mean it like that. You know I didn’t.”
I released a weighted breath, my head shook as I tried to push away the initial hurt and anger at his question. “Yeah, I do. Other than school and that apartment in Walla Walla, I’ve only started a college account for Keith.”
He nodded in acknowledgement. What I’d said wasn’t news to him. “Then go buy a car. Something Keith can grow into, and you can have for a long time. All right?”
I lifted a shoulder and started to say I’d think about it, but stopped abruptly at Jagger’s next demand.
“Until then, take this thing to the mechanic the next time it starts.”
That was something I definitely would not be doing. “I’m sure it’ll be fine without that.” Before he could respond, I grabbed my book and stood, then took a step toward the front door of the warehouse. “I need to go if I’m walking to work.”
Jagger looked like he was going to argue about the mechanic, but decided against it. “Take my car today. Keys are on the hook inside.”
“Thanks, Jag,” I said quickly, and slipped back into the warehouse to grab my purse and his keys before he could find something else to argue with me about—like how I should stop looking for my own place.
It felt like I didn’t take a full breath until I was in his car and pulling out of the alleyway. I’d made it through another parental-type lecture from Jagger; now if only I could make it through this shift without Mama’s favorite person coming in to pin me with his cold stare.
Deacon
May 30, 2016
MY PHONE BEGAN ringing just as I pulled into work. A glance at the screen had me hissing out a curse when I caught sight of the name.
I’d been expecting this call ever since I’d walked out of Mama’s the morning before, and was surprised it had taken him this long to ream me. Or maybe I was surprised that she hadn’t immediately run home to tell her brother about what I’d said.
I shut off my car, and took a steadying breath as I answered the call. “Yeah, Jagger?”
“You working today?”
My brow pinched when he didn’t immediately begin laying into me, and I glanced up at the building in front of me. “Uh, yeah . . . just pulled in. Why?” I asked, drawing out the word.
“When you get a break today, can you do a favor for me?”
My initial surprise deepened when I realized Charlie hadn’t mentioned anything about the day before as Jagger went on, but my frustration over her slowly filled my veins once the favor was laid out for me.
I opened my mouth to say no, but shut it and sighed through my nose.
Grey would kill me if I said no, and it would unnecessarily bring up a discussion with Jagger right then that I didn’t want to have.
After a few seconds, I conceded. “Sure. Yeah, I’ll be there.”
Charlie
May 30, 2016
