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Tinley is quiet the entire drive, only showing some signs of awareness when I pull up outside of a nice hotel.
“Maybe,” she begins, swallowing and looks to the side as if she’s trying to evaluate what she’s going to say in front of Alex. “Maybe a different hotel?”
She doesn’t have the money to stay here, and it’s apparent she doesn’t understand that I wouldn’t let her pay even if she did.
“This one is perfect. Alex can you grab the bags?”
My son has the handles to both bags clutched in his hand by the time I get out and come around to Tinley’s side of the truck. She’s apprehensive to climb out but follows me inside anyway.
“Let me get the room,” I tell them.
They wait to the side while I make arrangements and follow me to the elevator when I’m done. Alex’s eyes are wide the second we step into the two-room suite. I imagine he’s never been inside a hotel this nice, and that makes my heart clench a little for him. It’s not the nicest hotel, just the closest one that I know that is decent enough. He—both of them—should be able to experience things as simple as a nice hotel, and it’s another kick to the balls that they’ve been denied those simple pleasures for so long.
“Alex, you don’t mind taking the smaller room do you?”
A wide smile spreads across his face when we all move from the living area to the room in question. “Smaller? This room is huge.”
The packed bags are dropped on the bed as he makes his way to the attached bathroom.
“Tinley?” I touch her arm to get her attention. “The other one is yours.”
She follows me on reluctant feet, leaving her bag behind.
“Where will you sleep?”
I choke back a smile because I had no intention of invading this space. I wanted them to be safe, but never expected to be invited.
“On the couch,” I offer because if she wants me here, I’m not going to plant the seed that I was planning to go back home.
“You should have the second room.”
“The couch is fine, Tin.”
God, if she offers to share with me, I don’t know if I’ll be able to hide my enthusiasm.
“I want to stay close to Alex,” she says instead. “I’ll share with him.”
“The TV has a million channels,” Alex calls from the living room. “Mom, look! They even have that Lifetime channel you love!”
I know from spending time at Tinley’s house that they don’t have cable, and she balked when I offered to order it for them. Owing on what she would consider favors isn’t something she’s ever been keen on, and I fully understand since that sense of dependence is something I’ve struggled with as well. It’s just one of those things that comes along with having a hard life.
“Alex, why don’t you find something to watch.” I give him a look that I hope reads as not a baseball game, and it earns a nod. “I don’t know about you two, but I’m starving and thinking of ordering room service.”
“Do they have steak?” Alex’s grin grows even wider at the prospect of having food delivered to the room. I’ve found over the last couple of weeks that the boy can put away some food, and he may not want to get gifts, but food is something he’s always willing to order a lot of.
“I bet they do. The menu is right on the table. Take a look at it.”
I focus my attention on Tinley who is standing to the side looking uneasy about all of this.
“Tin? Do you want a steak?”
“I’m not hungry.”
“A salad or pasta?” I know she hasn’t eaten all day. She may not want to eat but she’s going to need to.
“Not hungry,” she repeats, a little of her fire coming back in her tone.
I’ll take an agitated Tinley over the zombie-like one I’ve been a witness to over the last half hour.
“I’ll order the entire menu if you don’t decide,” I threaten, a smile forming on my lips when she glares at me.
“Pasta is fine,” she snaps.
Dinner is uneventful, most of it spent in quiet reflection as a comedy plays on the television. Alex, of course devours his meal while Tinley pokes around at hers.
I know she has a lot on her mind. Her mother just died, and on top of that she has to deal with her piece of shit brother. His threats of selling the house is just another problem she’s forced to consider.
I regret every second I spent with Cooper as a teen. The guy I thought was a legend because he just didn’t give a fuck about anyone else but himself has stayed a real asshole, never growing up and taking any form of responsibility. I honestly think him not even showing up at all despite it being his mother would’ve been best for everyone. The man really knows how to leave a shitstorm in his wake.
