Page 25 of Peaks and Promises

“I’ll see you then.”

I ended the call and went back inside. The girl behind the counter was handing Nate a scoop of chocolate ice cream in a cup.

“Can I get you anything?” she asked.

“Nothing for me, thanks.”

She rang up the total and I tried not to wince. When had a single scoop of ice cream gotten so expensive? I sighed and pointed to a table at the very back, away from the windows. Nate took a seat with his ice cream, and I sat across from him, where I could see the front of the shop.

He took a few bites and fiddled with a Lego piece. He always seemed to be carrying them around in his pockets.

“All right. Tell me what happened at school.”

His shoulders slumped. “Do I have to?”

“Yes.”

He hesitated, turning the Lego piece over a few times before answering. “I know I shouldn’t have punched Joey.”

“Then why did you?”

“Because he keeps calling me fat ass.”

My back tightened and I clenched my hands into fists. The little brat. Nate should have punched him more than once. Knocked him on his ass and laid into him until—

Opening my fists, I stopped myself from fantasizing about my son beating the shit out of another ten-year-old kid.

“I guess we’ll see if he learned his lesson.”

Nate blinked in surprise.

I let out a breath. “It’s not okay that you hit him. You shouldn’t resort to violence unless it’s self-defense.”

“I know.” His tone was contrite. “I’m sorry.”

Before I could accept his apology, the door opened and a big wall of intimidation walked in, almost blocking out the sun.

Reese Haven.

He whipped off his sunglasses and strode straight to our table. Nate’s mouth dropped and his eyes widened.

“This is my son, Nate,” I said. “Nate, Reese is a friend. He offered to help if we needed it. And, um, we need it.”

Reese held his hand out to Nate. Staring up at him with his mouth still open, Nate took his hand. Reese shook it, then turned back to me. “Can we talk outside?”

Tall windows covered the front of the shop. We’d be able to see inside, and Nate would see us. “Sure. Nate, are you good here for a minute?”

He nodded.

I got up from the booth and squeezed his arm. “Finish up your ice cream. We’ll be right back.”

I followed Reese outside and we stood next to the door.

“Tell me if I have this straight,” he said without preamble. “Your ex and the two jackasses who were in the diner are members of an outlaw club. You’re worried about why they’re in town and what they want with you and your son.”

“Exactly.”

“Does Nate know his dad?”