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“Three hundred.”
The number might as well have been three million. “Fine,” said Hunter. He jerked away from Michael. “Keep my stuff. I don’t—”
“He’ll pay you,” said Michael. “In two weeks. Fair?”
“Two weeks. I’ll believe that when I see it.”
Michael looked at Hunter. “Can you work six nights for me in the next two weeks?”
Hunter stared back at him until Michael raised his eyebrows in a Dude, wtf? expression. Hunter shook himself. “Yeah. Sure.”
“Done.” Michael picked up his box. “Let’s go.”
“And just who are you? What kind of work is this?”
Like the eldest Merrick brother was going to have him selling weapons to foreigners or dancing na**d on tables. Michael shifted the box to one hip and pulled a business card out of his pocket. “I’m Michael Merrick. I do landscaping. Feel free to call me if you want those mums out front to stop dying.”
Then he left the card on the corner of the dining room table and headed toward the door.
Hunter knew when to make an exit. He hustled to catch up.
His grandmother was sitting in the kitchen, that same sourpuss look of disapproval on her face.
“Hi, Grandma,” Hunter called cheerfully, knowing it would irritate her even more than if he’d flipped her off.
Then he was in the jeep and they were driving away, his hands almost shaking on the steering wheel.
Michael hadn’t said a word. Hunter wasn’t entirely sure what to say, either.
Finally, he said, “Those mums weren’t dying.”
“They’ll look like it.”
Hunter smiled. Then laughed. “Thanks.”
“Sure.” He glanced in the back. “You can throw those in the basement until you figure out what you want to do.”
Hunter lost the smile. He wondered if there was a time limit attached to the offer—and because he was scared of the answer, he didn’t want to ask. “Okay.”
“Gabriel’s been trying to catch up in math and some other classes, because he wants to qualify for an EMT course in the spring. He usually helps on Tuesdays and Fridays. Want to take his nights for the next two weeks? Maybe some weekend time?”
So Gabriel was going to take the firefighter thing seriously. Hunter was envious for a moment, that his frenemy had figured out a path in life, when it felt like his own life map had been put through a shredder. “Sure.” He paused. “You don’t have to do that—I can sell some of my stuff—”
“If your whole life is in those boxes, Hunter, I want you to hold on to all of it.”
Well then.
They pulled into the Merrick driveway, and nothing had changed—Michael’s brothers were still out.
Michael hesitated before getting out of the jeep. “I’m picking up Hannah in an hour. She wants to take James to the carnival, too. No one will be at the house tonight.”
Hunter had no idea who Hannah and James were. He glanced over at Michael and wondered what he was implying. “Do you not want me to be here by myself?”
Michael sighed. “Jesus, Hunter, take a breather. I want you to go be a teenager. You’ve got a car, there’s fun to be had. Go. Find it.”
CHAPTER 14
Kate didn’t see how this carnival was supposed to make money for the senior class. The field was packed with rides and food kiosks, then lined with silly game stands. The lights and noise were overwhelming, a mash-up of neon and carnival music and the smell of popcorn and funnel cake.
