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No, I wouldn’t let myself think about it. Brody would be back tonight, and then we could talk it through, figure out what we were doing, and go from there.
“Finished!” Cade blew out a big breath causing the papers in front of him to flutter. “Thank god for that!”
I chuckled, pulling his work closer and checking how he did. He pulled his cell out, probably to check on his social media like he usually did when I was going through his work. “Damn, Cade. You aced it!”
“I know.” He flicked his gaze up to me and smirked. “It’s because I have an awesome teacher.”
I rolled my eyes, but the heat spreading over my cheeks couldn’t be stopped. He was fifteen and already a heartbreaker if the messages he’d shown me over the months were anything to go by.
“Come on, genius, I’ll treat you to a burger with your fries.”
“Yeah?” His voice sounded like a hopeful five-year-old who’d been told he could have some cookies with his milk. For all the bravado Cade oozed, he was still a little boy inside. “Mom never lets me eat burgers.”
I frowned at this small piece of information as we grabbed our bags. “She doesn’t?”
“Nah, says something about dead animals and a documentary she watched.” He rolled his eyes. “If you ask me, it’s complete BS. Even Dad agrees.”
It was the first time he’d mentioned his dad in a while, and I didn’t want to push him talking about it, but my ears perked up at the mention. Sal had said Cade’s dad had to go away a lot, but I just figured maybe he was one of those guys who came and went as and when he wanted. The shining of Cade’s eyes at his name told me differently.
I stopped at the counter and turned to face Jan. “Can we have two burgers and fries, and two shakes?”
“Sure, hon.” She flipped open her little pad. “Any extras on the burger?”
“Cheese on mine and a strawberry shake.” I raised my brows at Cade in question.
“Cheese, salad, onion rings, and bacon.” He groaned. “As much meat as you can pile on.” He stepped back and then widened his eyes. “And a chocolate shake.”
Jan laughed, the throaty sound telling us she used to smoke at least a pack of cigs a day. “You got it. Take a seat.”
I spun around and headed toward the back, slipping into the booth so my back was to the door. Cade pushed in opposite me, his face buried in his cell once again.
“You ever get off that thing?” I asked.
“Sorry, I’m just messaging Dad to tell him to pick me up in thirty.”
My stomach rolled at his words. I’d met Moira a couple of times, but we hadn’t spoken much after the first conversation, apart from when she was telling me Cade’s grades. My fingers fluttered to my healing eye, and I wondered what his dad would make of it. The fading bruising around my neck was easy to cover up, but the cut and swollen eye couldn’t be hidden away.
Cade placed his cell on the table at the same time Jan brought our shakes. I dipped down and took a sip, closing my eyes as the strawberry milky-ness. There was nothing like one of Sal’s shakes.
“You seem excited,” I said to Cade after his gaze had drifted over my shoulder several times.
“Yeah.” He leaned his arms on the table, a piece of his dark hair flopping between his eyes. “Dad’s been home all week. I haven’t seen him for nearly five months this time.”
I pursed my lips, sadness washing through me. “That’s a long time.”
He shrugged. “He has to work, I know that, but when he’s home, everything is just…” He looked around, searching for the right words. “Better. It’s just better.”
I nodded, knowing what he meant. Before Brody, I wouldn't have got it, but now I understood. This last week had reminded me what life was like before he joined Hut’s crew, and I wasn’t sure I’d handle going back to that full-time. Hut had steered clear of me, and I’d avoided him at every opportunity. If it weren’t for the fact I only had a matter of days until I was out of that house forever, I never would have been able to brave it.
Jan placed our plates in front of us, winking at me. “Enjoy.”
Cade didn’t waste time digging it, moaning as he took the biggest bite of burger I’d ever seen. He practically ate half in one go. “This is so good.”
I laughed and picked up my own burger, knowing he wasn’t lying. For the small mom-and-pop diner this was, it had the best food in a fifty-mile radius. I’d only managed to eat part of the burger and half the fries in the time Cade had finished his plate. He eyed it with interest, so I pushed it over to him. “Here, eat all the meat you can while you have the chance.”
“Thanks, Lola. You’re the best.”
I leaned back in my seat, looking down at my nails as he finished off. I had so many questions I wanted to ask Cade, but they were all stuck in my throat. I didn’t want to pry anything out of him. I was just taking an interest. At least, that’s what I told myself.
