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“Who knows. It’s not like she’s even old enough to gamble.” He tutted. “It’s far from home, though. So I guess it’s got that going for it.”
A silence lingered between us.
“I feel like Izzy’s hiding something from me,” he added, stroking his chin. “I don’t know what it is, but I can tell she’s not being honest with me.”
I squeezed his shoulder. “I’m really sorry, Johnny. That’s tough.”
“Itistough. Last year was especially tough. But this year? This year, I think, will be better.” Johnny lifted his gaze, and a crooked smile slowly began to pull at his lips. “That’s why I was so happy when Vegas claimed you in the expansion draft.”
I chuckled. “Uh, why?”
“Because I feel a lot better knowing someone I trust is close to Izzy. Someone she can call in a pinch. Because God knows she won’t call me if she gets into any trouble.”
No no no,I thought.Don’t say that.
“And thanks to a certain naughty girl with an appetite for destruction”—he patted Minka’s head, making the husky sleepily lift her chin and let out a perturbed yowl—“we’ve got the perfect excuse for you to keep an eye on her.”
“Wait, you want me to keep an eye on her?” I gasped. “I thought you wanted her to watch my dog while I’m out.”
“Yeah, sure, but the point is so you can make sure she’s okay. Let me know how she’s doing from time to time, you know? Alright? I’d feel a lot fucking better.”
“Johnny. Listen.” I took a deep breath. “The dog sitting thing—I don’t know if it’s a good idea.”
“What?! Why not?”
I couldn’t tell him the truth—that he couldn’t trust me, because I couldn’t trustmyselfaround his smoking hot daughter.
“I’ve got this neighbor kid …” I stammered my way through a pitiful excuse about how the ten-year-old neighbor boy was really doing a great job, and how important it is for kids to have jobs, and how I’d hate to give his job away to somebody else…
But Johnny wasn’t buying it.
“Fuckthe neighbor kid, man! And he’s clearly notdoing a great job, by the way, because the dog just ate your brand new couch!”
“Yeah, but—”
Johnny shook his head, refusing to hear more. “Please, Rust, just tell me you’ll keep an eye on Izzy. I’m not asking you to spy on her or anything—I just want to make sure she’s doing alright out here on her own. Alright?”
My throat squeezed shut. I couldn’t say a word.
“Please,man. Do I have to beg you?” Tears started to well in his eyes. “My wife hates my guts, and so does my daughter, and I feel like I’m losing my two girls—”
Ugh,I couldn’t see him like this.
“Alright, alright. I’ll do it,” I said begrudgingly.
“You will?!”
“Our next road trip is in a week. I’ll call her then and see if she still wants to watch Minka,” I said. “But no promises beyond that, alright?”
“That’s all I ask.” Johnny was so relieved, he threw his arms around me. “Thank you, big fella. You’ve got no idea how much this means to me.”
“Don’t know how much of a favor I’m actually doing you,” I said as I squeezed him back.
“Trust me, it’s huge.”
Yeah, we’ll see.
Regardless, it was late, and I was done talking.
