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“You’d better get home.” Jake tapped the roof of the truck.
Ryan waved at us and then pulled away from the curb.
I held my breath, wondering if Jake already knew something was going on.
His expression was unreadable as he turned to me. “Can I come in?”
“Uh. Sure. How long have you been here?”
“I worked late at the garage and wanted to stop by with takeout.” It was then I noticed the bags of food on the covered porch.
“I’m sorry. I ate with Ryan and Corey.” I pushed open the door and waited for him to precede me inside.
“I didn’t know you were going to the game.”
“Corey asked me last night when he was working. I couldn’t say no.”
“Things with him working out?” Jake asked as he set the bags on the kitchen counter. He opened a cabinet, pulling out plates.
I breathed a sigh of relief. I’d only said the truth, so I relaxed even further. “Oh, yeah. He’s a hard worker.”
He plated his Chinese food. “He’s good at the garage, too.”
“Thanks for being so good to him. He needs everyone he can get in his corner.”
Jake paused and looked over at me. “Just be careful. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
I tipped my head to the side. “How would I get hurt?”
Jake gave me a pointed look. “He’s already broken into your store.”
My shoulders lowered, realizing he was referring to Corey, not Ryan. “We’ve talked about this. He’s a kid. I’m not discounting that he could pull something else, but I think he’s on the right track.”
Jake’s jaw was tight as he grabbed a beer from my fridge. “For now.”
Irritation pricked my neck. “You let him work at the garage.”
“Ican handle a twelve-year-old.” Jake’s tone was infuriatingly self-assured.
“I can, too. Besides, he seems to like me. We get each other.”
His expression gentled. “Reminds you of our situation.”
I sank into the chair at my round table. “How could it not?”
He sat across from me. “You have a big heart.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
He tipped back his beer. “People can take advantage of it.”
I scoffed. “I might have a big heart, but I’ve seen the worst in people, too. I’m wary.”
He shook his head. “I hate that for you. I wanted to protect you.”
“How can you protect a little girl from her mother?” No one was capable of that.
He stopped, his fork halfway to his mouth.
