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This stranger was exceedingly nice, had a weird sense of humor, and a gentleness that she was almost terrified to believe in – but she could see it there, lingering in his dark eyes as he looked at her.
“I’m kidding – and I am far from an angel. My name is Killian Briscoe, and you are…” he prompted.
“Destiny…” she mumbled; the word barely audible between them.
He angled his head to the side again, looking at her as if he was analyzing something or trying to get a read on her – and truthfully, she did the same. This man, Killian, was probably the strangest man she’d ever met.
No one did something like this without a reason or an ultimatum… and the unknown was what was frightening her. Her stomach gave a painful growl audibly – causing his eyebrows to shoot up in surprise before he frowned.
“Destiny…” he whispered, looking at her. “Are you hungry, because I certainly am and could use a little company.”
“I already told you…”
“You’re not my type and I’m not asking,” he said firmly – causing her to glance back at the table of guys, nodding in silent understanding. He arrived with a bunch of men. He didn’t like her because she was a girl… and that was both a relief – and a cryin’ shame.
“I’m starving, in town visiting, and sometimes it’s easier to unburden what is on your mind to a perfect stranger that can give you an unbiased opinion,” Killian began, smiling softly. “So, consider my offer of a meal in exchange for a therapy session – off the books naturally. You remind me of my sister, and I would like to think that if Everly needed help, someone would be kind enough to lend her a hand.”
“Pay it forward…” she nodded sagely, feeling herself relax.
“Exactly,” he smiled. “So maybe someday you will find someone who is needing a break – and do the same for them. I think the world needs a few more ‘guardian angels’,” he teased, making air quotes as he spoke. “Don’t you?”
“The world needs a lot more, truthfully…” she muttered under her breath – and he laughed easily.
“I agree,” Killian murmured, extending his arm to her like she was a queen. She stared at him, glancing at his arm, before meeting his eyes again.
“C’mon,” he offered gently. “I’m not going to hurt you – I promise. You can drive your car and I’ll drive mine. I would just like someone to talk to.”
“Why me?”
“Why not?” he countered, smiling. “Even your name says you should go with me. It’s destiny… Destiny. Now, I saw a Waffle House up the road and I love breakfast at any hour – would that work for you? Do you like waffles or omelets?”
“I should get home,” she hesitated.
“And eat beans or spaghetti?” he said, obviously overhearing quite a bit of her conversation. “Trust me. Let me be the hero for once…please.”
She had almost put her hand on his arm, but his words caused her to draw back once more, looking at him warily.
“For once?” she questioned.
“I’ve tried to help my sister get started several times in the past, but she’s pretty stubborn and refused help,” he explained and looked around where they were standing in the dingy hallway by the bathrooms. “Let’s eat, talk, and I’ll tell you all about her.”
“Are you some weird psycho murderer? Are you going to kill me?” she asked softly, knowing this was a mistake to go with a perfect stranger – but he was so painstakingly gentle, like he was coaxing out a frightened animal… and she was.
Destiny had been so close to being homeless so many times it was alarming. She lived one paycheck away from a cardboard box most months, but nothing was worth going back home. Besides, the travel there would be outrageous, not to mention what she would find.
Liquor, drugs, abuse, and neglect were not the way a child should grow up – and she was well aware of that. Her parents were high on drugs most of the time and she remembered roaches or mice all over the kitchen. Her bedroom window had been broken for years, covered with a garbage bag. There had been cigarette stains on the bathroom sink from where someone had put the butts out on the Formica, and the smell of animal feces in the house was overwhelming.
No one worked. She wasn’t sure how her parents got money, but when she turned sixteen… and noticed more of her father’s friends coming over, looking at her strangely, offering her drugs? That was the wakeup call she needed.
This would never be healthy for her – mentally or physically.
She’d seen a video in her health class of proper nutrition, and it wasn’t the cooking in the film that caught her attention. It was the condition of the home located behind the host who was talking.
Clean, sparkling countertops with zero vermin. There had been green vegetables in the meal… arealmeal, not butter and elbow macaroni, which was something she ate often.
That afternoon years ago, she got a job at the Taco Bell a mile away – worked for two weeks and cashed her first paycheck… only to have her father demand rent money for the first time ever.
Destiny was done.
