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Aw…crud.
“What?”
I turn. “I didn’t say anything.”
“You mumbled and grunted.”
“If I want you to know something, you’ll hear me, kid.”
Verykid-like, he rolls his eyes, but truthfully? It is a young man contaminating my passenger seat with post-workout stink. Not only does he have man muscles from lifting all the time, he’s got a real-live need for a razor each morning.
At his age, I was stupid as heck—but one of my deepest needs was respect.
Would it kill adult-me to give it?
“I won’t say anything, Jacob. You have my word.”But I will lie awake the entire night and wonder.
He squints at yours truly as I turn onto the cul-de-sac.
“And if you ever need to talk about anything…”
He snorts and I censor an entire string of on-the-job language pinging around my brain’s speech center.
Apparently, pigs have recently gained their wings.
Chapter 14
Hollie
Things like this don’t happen to me. It’s the middle of the night and I’m in a strange man’s house.
Not only am I in John’s house, I’m in his bedroom—alone, for the record.
I fought tooth and nail against his suggestion that he be the one to use the guest room. He fought back, insisting I have my own space, space that included my own private bathroom.
Apparently the third bedroom has no bed, so Jacob is sprawled across the living room sofa, as much as is possible given his height. I suspect John took a bit of satisfaction in making him be the one to sleep on the couch.
I rest my hand on my cheek. John isn’t a strange man any longer, I suppose.
Ha. He is unusual compared to most of the men I serve at Charlie’s. Those guys look rough around the edges. John doesn’t—but is, in his own way. He’s tough and blunt and unyielding, qualities that must come in handy fighting bad guys. The question is: did he succeed in his line of work because of these traits or did he acquire themfromit?
Tough or not, he’s been a huge help. I haven’t had anyone to share the load in, well, ever, at least not in my adult life, and John’s support in the midst of my latest crises has been the gift I didn’t realize how much I needed.
A light tap sounds on the door a split second before it opens. “Mom?”
I push up against the headboard. “Hey. Everything alright?”
He moves into the room, closing the door quietly and coming to sit on the foot of the bed. “I guess.”
“What’s going on, honey?”
“I heard you moving around.”
“A little restless is all.” I give a small laugh. “You know me.”
His laugh is dry and barely there, fading quickly into silence.
“What’s wrong, Jacob?” I can’t see more than a silhouette as I watch him rest back onto his hands. I can’t push with him anymore, yet I’m not good at waiting. Slowly, though, I’m learning it’s the only way.
