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“I would if she had bothered to answer. She sent me a text. She’s up to something. She said she had a chat with Grandpa and we need to talk family business.”
“What business? The only time she comes around is if she needs a place to crash for a hot second or she wants money or both. And every time she comes around, she only upsets Axel.”
“I know.” The last time she showed up out of the blue, it was with a bunch of promises no one was buying but Axel. She swore up and down how much she was a changed person and she wanted to stick around and be a better mother. Even though I knew better, there was a tiny glimmer of hope she was telling the truth not just for Axel, but for Ryan and Drew.
They act tough, especially Drew. She’s their mother and you always hope you can have that life you see on TV. You can’t help hoping you can be a normal family and not have the responsibility of adult problems weighing you down day in and day out. “He was worked up for weeks. His insomnia kicked back in and he peed the bed for a week.”
“And we had to get Grandpa to have a parent-teacher conference with his teachers when he started acting out in school. When Drew finds out, he’s going to be pissed.”
“I know. I’ll let you tell him about our darling mother.”
“You’re the oldest, you tell him. Bye.”
“Coward.” I smile and slip my phone into my pocket.
“Who’s a coward?”
“Officer Noah.” I turn around and face him. “You’re eavesdropping on a private citizen’s conversation. How rude.”
“No eavesdropping. A public place you chose to have a conversation in which I happened upon. Now, who’s the coward?”
“None of your business. I broke no laws today. No need for questioning from you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to work.” I smile, turning my back on him to finish taking down a spring display to replace it with a beach-themed summer one with beach balls and umbrellas.
“You know I can help you with that. That’s what I’m here for.”
“Don’t you have work to do?” I say, looking over my shoulder and noticing he’s not wearing his uniform but in a tight-fitted dark blue t-shirt and dark blue jeans. So much for the uniform doing the work to make him look as good as he does. Dammit.
“My day off. I’m here to serve and assist. I’m here at your disposal for the next two hours.”
“You have got to be kidding?” I stop what I’m doing and look at him skeptically. “You’re going to spend your day off working here today?”
“Why not? You’re here.”
“Because this is my job. You have one! And it’s your day off, you have nothing better to do with your time?” I could think of a million things I have to do on my days off that I rarely get because I need that overtime money, someone’s always sick or something is happening only I can take care of.
He laughs. “So it’s a bad thing to help my aunt out. It’s a family-owned store. I’m family.”
“Your brother doesn’t work on his days off even with overtime.”
“I don’t know if I should be offended, or concerned about the working conditions here. Should I have a talk with my aunt? You sound like a disgruntled employee unhappy with your position.”
“I didn’t say that! Oh my god, I can’t believe you.” I put my hands on my hips, frustrated by this conversation already. “Really, why are you here?”
He smiles. “To help and serve. My aunt says I’m taking orders from you today.”
“Then go find something to do besides harassing me, Noah.”
“I will. Even though I wasn’t harassing you. See you next time, Lex.”
“My name is short enough. You don’t need to remove a letter. And where the hell are you going?” I call to his back as he walks away.
“I have things to do today, it’s my day off.”
“What the hell? You said you were working here today.”
“I changed my mind. You’re right. Why should I work on my day off.” He grins.
“You jerk. You weren’t really going to work here, were you?”
