AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Her first treatment left her weak. She got up too fast and fell, broke her ankle in two places.”
“Jesus. That sucks.”
“It does. I went over to visit her yesterday. She lives in that big apartment complex on the north side, the one on Barnyard Avenue. She’s on the first floor, but her unit is still up six steps. It’s a struggle for her to go up and down because of the cast. She asked the property manager to install a small ramp, but they told her it would take a few months. By then, her cast will be off.”
“Probably why they said it. They have to accommodate her under disability laws, but they can take their sweet-ass time to do it. You want me to make her a ramp?”
“If you have time. It would really help her out. I’ll pay for the supplies.”
“No problem. I got it. I’ll do it this weekend.”
“Thanks, sweetie.”
Talking about the Barnyard Avenue apartments reminded me of something. “Do you know Ray Langone? He lives in the same complex as Greta.”
Mom frowned. “I do. He’s sort of elusive, isn’t he?”
I smiled. My mother was too kind to use the wordshady. “Yeah, he’s elusive alright. He’s also Josie’s uncle.”
“Oh gosh. That’s right. She said her mother’s maiden name was Langone. I didn’t think of Ray. Is Josie close to him?”
“She thought he was dead until I told her he wasn’t. That’s what her mother told her. She sounds like a real peach.” I shook my head. “You know if Ray still lives over there?”
“He does. I saw him when I was pulling in to visit Greta just yesterday. Why?”
“No reason. Just want to keep a tab on him.”
Mom smiled. “You’re already watching out for Josie. I might get grandchildren after all!”
“Jesus, Mom. Think you’re jumping the gun a bit?”
“Maybe. But something tells me she could be the one.”
CHAPTER 18
Monkey Suit
Fox
“This is ridiculous,” I grumbled to myself while pulling the knot of my tie up in the mirror. The last time I’d put on a suit was a year ago, for a funeral. They definitely weren’t my thing. Back in my playing days, the team had gotten dressed up for travel, and a lot of the guys liked it—wearing flashy name-brand shit that designers sent them, hamming it up for the camera as they strutted to the bus. But even back then, I wasn’t into it. My teammates would bust my balls because I wore the same two suits every week, a navy and a gray. I was currently wearing the navy one and questioning whether my mother was wrong and Le Pavillion was too fancy for a first date. But the steakhouse and two other places I’d tried that were nicer than the Inn, yet didn’t require a monkey suit, were all booked up.
I’d also gotten the truck washed and the inside vacuumed, and even stopped for flowers on my way home from work. I was starting to remember why I hadn’t dated these last few years—it was a lot of damn work. Certainly more trouble than going to the bar a town over with a condom in my wallet and talking to the first pretty woman I met.
At seven, I left my truck in the driveway and walked across the grass. I could’ve driven and parked in Josie’s driveway, but this town had enough to gossip about, so I figured discreet was best.
At the door, I wiped my palms on my pants—apparently it was warmer than I’d realized—and knocked. Josie answered with a smile. But when she got a load of me, it wilted. “Oh my gosh.” She looked down and put her hand on her chest. “I’m underdressed.”
I was going tokillmy mother.
Josie looked gorgeous, wearing a pair of jeans and flirty white ruffled top. She smelled pretty damn good, too. But I felt like an idiot.
I shook my head and started to stomp back next door. “Sorry. I’ll get changed.”
“What? No!” She grabbed my arm. “It’s my fault. I didn’t realize we were going somewhere fancy. I’ll change.”
“It’s fine. This was stupid…” I pulled from Josie’s grip and went back to walking toward the house.
“Fox, wait…”
