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“Shit,” I mutter. While we stand there waiting, my mind goes back to California. To the reason I left for college in the first place. “That sounds like the Avery I used to know, alright.”
Avery James, even as a freshman in high school, was a force to be reckoned with. Her pull was so strong that when I got offered a scholarship to USC to play football with LJ, I took it.
Her list of rules, the same ones I live my life by now, are the reason I’m still alive. If I’d only been able to force LJ to follow them too, he might be alive. Those rules—they kept me safe, and the least I can do for Avery is to pay it back.
Knowing her and her rules, there is no doubt in my mind that she’ll do it or try, at least. Becoming a foster parent isn’t easy. I already have my phone out and in my hand to call when Avery comes back into the office, with Lucas at her side. I put it away before I can dial.
Lucas, with wide eyes and an unconscious flinch in his step, steps into the room as though he is about to endure torture.
Fuck.
Avery won’t let that boy go to anyone else. Hell, I take one look at him and even I want to wrap him in a fucking blanket and keep him safe.
“You’re not in any trouble, Lucas.” Her soft voice fills the air. “Why don’t you go take a seat in Mr. Jameson’s office and we’ll be right there.”
With a frightened nod, Lucas scurries away like his ass is on fire.
“He reminds me of my son,” Mr. Jameson pipes up. “Minus the fear of every adult in his life, of course. But those eyes… So young and yet, so old at the same time.” He sighs deeply. “Bria’s here. We should get this underway.”
He walks into his office, but I hold back and reach out to stop Avery from going in just yet. Bria walks in, a massive bag on her shoulder and a worried look on her face.
“Are we sure?” She looks at both me and Avery and shakes her head. “God, I could just kill Karen Zucker.” Bria hugs Avery. “My boss said you’re gonna try to get approval for emergency licensing. It’s a process, Avery. Especially for a single woman.”
“I know,” she stubbornly says. “It’ll happen.”
“Actually,” I interrupt them, drawing both women’s attention. “I’m already certified as a foster parent. It’s one of the things I did in California and applied for here before I moved home, just in case. Give your boss a call and give them my information. He can be placed with me.”
Bria nods, pulling out her own notebook to take my information.
“You’re sure?” Avery stares up at me with stars in her eyes.
“Yeah.”
After meeting with Lucas and hearing exactly what his mother did to him, both Bria and I agree that he can’t go home to her. Instead, he’ll spend one night with social services while the paperwork gets arranged.
“Lucas.” I hold his hand back after Bria steps out of the office. “I need to have a few words with you, if you’re okay with that.”
Not once, during the entire meeting, has the boy cried. He hasn’t processed exactly what is going to happen. At least, not yet.
“Tonight or tomorrow morning. Maybe even tomorrow night, what’s happening here is going to hit you. And it’s going to hurt.” I sit down on the floor with him and he slides down with his back against the wall. “It’s going to burn so bad that you want to hurt everything and everyone around you. But I’d like it if you were staying with me when it happens. So that I can help you process it and do something good. Instead of something that will hurt you or someone else.”
His eyes widen, and he doesn’t say anything for a long minute.
“You’re the cop who came to Miss James’ class last week and made her blush.” He stares at me, hard. I don’t know what to say to that. I had expected questions about how I knew or why I would want him to stay with me.
“Yes,” I tell him. “I am.”
Lucas eyes me up and down before nodding sharply. “Okay.”
“Just like that.” I laugh lightly, trying to make him smile. Although I know he may not smile again for a long time. “You’re fine with it because I made her blush.”
“You love her. And if you’re smart enough to love her, like I do, then you’re smart enough to know what you’re talking about.”
I don’t bother correcting him. I don’t love Avery. I’ve been fascinated by her since the first time I saw her sneak into the field of flowers next to my parents’ house when we were kids. That’s not love. But if the kid thinks I do, then he won’t fight staying with me and that makes my life a lot easier.
“I’m going to have Miss Keller get your things from your house, okay?”
Lucas leans over to my shoulder and lowers his voice. “Actually, her name’s Mrs. Matthews, Officer Matthews. I overheard Nurse Keller and Miss James talking about it one day. She didn’t ever divorce your brother.”
