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I grinned because I could almost hear the happiness through the text. Over the past two weeks, I’d gotten smarter and decided to take a step back with us, but I still asked her about her work. This was a big deal, and I wanted her to know I was proud of the leap she’d taken to work with Bree. That was all it took for her to open up to me, and we’d been talking every day again. It wasn’t what we needed to talk about, but it was a start.
Me: Find anywhere?
I glanced at the building again, knowing I needed to go in but procrastinating. When my phone vibrated, I looked down.
Jane: We have it narrowed down to three places. I hope they like one of them.
Me: I’m sure they will.
Jane: Need to get back.
Me: I’ll text you later.
When I didn’t see the bubbles appear, I shoved my phone back into my pocket and pushed open my truck door. Jogging across the street, I pulled open the glass door and stepped inside. I still don’t know what made me find Erica on social media and message her. I think a part of me just wanted to have an adult conversation with her. There were things I’d wanted to ask her when she was dating my father, but I never did because I was a kid and didn’t like to talk about him with her back then. I selfishly wanted my time with her to be just ours and not tainted with my father’s abuse.
Searching the small restaurant, I saw a blond woman sitting in the corner booth just staring out the window. Either she hadn’t seen me come in or she wasn’t sure it was me, but either way I’d recognize her anywhere. She looked exactly the same, only a little older. When she gradually turned her head and met my eyes, she stood slowly, and I forced my feet to head in her direction.
I stopped beside the booth just as she stepped out to stand beside it. “Erica.”
“Oh my god.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I can’t believe you actually came. I thought you might’ve changed your mind.” She gestured toward me. “Can I hug you?”
Grinning, I relaxed my shoulders at the sound of her voice. She always asked me if she could hug me when I was a kid. Taking a step closer, I wrapped my arms around her, and she hugged me tightly in return.
After a moment, we both stepped back. “You’re so grown up.”
I chuckled. “That happens in eighteen, almost nineteen years.”
We moved to sit in the booth across from each other just as the server approached and took our drink orders.
After she walked away, Erica started talking. “How have you been?”
“Good.” I leaned back in the seat. “Got out of the Army about ten years ago and landed in North Carolina.”
“Why there?”
“Followed a buddy of mine there, and he introduced me to some guys in a motorcycle club. I liked them and the club, so I stayed.”
Her eyes widened. “This is one of the nicer clubs, right?”
I chuckled. “Yeah, it is. We run a few clean businesses.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders relaxed. “What business are you in?”
“I’m a mechanic.”
She laughed. “I’m not surprised. You were always tinkering with something when you were a teenager.” She leaned back. “Do you remember that old Ford Mustang you brought home before you were even old enough to drive it?”
I laughed along with her. “I almost forgot about that. It was a piece of crap.”
Her laughter died, but she was still smiling. “Yeah, it was, but you didn’t care. You said you could fix it.”
“I could’ve too if it hadn’t been stolen.” When her smile faded, something I’d never realized dawned on me. “It wasn’t stolen, was it? He sold it.”
“I never wanted you to know that,” she confessed.
“You were always trying to protect us from him.” I shook my head. “Why?”
The server put our drinks on the table and moved away before Erica answered. “I just wanted to give you boys some happy memories.”
