Page 124 of That Girl
Austin says something to someone, possibly Trevor. “It’s bad, Rory. I’m so sorry.”
I’m already livid and I haven’t seen the damage yet. But from the way Austin sounds over the phone, it must be bad.
“I’m heading out now.” I hang up and grab my bag from the chair.
Just as I reach the bedroom door, I stop and give myself a minute. I need to calm down before I get on the bike. I liken distracted driving to be as bad as driving while under the influence. I can’t explain how I feel right now. Can one feel a mixture of both rage and sadness? It’s an odd combination of high and low emotions.
The youth center represents so much to me. A culmination of my ideas and the passion I have for the profession I chose to work in; my link to Cam to help keep his memory alive; the hard work I put in—the blood, sweat, and tears I shed—to make the project a reality. The center wasn’t just a job I took on. It was personal. It also helped me keep my sanity and give me something to focus on other than my depression that gripped me after JD left. Why would someone do this?
Feeling steadier, I hurry into the kitchen and kiss Connor on the head, then motion for JD to follow me to the front door.
“Babe, what’s going on? I thought we were driving in together this morning.”
“Austin just called. Someone vandalized the center. I need to go. Until I see how bad it is, don’t bring Connor in. Stay here until I call, okay? Trevor and Austin need me to come now.”
“Give me a sec and we’ll drive you in.”
I throw my arms around him and kiss him. “Thank you for the offer. I would never forgive myself if Connor saw something that frightened him. Like I said, I don’t know how bad things are yet. I’ll call you. I promise.” I kiss him again, wanting to cherish that I can actually do that now, but my thoughts are already flipping through all the things I will need to do today once I see how much damage has been done to the youth center.
JD smooths my hair down and tucks the strands behind my ears. “You better. If I don’t hear from you in an hour, we’re coming.” He kisses me softly and lets me go.
“I love you,” I tell him as I walk out the door and down the front steps.
JD walks out on the porch and watches me get on my bike. I blow him a kiss as I put on my helmet and start the engine.
I’m glad we installed security cameras all over the property. Hopefully, they will have caught the culprit or culprits in the act and have video images that can help the police find who did it. I’m back at being pissed that someone would do something like this.
The faint lightening of the sky tells me that the sun will soon rise in the east as morning breaks. What a crappy way to start the day. Well, okay, my morning started out fantastic, but the high I was on after making love to JD has quickly dissipated with the news Austin delivered. I haven’t even had my first cup of coffee yet.
Since it’s still dark outside at six in the morning, I engage my lights on the bike. As I turn right to get onto the road that will take me to the main thoroughfare, my mind is busy cataloging what I need to do next. Call Fallon. Call Mr. Worthington. Call our insurance company. Get an assessment of the damage.
I never hear the car coming up fast behind me until it’s too late.
Chapter 60
Iwalk back into the kitchen and Connor looks over at me with concern. “Daddy, why did Rora leave without us?”
I take a seat next to him and use his fork to cut into his pancake, taking a bite. He giggles.
“Austin called her and needed her to come to work. We’ll see her later today.”
“Oh.” He looks dejected. I know the feeling. I want her here, too.
I ruffle his hair and make it look crazier. His curls stick up every which way. He’s wearing his favorite dinosaur pajamas he got for Christmas that have a large T-rex wrapped in holiday lights on the front with the words TREE REX written underneath.
“But guess what?”
“What?”
“Aurora told me we can stay here this morning and play. How does that sound? Why don’t we go out back and throw the football?”
His face lights up with joy at the mention of getting extra playtime at home. He shovels a huge chunk of syrup-laden pancake into his mouth and swallows it whole.
“Does Rora want to be my mommy?” he asks with the innocence only a child his age has.
I should have known he would loop back around to that. I tread carefully, not knowing how to approach the subject with him. It’s not like I have a how-to-talk-to-your-kid-about-getting-a-stepmom instruction manual that I can refer to.
“Do you want her to be?”
