Page 87 of The Lucky List
Getting frustrated, I race out to the kitchen again to check the time. It’s quarter after one. If someone gave me a ride to my truck, it’d take twenty minutes to get up there, another thirty to get to the school, and that’s assuming they could get here within minutes of my call, so I’d have to add even more time to that.
Fuck.
I have to try. I can’t let Lucky down. And Micah is expecting me to be at his assembly, so I have to find a way. I can’t break my word to either of them again.
The sound of buzzing pulls me from my thoughts, and I hurry back to the bedroom and pick up my phone, swiping through all the notifications popping up now that it’s powered back on. I’ll check them later, but right now I need to find a ride. I frantically tap Hardy’s contact info and call him.
He answers after one ring. “Hope you’re wearing green?—”
I cut him off as I try to get everything out. “I need a ride to the school. I got in late from the fire and I never charged my phone, and I overslept, and I have to be at the school because I promised Micah.”
“Slow down, Mike. Does your accent come out only on St. Paddy’s Day, because it’s thicker than normal and I’m having a hard time understanding you.”
Before I can repeat my mess of thoughts, he bursts into laughter. “I’m just fucking with you. Look in the parking lot.”
I race over to the window, and when I peek through the blinds, I see Hardy in his truck waving at me through the windshield.
Relief washes over me and I take a deep breath as I gather up my phone and keys. I dig around my nightstand drawer for my wallet, and my attention snags on something underneath it. I pocket both items and rush out the door.
When I climb into the cab of his truck seconds later, I almost don’t recognize him from the dopey grin on his face.
“I’m here to give you a ride to the assembly at the school.”
“How did you know?”
“Bella told me you needed to be there, and she tends to be right about a lot of things. I also figured you’d left your car when I heard Blaze mention that he gave you a ride.”
“Thanks, man.”
“No problem.”
The parking lot is full when we pull into the school. It looks like the whole town is here. Hardy and I end up finding seats in the back row of the auditorium right as a line of students marches in, heading for the stage.
I spot Micah searching the crowd, and I wave, hoping he’s looking for me. He could be trying to find his mom, but when he sees me, the biggest smile lights up his face. Damn, I love when this kid smiles at me. My chest warms at the sight. He doesn’t share as many smiles as his brother, but when he does it’s damn hard to look away from the joy radiating from him.
My eyes scan the room looking for a familiar blonde ponytail when I spot it in the front row. It’s obvious she’s working, corralling kids and miming the movements for them to copy as she mouths the words to the songs they’re singing.
It’s amazing how quickly my body calms at the sight of her. She is my peace. All I want to do is go over there and kiss her, pull her into my arms, and reassure her that she is more than enough for me. Hell, she and the boys are all I want.
Instead, I sit through the program, my eyes bouncing between Micah and Lucky when something tugs at my pants leg. Looking down, I see Levi on all fours peering up at me like he’s a dog. He climbs up my leg and I lift him, depositing him on my lap as he fidgets to get comfortable. I lean down to press a kiss atop his crown, feeling my pulse finally even out.
I lean over to Hardy, lowering my voice to a whisper. “Hey, can you?—”
“Already on it.” He holds up his phone to show me the text he’s sent Bella to let her know we have Levi.
When I look down at him, he’s conked out. I rope an arm around his waist, holding him in place as his head droops onto my bicep.
The program feels longer than it should be, probably because it’s the only thing left standing between me and Lucky, and I’m dying to talk to her.
Once it ends, I stay in my seat, not wanting to move and wake Levi up. Hardy stays seated beside me.
“I meant to ask, is Sparky okay?”
Hardy nods. “He’s good. It’s lucky you found him when you did. Coulda been really bad if you hadn’t checked on him.”
The auditorium clears out, and I lock eyes with Lucky as she emerges from backstage.
“Here, I got him.” Hardy pulls Levi from my arms and stands. “Go get your girl.”
