Page 12 of Knight
He brightened. “That’s great. That gives you some real options.”
I nodded. “I’ll have to apprentice for a while, but it’ll be worth it to make some real money. It hasn’t been easy, living paycheck to paycheck—especially when half my check is taken away for restitution.”
“Seriously,” Hollywood burst out. “How do they expect us to start over in good faith when they make it so hard?”
Matteo nodded. “It’s an uphill battle, I know. I’ve been there. I had the support of a lot of good people, or I might not be here, leading this group. That’s why we’ve got to stick together. Have one another’s backs.”
Joyride piped up. “Is this a work program meeting or a freaking support group?”
Matteo chuckled. “It’s a little bit of both, I guess. Do you have something you’d like to share, Joey?”
Joyride shifted uneasily as we all looked at him. “Nothing to tell,” he mumbled.
“You went for a couple of job interviews this week,” Matteo said. “How do you think they went?”
Joyride shrugged a shoulder. “Dunno. Fine, I guess. They’re shit jobs. My dad could get me a better job in a heartbeat.”
Matteo’s eyebrows inched up, his only reaction. “Hmm. So why are you here?”
Joyride picked at his pizza. “He thinks I’m a fuckup. If he gets me a job, he’ll just hold it over me.”
Matteo nodded. “My dad wasn’t so different when I first got out. Best thing I ever did was get a job at Forrester Bros Auto so I could stand on my own two feet.” He gestured to Ghost. “Elias can relate. He works out at their junkyard now.”
“Yup,” Ghost said, which was the most he’d contributed all meeting.
“They gave me a chance when no one else would,” Matteo continued. “They’re a big part of why Redemption Road is here today. Hang in there, Joey, and you’ll find your way, too.”
The meeting wrapped up, and I nudged Hollywood. “What should we do about Tex?”
“There’s nothing to do,” he said. “He’s gone.”
I slid out of the booth and picked up my empty plate. “Come on, you two have always been thick as thieves. You don’t really want him running off and leaving town.”
“Doesn’t matter what I want. He made his choice.” Hollywood’s eyes looked flinty. “We’re all better off without him.”
He sounded as if he were trying to convince himself. He brushed past me and headed for the door. Joyride was already there, quick to make an escape.
Ghost stood up. “Tough crowd tonight.”
“No kidding.”
“Better than being locked up. They need to remember that.”
Ghost strolled off, tipping his head at Matteo before heading for the door. I helped Matteo pick up the few stray plates and cups left behind. Joyride’s table was a mess, the slob. I used a few napkins to mop up spilled soda, then joined Matteo by the trash cans.
“Did Tex say anything else at all about why he was leaving?” I asked.
“No, I wish he had,” Matteo said. “He was kind of upset when he lost his last job placement. But I thought we were past that…”
“I really hope he’s keeping his head on straight.”
“Me too.”
“Not to make this about me, but uh, he was supposed to move in as my roommate this week.”
“Oh, crap. I forgot about that.” Matteo’s forehead creased. “How much of a bind are you in?”
I grimaced. “Already late on the rent. I was counting on his half to catch up.”
