Page 23 of Finding Redemption

“Dinner. You promised you’d come,” Riley says.

“When?”

“Tomorrow.” There’s a whisper in the background. “Andi wants to say ‘hi’.” There comes shuffling, and then my niece’s voice floods the line.

“Uncle Walker?” she whispers. ”Do you have any new games you can bring?”

I smile at my niece’s request because she knows by now, I do. Or at least, I will have. “I’m not sure. I’ll have to look.” I hesitate as I fire up my laptop to search for new board games on the Internet.

She sighs heavily this time. “Well, it’s okay if you don’t.”

“Come to think of it…” I have a list a mile long scrolling in front of me. I pick the first one I focus on.

“Yeah?” she chirps.

“I’m not sure you’ll like it.” I love toying with her.

“I bet I will,” she says matter-of-factly.

“You think?”

“Uncle Walker, how long have you known me? You know I love games.”

I can’t help but smile. “You’re right.” I pause, just to make her wait. “I’m thinking Pie Face.” I squeeze my eyes shut as I realize this game throws whipped cream in your face at random.

She squeals. “Yes. I love that game,” she exclaims as I put her on speaker phone, as I scroll the net. “I love you, Uncle Walker. You’re the best uncle, ever.”

“Andi, I’m your only uncle,” I answer flatly.

“True. But no one could ever be better than you.” My cold dead heart melts a fraction. “You’re one of my best friends.”

Yeah, I’m a goner. “I love you, Andi pandi.”

“Poppa wants to talk to you again. And if he tells you six, be here at five.”

I can’t help but laugh. And agree. “You got it.”

“Go wash up,” my little brother tells his stepdaughter. “You better see if someone has that game.”

“I just clicked ‘buy’ for in-store pickup.”

“Not such a dumbass after all, are you?” Smartass. “Ava says six.”

“I have my orders, sir. I’ll be there at five.”

“See ya.”

“Yep.” Riley ends the call, and I feel a ton better. Funny, he usually drives me crazy. Of course, Andi makes everything better. She came at just the right time for our family. And me.

On my way to Riley’s, I stop by to pick up Andi’s game and several cans of whipped cream. I hate shopping. And people. But I’d do just about anything for Andi. So here I am on a Saturday evening with a game tucked under my arm that will slap me in the face with whipped cream all night.

Not how I want that to happen.

Maybe I’ll grab a drink later tonight, see if I can stir up some fun. Happy to be visiting my brother, I sit, waiting for the light to change when a Jeep turns in front of me. Reese sits in the driver’s seat. There’s a guy in the front seat with her, no one else.

I’m not sure why it bothers me. Wait. Could she be on a date? Or does she have a boyfriend? What if she’s married? I don’t care. She thinks I’m an asshole. I think to myself, watching as her SUV turns out of sight. “Good riddance,” I snarl.

I squeal my tires as I pull away from the light, pissed as hell. I’m not sure why I’m mad, but I’m boiling as I imagine her with him. My face flames, burning my cheeks as I huff. “I bet he’s an asshole,” I grunt. “Probably not. She doesn’t like assholes.”