Page 29 of Once I Find You

Guess I have a tendency to pick up strays.

I park my truck on the corner, and we walk into the little diner near my shop.

“Hey Kane! Oh wow, for two today?” Linda is a nice older woman, and the only waitress in this place. I have a routine of coming here every Sunday morning.

“Yup. Found him on the side of the road with his damn thumb out,” I joke as I duck into the booth.

“Nice to meet you ma’am, I’m Mason. Kane’s basically my pop,” he says as he shakes her hand.

“Oh, I like this one,” she says with a smile as she points at him.

Mason joins me on the other side of the booth, and she takes our orders. “So, seriously, what’s up with you? You’re much grumpier than usual.”

Well, if only I could get a certain copper-haired woman out of my fucking head.

“Just a rough two days. I had a lot of shit going on at the shop I had to get done before today,” I say, taking a sip of the black coffee Linda dropped off.

“Yeah? Glad you got good business then. What about the other business?”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, peachy.”

“That’s it? You usually yap about it at least a little,” he asks, eyeing me like he can tell I’m hiding something.

But there is no way in fuck he can know about Layla.

“Well, I’m not in the mood. Decided I’d cut down on it since you’re visiting anyway. I’ll be on a break from it till you head out.” When I say that, he sets down his glass of juice, and I groan when I see that damn look on his face. “What?”

“About that…I actually might not be heading out.”

Oh, fuck no. “You are heading out, in two weeks, back to your big city life and job.”

“I quit. I know you don’t want me here because of…you know. But I want to be here. You’re all I have, old man. I’ll find my own place, but I’m not leaving.”

My jaw clenches as I cross my arms, but Mason isn’t the sentimental type. If he’s saying something like that…he means it. And fuck if it doesn’t crack my irritation just a bit.

“You can’t get tossed into my shit. I have a chance of being found out at any time, I told you that. It’s best to keep your distance so you’re not dragged into an investigation.” I lower my voice when Linda comes back over, dropping off our plates before walking off again.

“So, why not stop? You and I can spend time together. I’ll help in the shop, bring in some more business with this handsome face.” He gestures to himself with a smug smile, and I click my tongue. “Plus, you can’t do this forever. You’ve done a mighty honorable service, but you’ve spent your whole adult life doing that. The army, taking care of Mel, the killings. When do you get to stop and smell the daisies?”

Do I deserve to stop? To live my life normally when they didn’t get to?

“Don’t do that thing you always do. You know you’re not some storybook hero, right? You don’t have to take all this on. Mel and Sadie loved you, what happened to them isn’t on you. It’s on that son of a bitch who did it to them. You already got justice for them, Kane. What are you chasing now?”

“You don’t understand it yet because you haven’t lost everything. I’m atoning for my sins, Mason.”

“You are not a sinner, Kane. You fucking pick up puppies off the side of the road, and give, and give, and give all you have to everyone all the time without even thinking about yourself.”

I look down at my plate, taking another bite instead of replying. What the fuck does he want me to say? I don’t know when I’ll feel like I’ve made up for what happened to them. I don’t know any other way.

Mason sighs, shaking his head. “At least consider it. Why don’t we talk about it again after you think about what I said? I mean it when I say I’m not leaving either way.”

“Fine. Just drop it for now,” I say flatly.

I don’t know what to do, Mel. I wish you were here.

Mason is able to get over tension quickly. He’s already excitedly exploring the shop, touching shit he has no business touching.

“Oh man, you could get so much more business here if you just had a good sign. Why do you leave it so…”