Page 42 of An Unexpected Turn
“I’m sure my niece is taking care of it. She’s like her uncle and hates bullies, especially when friends of hers get hurt. You’re in good hands, kid.”
Keith cut a look at me, an oblivious smile stretching his mouth. I was in Peyton’s hands last night, and I couldn’t stop thinking how great they were. The hot-as-fuck memory flashing through my brain brought zero regrets, even in Keith’s presence.
“Why don’t you both stop by tonight? I’m having a barbecue, and it would be good for you not to stew at home over this.”
“But it’s November,” Mike said, crinkling his brow.
“I have a double grill. I smoke everything all year long. Come by at seven ... Guys, I saidone.” He cupped his hands over his mouth and stood. “Let’s go.”
A smile snuck across my lips when the boys scurried over to Keith with a donut in each hand.
“Relax, Russo.” He dropped a hand to my shoulder. “Pick up some beer for us, and I’ll see you guys later.”
It would be good for us to get out, and I had to learn to live with what I’d done and would probably continue doing if Peyton let me.
Keith strode out with the twins behind him.
“Is that all right with you?” I asked Mike. “We don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”
“It’s okay,” he mumbled. “Everyone keeps telling me I did the right thing. It was an accident.”
“You defended yourself,” I said, leaning forward. “Whether or not you meant to make contact. And I’d bet Keith is going to throw his weight around a little at the school so you don’t have any more trouble. He’s good like that.” Guilt coiled tight in my stomach. “I’ll finish up here, and we can get one of those ridiculous stacked milkshakes from the coffee shop and go wherever you want.”
He smiled, a little wider and brighter than before. “It’s good that you have so many friends here.”
“Wehave friends here.” I grabbed the last donut off his plate and took a chomp. “Office is all yours, Michelle.” I stood from my desk, giving her a wave as we headed out.
Would I still have a best friend here once he found out? That I couldn’t say with the same certainty.
“Do you go to Ms. Miller’s condo a lot?” Mikey asked as we drove to Keith’s later on.
“Not really. Most of the work in her condo was done while she was in school.”
I’d been trying not to think about her all day, but it worked as well as all the other times I’d tried not to think of her the past few months.
Meaning not at all.
I finally understood the expression moths to a flame, because it was so hot between us I didn’t see or care about the damage.
“Any reason why you’re asking?”
He shrugged and turned his head to stare out the window.
“A few of the guys at school talk about her. I heard some of the sophomores saying stuff at lunch the other day. Something about the skirts she wears.” He shrugged. “She’s nice and pretty, I guess.”
I smiled as I kept my eyes on the road. My son was on the young side of fourteen, still much more interested in video games than girls, but Peyton was hard not to notice.
I’d been trying for months.
“I’m glad I could help her out since she’s been helping you too,” I said as I pulled into a spot in front of Keith’s house.
Mikey only nodded before he climbed out of my truck.
“I don’t know how much she’ll be able to help me on Monday,” he muttered as we stepped across Keith’s lawn.
“She said she was, and I believe her. There are eyes on this now, and you aren’t alone. So stop thinking like you are.”
He smiled when I nudged his shoulder. I was still worried about Monday too, but I had to keep it to myself for my son’s sake.
