Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Dane was sweet. I could hear how much he loved Hailey in every word he spoke. “She’ll be fine, Captain Cranky Pants. I promise you.”
Dane looked at me and nodded. “I know.”
16
Dane
My hands were shaking as I drove away from the park, leaving Jesse and Hailey. Alone. My niece alone with a guy I knew from work and had fucked in the storage room. Would I regret this decision? It wasn’t one I’d taken lightly. In fact, I almost changed my mind, considered calling work and saying I couldn’t make it in. But then I thought of the brand-new tires on my car and how I had to charge some of it on my credit card, where the interest alone would kill me unless I was able to pay it off in the next couple of months. Yeah, I needed this extra lunch shift.
My stomach dropped as I glanced in the rearview mirror at the light and saw just the tail end of the playground. If something were to happen to— No, Jesse would make sure she was safe. How I knew that I wasn’t sure. I just felt it…in my gut. He was a good person, even if I couldn’t stand him half the time. Just because we were like oil and vinegar didn’t mean he wouldn’t take care of my niece. He was good with her, and she obviously didn’t bat an eyelash at spending more time with him.
It was difficult for me to get through the lunch shift without pulling out my cell to text Jesse or Bree to check on Hailey, but I didn’t want to be obnoxious. As soon as my shift ended, I drove home, and the moment I spotted my sister’s car in the driveway, I felt overwhelming relief. Everything looked normal. All would be okay.
I was going to have a talk with her about Mark not being around nearly as much as he should be, though she probably would tell me to mind my own business. He was helping support the family, after all, but they needed help in other ways too. It wasn’t good for either of them to not see Mark for weeks at a time.
I keyed into my basement apartment, using the separate entrance, and was surprised to hear an additional voice floating down from the kitchen. At first I thought maybe Mark had made it back home in time, then realized the tone was more excitable and way too familiar. Still, when I walked upstairs and saw Jesse sitting with Hailey at the kitchen table, surrounded by makeup and nail polish, I froze as I surveyed the scene in front of me. Hailey had some color on her round cheeks and gloss on her tiny lips. Jesse was finishing painting one of his nails a sparkly gold. What in the world?
“Unca Dame,” Hailey squealed as she spotted me. “I look like Desse now.”
“I…um, yes, you look pretty,” I replied as I finally got my mouth unstuck. When I stole a glance at Jesse, he seemed uneasy, like maybe he thought I was about to kick him out. “What are you… What’s going on?”
“Oh,” he said. “Well, Hailey and I walked to the Dollar Store across from the park and bought some makeup. That’s where Bree picked us up. She invited me to lunch for helping her, and at first I declined, but Hailey is pretty insistent.”
“You know how she gets when she likes someone,” Bree added, coming around the corner with a plate of cookies.
I nodded as Jesse filled in the rest. “So I hopped in her car, and we played while Bree made us some awesome tomato soup with grilled-cheese sandwiches, which I haven’t had in so long.”
He patted his stomach with a wistful look in his eyes, and I suddenly wondered about Jesse’s history, realizing that he now knew more about me than I ever did about him. I wasn’t sure I liked that, for reasons I couldn’t quite unpack.
As both Hailey and Jesse dug into the plate of cookies, Bree grinned. “I can see why Hailey is wild about him.”
I rolled my eyes as I turned away, so Jesse wouldn’t see me. I felt at a loss for what to do. I could root around the cupboards for my own lunch or offer to drive Jesse home. When he suddenly stood up, he made the decision for me. “It was nice spending the afternoon with you, Hailey. But I’ve gotta get going.”
“Let me run you home,” I suggested.
He held up his hands. “It’s okay. I can catch the bus.”
“No can do, not after you were such a huge help.” Before he could argue further, I motioned over my shoulder as I headed toward the basement stairs. “Just let me grab my keys.”
As he followed me down the steps to my makeshift apartment, my stomach squeezed tight. He was about to get another glimpse into my life—a personal one. Why hadn’t I insisted he stay put or meet me outside? Too late. I only hoped I had remembered to pick my underwear off the floor. Christ.