“Why’d she make so many?” I ask, taking the dessert and placing it on the counter.
“She’s used to feeding Chad, remember?” he teases, making me laugh.
“Man, that boy can eat,” I quip, taking a quick peek under the plastic wrap and inhaling the sweet scent of homemade pie.
“That he can. What’s this?”
I glance his way and find Uncle Henry standing over the folder of information I left on the coffee table. The packet from the cosmetology school. “Oh. That. Just something I… picked up.”
He glances at the cover letter and flips to the financial assistance sheet. “Are you enrolling?” he asks, his eyes full of excitement.
I shrug. “I’m not sure yet. It’s just something I’ve been thinking about lately.”
He sets it back down and smiles. “I’m proud of you, sweetie.”
“Thanks. Well, it’s not official or anything. There’s a lot to think about. The closest school’s forty-five minutes away,” I reason, shifting on my feet.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” he says, coming over and pulling me into another hug. “I’m proud of you.”
My chest tightens and my stomach churns. “I haven’t done anything yet,” I whisper, breathing in the familiar scent clinging to his shirt. Hay, horses, and sweat. It brings as much comfort today as it did when I was younger.
“You’ll do what’s right for you, and your aunt and I will help.” He places a kiss on top of my forehead.
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t ask. I volunteered.”
I give him a genuine smile and squeeze his hand. “Thank you for the offer, but…” I start, stopping to take a deep breath. “…if I do this, I want to do it on my own. I’ve been saving some money. Plus, there’s a scholarship I qualify for. That would help a lot.”
He nods and hugs me once more. “I’m so damn proud of you, Shayne. Not just because of the schooling thing, but proud of the woman you’ve become. You’re going places, Shayne. Remember, this place,” he says, waving his hand around the small apartment, “is just a stop, not your destination.”
I close my eyes and just breathe him in. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, sweetie.” Once he pulls back, he continues, “I better go. I know you probably have to work soon, and I have two more pies to deliver.”
We walk back down the stairs and step out into the hot, summer sun. “I’ll text Aunt Joan a thank you shortly, but also thanks to you for delivering. You’re the best.”
He waves off the compliment. “You’re welcome. See you soon.”
I watch as he gets into his big truck and pulls out of the lot before I head back up to get ready for work. The packet of information sits on the table, a glaring reminder that I own my own future. I also can’t help but wonder what Ford will say when he reads that letter.
Chapter 25
Ford
“You coming, Ford?” Chad asks me.
“Nah, I got a call to make.” I hold up my cell phone.
“Tell Shayne I said hi,” he says, standing from his bed.
“Pussy,” Barnes barks out. “Your girl’s got you whipped, Gregory.” He holds up his pinky and pretends to be wrapping something around it.
“Fuck off.” I chuckle. “You just wait until you find a girl. Payback’s a bitch!” I call after them. He flips me the bird, the sound of their laughter following them out the door.
Before Shayne, I would have been with them. A few beers at the local bar in town on our night off is exactly what I would have wanted. Now, well, things are different. All I want is her. And right now, our scheduled phone call and the sound of her voice is the best I can do, and I’ll take what I can get.
Two minutes until I call her. Standing, I grab my bottle of Gatorade and make my way outside. There’s a picnic table just outside our barracks and that’s where I’m headed. I want to have a clear view of the stars when I’m talking to her. Lying back on the picnic table, I stare at the screen on my phone until it turns to eight o’clock on the dot. I press her name on my favorites list, and it barely rings when I finally hear her voice.
“Hey.”
“Fuck, it’s good to hear your voice.”
“I miss you.”
“I miss you too, baby. How was work?”
“Good. We’re actually slammed, so I’m still here.”
“Damn,” I mutter. I was really looking forward to some time with her tonight.
“I know. I’m sorry. The extra money is nice, and Jet is so nice to me. I wanted to help him. The new girl he hired called out for the second time. I think he’s going to fire her.”
“He should. He can’t keep asking you to work double shifts.”
“I’m fine. I was only on from two until eight. I told him I had to have a break at eight or else I couldn’t do it.”