7
Eric
Her words scream no, but her hip sway fucking slays me.
Please, universe, give us a minute alone in the storage closet. One single time, one chance to touch her, then I swear, I can walk away and leave her be.If I say it enough, I’m certain I can will it to be true.Just one time.Just one time. Just one time, then I swear I’ll leave her alone.
“I have no fuckin’ clue how to do this shit.” A minute after Katrina disappears into the long hall, Mac slams his foot against the chair across from him and makes me smile. He tugs his hat off and slaps it against the vinyl, then he rubs a hand over his face as though to wake himself up.
Not so long ago, I’d have said this kid’s haircut is the craziest bullshit I ever saw in my life. In the next breath, I’d encourage him to get a refund and never go back to that barber again. But then one of my good friends did something similar recently, so I’m starting to think the shaved on one side and long on the other must be the new “in” thing.
It’s straight up weird towantto be lopsided like that, but it ain’t my hair, and I learned long ago to keep my head down and mind my own business unless people are doing illegal shit. And if they are, is it for a good reason?
My life used to be black and white, right or wrong, good or bad, legal or illegal. But now I enjoy straddling a line ofwhat does my conscience think? The law doesn’t govern me like it used to, and the freedom is addictive.
“What… the… fuck…?” Mac growls under his breath and takes a noisy bite of the homemade bread Katrina set down in front of him. “Two-three-two-five. What the shit do I do with the five?” Leaning across his table, he smacks old man Ray on the shoulder and scares the life out of the old coot. Holding up his workbook, Mac thrusts the equation into the old guy’s face. “You know what to do with that five?”
Chuckling, Ray arches his neck and brings the too-close writing into focus. “Lord help you, son. I have no clue what that says.”
“Me neither! It’s a load of shit, right? We don’t need this for real life.”
“Well, I can’t say I ever counted anything to the power of five like that, no.” Ray’s jowls move as he shakes his head and narrows his eyes at the paper. “No, can’t say I ever used this in my life.”
“I knew it!” Sitting back with a huff, Mac slams his book down and makes Ray’s poor wife jump in her seat. “It’s not even practical. It’s dumb shit the teachers give us to keep the herd busy. Two-three-two-five. Goddammit.” Turning in his seat, just like I knew he would, Mac smacks my uninjured shoulder with the spine of his book and thrusts it in my face. “The fuck do I do with that five?”
Chuckling, I cast a glance around the diner to make sure Katrina is nowhere in sight, then I half-turn in my seat and eye the book just inches in front of my face. “Your mother know you got a gutter mouth like that?”
“Technically, yes. But the real question is do I use it in front of her?”
“Also yes,” Ray chuckles. “Gets his hide handed to him on a daily basis because he can’t keep his bad manners to himself.”
“I’m working on it.” Smacking me again, Mac draws my attention back to the book. “You know algebra, right? You just gave the spiel about work and splattered brains. I got troubles, Cap, and I have no freakin’ clue how to fix them.”
Bravely, since Katrina will probably kill me twenty seconds from now, I leave my things in my booth and silently slide out until Mac slips back into his seat and turns the way he’s supposed to. I slide into the opposite side and accept the book when he tosses it away with far too much enthusiasm. “I’m gonna help you, but only because you said freakin’ instead of that other F word. You’re working on it, so I’ll help you with the math.”
“Oh, so you’re training me with positive reinforcement like I’m a puppy? Woof woof, motherfucker.”
“Kid.” I shoot my gaze to the hall and back. “You’re thirteen!”
“Fourteen,” he shoots back without fear. “Do you know algebra or no? I don’t have time or brain space for useless information, so only give me the good stuff.”
“I did alright with math. I can probably help you.”
Mac’s eyes flip to the hall his mother disappeared down, then back to me. Down the hall, then he glances over my shoulder as though to ask Ray. When the old man shrugs, Mac shrugs and straightens the book in front of me. “Okay, go. You got two minutes before she comes out and does the gray matter braining thing. She didn’t lose her temper since Zeke left, so you’re gambling with your life right now and risking whatever she’s got bottled up.”
“He come back to find you guys last night?” Our eyes meet as I wonder if he ever refers to his dad as Dad. “Did he come by your home or anything?”
“Nope. He’s a pussy, and I’m not five anymore. I think he’s legit scared I’m gonna flip on him soon.”
“He should be scared.” I study the paper in front of me, but my mind circles around the brave boy sitting across from me. “Pussy is another word for coward, and cowards don’t like to be stood up to. I’m proud of both of you, because neither of you sit down and let him dictate your shit. That must burn him up.”
“It definitely burns him,” he snorts. “But I have zero fucks to give about his feelings. He’s never hurt my mom. Not even twisted her arm like you said he did last night, so I tolerate his bullshit, but I dare him to come by our place and touch her wrong. There’s no jail time if you’re defending your family and home, right?”
“Umm…”
“There’s not. I asked my lawyer friend.”
I narrow my eyes. “You have lawyer friends? Dude, you’re thirteen!”