AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He studied her face, but there was nothing except seriousness there. “Kong is a good boss to you?”
She cracked a smile. “He is.”
“Then it’s a lucky thing. You were able to settle here in the same Crew you were born to, and find a job you enjoy that you feel fulfilled by. You have found a good life, happiness, and a mate.” Okay, he’d thrown that last part out as a test.
“I don’t have a mate,” she said, “but the rest is accurate.”
Hmmm. “Did Kong give you the work truck?”
“No. I saved up and bought a new rig, and then I welded the flatbed.”
“You welded the flatbed.”
“Yes.”
“You. You welded it.”
She sat up straighter, lifted her chin in the air, and glared at him. “You should look up Falco Flatbeds someday when you’re bored.” Jenna stood and moved to leave, but second-guessed herself and turned back around. “You know, you can spend your whole life living to work, or you can figure your shit out, find something you enjoy, and work to live.” She twitched her chin toward the woods where Damon had disappeared. “He doesn’t own anyone, nor does he want to.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Maybe it’s you who doesn’t understand,” she countered. “Maybe you’ve been away from here for so long that you forgot how to see.”
“How to see?” he asked as she walked away.
“Yeah,” she said without turning around. “How to see.”
Okay, fuckin’ Riddler. How to see what? Between Jenna and Damon, he was real irritated with the cryptic stuff.
He ran his hand down his facial scruff, and faked a smile for his mom when she strode toward him. “Do you want to stay in your old room tonight?” she asked.
He didn’t know why he did it, but he lied. “I’m staying at Smashland.”
A laugh took her and she sank down beside him. “You know that’s a joke-name, right?”
“Doesn’t seem like one. The idiots there actually say it seriously. They even have a custom sign when you enter the trailer park.”
“You just don’t know them well enough yet. Cadence knows it’s silly.”
Irritation had him cracking his knuckles. “You say her name really easy, Ma.”
“Aw, boy, it isn’t like that. I know you were hurt. I didn’t cling to her. She’s nothing important to me, but I do see what she’s trying to do.”
He inhaled deeply and watched Cadence working the crowd. She’d always been good at the show. “I don’t know what I’m doing here,” he admitted low.
“You’re not getting back with Cadence, and no one expects you to.”
Lucas chewed on the corner of his lip. “Then why was I brought here?”
“Because you weren’t just a mate to Cadence, Lucas. That wasn’t your destiny. No one expects that. No matter what happened, you still belong here. You belong.”
“No matter what happened,” he repeated softly.
“You know what I mean,” his mother said low. “You left, but everyone understood. Cadence is off the table, she isn’t part of any reason for you to be here. There is something bigger happening.”
“Something bigger than thinking you found your mate, but your animal choosing something different?” he asked.
His mom plastered on a smile and rested her head against his shoulder. “I know it was hard, but you aren’t the only one to experience that.”
