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“That’s life. It was a... shitty job anyway.”
He groaned and slammed his forehead against my shoulder. “That is the worst pun ever, Tav.”
I laughed loudly and nudged him. “That’s what I call a good dad joke.”
“You’re old enough to be a dad,” he shot back, grinning mischievously at me.
“Oi, watch your mouth!” I poked him, and he wriggled away, chuckling. “Aye, you may be right, though. I am thirty-eight.”
“Fuck, you are old.”
“All right, all right.” I shoved him gently so as not to hurt him, and his laughter grew louder. It was nice to hear that sound from him. When he’d first been left with me by Shep and Jonas, Ellis had been terrified. Any small noise had sent him into a fit of panic, and it had taken every trick in the book to bring him back to a mentally safe place. My protective instincts had kicked in, and I took the role of his guardian very seriously, even if it wasn’t legal.
That meant getting a new job.
Fuck. I ran a palm over my face and considered my options. I didn’t have any qualifications, and while I’d finished high school and gotten my diploma, the year after that had involved taking care of my mum as her health deteriorated. After she’d died, I’d never had the chance to go to college. By that point, I was fucked in the educational department. One thing I am, though, is a hard worker. I took even the shittiest jobs—no pun because the last one showed it was literal—and I never called out sick. But apparently having no college degree or formal training meant I was useless in a lot of employers’ books.
Ellis eyed me carefully and patted my thigh. “You’ll find another one. You’re resourceful, and you know if you need help?—”
“Don’t even say it.” Wrapping an arm around his shoulders, I gave him a grin. “You need to focus on finishin’ high school. You only got a few months left. Get that done, then get ready for college. I can handle the bills.”
“Getting a part-time job won’t hurt.” He jutted his chin, and it was a physical reminder he was still a teenager, young and innocent to the world around him. If I did anything to help him, it would be to get him out of here and toward a better life. There wasn’t anything wrong with trailers, they were reasonable homes, but this park in particular was a shite hole.
“No. I want you to concentrate on your tests and assignments.” I patted him on the head, and he shot me a glare before it softened into something admirable. It was scary that he looked up to me when my own life was in shambles. “We’ll be fine. I’ll get another job, just you watch.”
“I have faith in you, Tav. You always get it done.”
I ruffled his hair as a knock reverberated from the door of the trailer. Frowning, I checked the time.
7:00 p.m.
I didn’t know who would be visiting this late. Shep and Jonas had gotten out of this place, and they hadn’t been back since, but sometimes we met them in the city for a meal. They would’ve let us know if they were coming, though.
“I’ll get it.” Ellis jumped to his feet and rushed to the door before I had the chance to tell him to be careful. His parents had left him alone, since they were threatened very violently by the bikers from a motorcycle club that Shep was now a part of, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t come back to cause problems.
He shoved open the door and paused. “Oh. Hey. Can I help you?”
Someone on the other side cleared their throat. “I thought this was Tavish Greer’s trailer. I must have it wrong.”
The familiar cadence of Judah’s voice sent a hard shiver down my spine.
I shot to my feet at the same time as Ellis said, “This is his trailer. You’ve got the right place.”
I came to a stop behind Ellis and paused, eyeing Judah carefully where he stood outside the trailer door. He’d never looked so out of place in his life, bathed in only the light that came from my kitchen in his expensive suit. If I hazarded a guess, his clothes cost him at least a thousand or more. Despite the many years that had flown by, though, he was still mouthwatering, a tall glass of refreshing water in front of a thirsty man—me.
With a jaw that could cut glass, plump lips, and a distinguished nose, he hadn’t really changed much since we were teenagers. Other than a few age lines and his dark hair now an ash gray, he was still the same man I remembered. The only other difference was the irritated expression on his face, one that I didn’t think I’d ever seen when we were teenagers. He clearly still hadn’t forgiven me for breaking his heart, and I didn’t blame him because I hadn’t absolved myself, either.
I reached down to touch the bracelet of shells on my wrist, the same one that Judah had given me for our one-year anniversary. It’d always been precious to me because while he could afford to buy anything, even back then, he’d taken the time to make it for me instead. The care that came with the present meant more to me than anything bought would’ve.
His gaze followed the movement of my hand, and he froze for a moment when he saw what I was touching before his attention snapped back to me and hardened. “I see you prefer them young.” He nodded at Ellis, who gasped.
I rolled my eyes. “You’re so dramatic. Judah, this is Ellis.” I placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m takin’ care of him until he finishes high school, not that it’s any of your business.” I smiled at Ellis and nudged his shoulder with mine. “Go do your homework, aye? I’m goin’ to step outside.”
“You sure you’ll be all right?” He gave Judah his famous stink eye, and I laughed.
“I’m a big boy, I’ll be okay. Off you go.” I shoved him gently toward the couch, and he huffed but didn’t argue.
I watched him until he grabbed his textbooks before I stepped out the front door, causing Judah to move a few paces back. I’d always been a tall man, even as a teenager, but he’d been taller. Even now, the top of my head only reached halfway up his forehead, and I needed to tilt my chin back to look at him.
