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The hustle. It had been years since he’d hustled anyone. “I guess you could call it that. Don’t like to think about it much.” Draining the dregs of his own coffee, he set the cup on the table beside him and immediately regretted it. He needed something to do with his hands.
“Can’t say I blame you.” She gestured for him to follow her to a sofa on the perimeter of the room. The blue upholstery was worn, but the comfortable cushions welcomed him.
Sara’s frank gaze bore into him. “You’re pretty. I’ll bet it was a blessing and a curse.”
No way he would go there. “It got me out of the cold but nowhere I wanted to stay. I got out, though. Found my place. You can too, you know. I’d like to help you if I can.” He rubbed his toe over the long fibers of the patchwork rug in front of him. “Or maybe just be a friend.”
“And you want what, exactly, in return?” She lifted her chin.
How many times had he sat on the other side of a conversation like this one, waiting for the other shoe to drop? How many of those offers to help had come without strings?
None.
“I don’t want anything from you.” He slid an inch or two away from her, his left hip hitting the arm of the sofa. It didn’t make a big difference in the space between them, but the movement made more of a statement than his words ever could.
She shook her head, blinking rapidly, then shrunk into herself. “Yeah,” she murmured. “Guess I’m not exactly your type.”
He fought the urge to scoot back toward her, to offer her comfort. Touch was far too easy to misunderstand, though. And besides, if Sara’s experience had been anything like his own, she’d had enough uninvited contact to last a lifetime.
Instead, he clasped his hands together on his lap. “I didn’t come here to get laid.” He wasn’t mean about it, but he said it as firmly as he could. “I’ve got everything I need at home. I don’t want your money or your shoes or your body. Do you understand?”
“Everyone wants something.” The way she said it tugged on memories he scrambled to shove down.
“I want to see the center. Learn what they do there. Maybe I can help people…like me.” He released his grip on his own fingers and held out his hands in front of him, palms up.
In his heart, he knew there was only one way to convince her. He had to show her they were the same. Even trying to speak the words felt like fingers squiggling around inside him.
Sara snarled. “Spare me the Dudley-Do-Right routine. I don’t even know what I’m doing here talking to you.” She gripped the arm of the sofa and pulled to her feet.
“I get why you don’t believe me. Everyone wanted something from me too. I only had a place to sleep if I earned it. On my back, on my knees, or on my belly.”
Finally, Sara’s frigid stare softened, and he felt flayed open.
The words caught in his throat, but he pushed them out. “I did things that still turn my stomach. There’s some stuff I don’t even remember, and I don’t try because it’s better left dead and buried. You get me? But I made it to the other side. You can too.”
She grunted. “To where? My own mama didn’t want me. Who out there is going to…unless I give ‘em a reason?”
His heart surged. God put him in this place for this purpose. “Youarethe reason.” She needed to hear that friends could be real…not everyone wanted to use or abuse. “My family didn’t want me either, but I’ve made a new one. Let me tell you about my best friend, Brick.”
Chapter SEVEN
Robby
Robby always arrived first at the construction site each morning, at least the one where Kane and Brick were working. He probably shouldn’t fashion his day around seeing his friends, but he spent time at the other build with Cy, Evan, and Will too, just not as much.
And today he’d see Matt. He grinned. They could be gaming together again tonight.
Brick wandered in, his hardhat already strapped on. “Looks like somebody is having a good morning.”
Robby motioned to the box of donuts he’d set out on the makeshift counter when he’d first arrived. “Krispy Kreme has that effect on me.”
“Bullshit,” Brick mumbled, one of the sugary treats already crammed in his mouth. “Only one thing makes you all goofy-looking.” He swallowed. “One person.”
Kane shoved his phone in his back pocket and swiped a donut for himself. “No kidding. It looks like you took my advice and made friends with the guy. Is he living up to all your hopes and dreams?”
“He’s nice. We have fun together.” And maybe if he and Matt could be friends, it would help him get over his hopeless infatuation.
“You need to get out more, brother.” Kane leaned against the island. “Seriously, meet some new people. Broaden your horizons.”
