Page 129 of Time To Learn

I frown at her question, which is a bit trickier to answer. If all goes according to plan, I won’t be moving back to Denmark, but telling Mum that is out of the question. At least for the time being.

“That’s the plan,” I hedge, barely managing not to cringe because I just lied to my own mother.

“Okay, well, I’m going to send you a care package this week. Can you text me your new address?”

“Mum, I’m not a twelve-year-old boy away on summer camp,” I grumble good-naturedly as I get out of the car to walk the last bit to the tattoo parlour. I curse under my breath at the rain pelting down—summer is officially over in Scotland.

“I know that,” she huffs, “but can’t a mother spoil her son every once in a while even though he’s a grown-up?”

“Fine,” I grin, clutching my leather jacket. “Listen, it’s raining like cats and dogs, and I’m running late for work, so I need todash.”

“Okay, but don’t forget to text me, Kristian. Love you, bye.”

“Bye, Mum.”

I pull out the hands-free from my ear and toss my phone in my pocket as I make a run for it, dodging the throng of people around me. Thankfully, it doesn’t take me long to get to the shop, and when I notice Alex at the counter, I let myself inside.

“You’ve got some fucking explaining to do, lad,” Alex booms.

“Aren’t you going to let me breathe for ten seconds before the interrogation starts?” I gripe and shut the door. I glance at the clock, relieved there’s still ten minutes left until weopen.

The scowl on my boss’s face as he turns to look at me, arms crossed over his bulky chest, doesn’t bodewell.

“Nope.”

“You look like hell,” I mutter and go to the office to hang up my jacket.

“Don’t change the subject. You better have one hell of an excuse for making me lose money by bailing on me yesterday.”

With my back to him, I wince. I feel bad for causing him problems, but I don’t regret my decision. On a low sigh, I turn around to meet his furiouseyes.

“I’m sorry, Alex.”

He blinks, clearly not expecting me to apologise.

I stop in the middle of the shop and push my damp hair away from my face. On a low sigh, I look down, unsure of how much to tellhim.

“Look,” I raise my head at him, “I know it’s fucked up, and I know I lost you a lot of money, but I don’t feel right about explaining all that happened in detail.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Alex growls as he shifts his feet, widening his stance. “You better come up with something better thanthat.”

Sighing, I raise my hands, palmsout.

“I had to pick up Laura’s daughter from a friend’s house, and the state she was in—the hurt and pain they were both in—was so strong that I didn’t want to leave them alone. They neededme.”

“Fuck,” he breathes loudly as the fight seems to leave him and he drops his arms to hang down at his sides. “Did something happen to the wee girl? Is shehurt?”

I shake my head and push my hands into my back pockets.

“Physically, she’s okay. Emotionally, though? I don’tknow.”

He rubs his beard and inhales a shaky breath.

“Right, okay, but is this going to be a recurring thing now? Because I can’t afford that in the long run, Kristian.”

I frown.

“I hope like fuck it won’t happen again soon, but I can’t make any promises, Alex. If my girls need me, I’m going to go running. That won’t change.”