Page 39 of The Broken Hearts Club

“Suit yourself.”

We sat there for a while, watching the ocean, and watching Billy wipe out again and again. I said, “He’s not very good.”

“He’s a beginner, and I’m very proud of him for his tenacity.”

“Do his parents know where he is?”

“Of course. I didn’t kidnap the boy. His mother and I had a lovely conversation. Since I plan to stay here long enough to watch the sunset, I made sure to let her know he’d be home after dark.”

“And what are you going to do when your chauffeur goes home to Mommy?”

“I’m going to sleep wherever he ends up parking the van. In the morning, I’ll find a new chauffeur, because Billy has plans tomorrow.”

I asked, “How long can you keep this up?”

“Until I find a job. At that point, I’ll be able to pay my chauffeurs more than five bucks an hour.”

“You really haven’t thought this through.”

“No, but that’s okay. Live in the now,” he said. “That’s my motto.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. I’ve just decided that.”

“Come home with me tonight.”

“Why?”

“Because I like hanging out with you, and because it’s a much better and safer alternative than sleeping in your van.”

“Would it just be for tonight?”

“No. You should stay until you get on your feet.”

He eyed me suspiciously. “Are you going to try to talk me into having the operation?”

“No.”

“I’ll think about it.”

A minute later, Billy came jogging up to us with his board tucked under his arm. After Collie introduced us, the boy said, “I think I need to stop for today. I’m pretty tired.”

Collie lied to him by saying, “You did great.”

The kid smiled and said, “Thanks. Did you see that one wave I caught?”

“I not only saw it, I filmed it and sent the video to your mom. We’re both very proud of you.”

“Aw, thanks Collie.”

“I made you a sandwich for dinner. Go eat and get warm in the van. Help yourself to some chips, too.”

Billy told him, “You’re the best,” before jogging to the parking lot.

I muttered, “I leave you alone for a few hours, and you become some random kid’s stepdad.”

Collie ignored that and asked me, “Are you hungry? Billy and I stopped off at a grocery outlet before we came here. I got a sixty-pack of snack-size chips for ten bucks. Hell of a deal.”