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I opened my mouth to correct him, but Mark spoke first, “I’m counting on ya, buddy. See you then. Tell your mother you’ll be a little late if we win next time. We’ll go for a treat after, hmm? Pizza or ice cream… we’ll do something.”

Oakland laughed, the boy was still excitedly babbling about the sons of the Steel Disciples when we pulled up at his mother’s house.

“I’m glad you made some friends, and well, the team.”

“Yeah,” He sighed, like it had been a trip to Disneyland. “It was great. Thanks, Mr–”

“Cole,” I reminded him.

The boy bounded toward the door, a small bag of popcorn he’d purchased for his mother tucked under his arm. She stepped outside in a long, pretty dress, her shawl wrapped tightly about her, and a grateful smile resting on her lips.

I was content to see it. Hell, I was more than overjoyed to have made her life a little easier. Oakland wasn’t a problem at all.

My phone lit up, announcing an incoming text message.

I opened it up, never good with technology or dainty devices, I ended up fumbling it to hell and back before I got the thing righted.

You have one waiting prescription.

I gave a little wave and got myself back on the road while inwardly cursing my antics. Of course, they were going to change my psych meds, I’d just walked out of the hospital against medical advice.

I felt like a dumbass, but I knew better than to tempt them. They wouldn’t waste any time finding a reason to haul my ass back up there. They never did. I drove straight to drug store, even a new script couldn’t knock the smile off my face.

It’d been a decent day, even if it had originally been off to a rocky start.

Chapter Ten

Unwelcomed Contact

Brenna

Oakland was happier than I’d seen him in a long time. He walked to the library with Eric and Anthony every other day it seemed. As for me, well, I’d picked up a personal bodyguard. Cole sat in the back of the diner after dark each evening. The other girls had taken to calling him a regular. They had no idea that I was acquainted with him and probably wouldn’t have believed me if I told them.

Not that I ever would.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about his vest and all that it stood for. I’d spent the last few evenings going through Patrick’s journal entries in search of the truth. Had he known Cole was part of a criminal organization? Was there more to it than I knew? Was he some kind of undercover officer?

I had more questions than I had the courage to ask. At least for now.

It was Saturday evening; I was scheduled to close and secretly hoping that Cole would stop by for service in the morning.

I guess he gave both of us something to look forward to.

He really was a good guy.

My thoughts got away from me as I scrubbed the back table, grateful things had been ridiculously slow. I made my way to the counter and started to put things away.

“That’s a wrap for me, I’m flipping the sign on the way out,” Tina announced.

“I’m right behind you, I’m going to mop this bathroom floor and I’ll be finished.”

“Alright, see you Monday then?”

“Monday,” I confirmed, before steering the bucket on wheels into the bathroom.

It was only a five-by-five space, there wasn’t really much to it.

I sighed, surveyed my work and used the mop handle to steer the bucket back into the storage area in the kitchen.