74. Two Final Thoughts
Two Final Thoughts
Fly
“So does this mean that you and Sheridan are getting married?” Jett dances around. Standing still seems to be a challenge for her sometimes.
“Eventually. We’re not in any rush.” I just want her to feel settled, secure, and confident in us. It also doesn’t hurt that she lives close by.
“Yeah, but she moved here to be with you.”
Precocious kid. “And?”
“Well, you love her. Why are you waiting?”
“I’m waiting until she’s ready.” I turn to face Jett. “When you start dating, never let a boy pressure you to do anything you don’t want to do. And if they are, you know they don’t respect or care about you.”
“Ewww…don’t. I’ve already had the birds and the bees talk. I’m good.”
“This isn’t just about that. It applies to any part of your life, from work to school, and especially when it comes to recreation. You need to think for yourself, not be pressured to do things.”
“What if they push too hard and I can’t say no?”
“You come to me, and I’ll say no for you.” In a way they can’t ignore.
“Cool. So being my mentor means you’re my protector too…kind of like a dad is supposed to be.”
“Yeah, kind of like that.”
“Cool, then I probably shouldn’t tell you I’m going on a date with this boy.”
Everett did it. He got up the nerve to ask her. Way to go.
“He’s a biker…which you’re probably okay with since you’re one.”
A biker? “Who are you going out with?”
“His name is Saber. Isn’t that cool?”
Saber? Um, no, not cool. That kid is going through some things. “I thought his bike needed some repairs?”
“Yeah, he’s going to steal one of his dad’s for the night.”
Brilliant. Just brilliant. Saber’s dad and I need to have a conversation. “Focus. What do you see?”
“Van, I want you to know that I love you more than anything in the world.” Lola’s words ring out loud and clear in my ear.
The busy street flows around us. Teaching Jett to see things within chaos is a skill that takes practice and time.
“I see a single irritated mom who would be an easy mark. That businessman probably has a wad of cash in his pocket.”
He does. “Waste of time.”
“What? That’s a thick stack.”
“If you’re going to steal, don’t target the guy with ones and fives for his strip club visit. Not only is it unsanitary, it’s a waste of time. But we aren’t here to learn to steal. You’re here to learn to see.”
Vandal and Lola start kissing. It’s tempting to turn off the sound on my earbuds to give my brother the privacy he deserves.
“I see just fine.”
“Do you? Have you picked the murderer out of the group? Have you picked the guy out who is stalking that guy in the red tie?”
“What? No. Where?” Jett’s head snaps around as she starts scanning the crowd more intensely.
“Slow down and focus on the details. It’s all about the little things people forget to hide.”
“I’m focused…unlike an old person like you…oh, I see him. What do we do? Do we take the guy out?”
“We do nothing. This class is just about seeing the world around us. Keep looking.” But I might do something later on my own.
“Fine. Whatever, but it would be cool to take out that killer guy.”
Jett is going to give me gray hairs for sure.
A gunshot rings out.
I push Jett behind me as I try to figure out where it came from.
Another closer one blasts through me.
“What are you doing? Have you gone crazy?” Jett pokes my back with her finger.
There’s no panic. No one is ducking.
The shots weren’t here. They were in my ear.
Vandal!
I pick up my phone and dial the rapid response team by him. “Shots fired.”
“On our way.” Cyclops’ words come out with a puff. “We’re three minutes out. Status?”
“Hot…it got really quiet.”
Say something, Van, or move so that we know you’re alive…
To be continued…
Thank you for reading Fly’s Path. The next book in this series is Bram’s Path.