Chapter 16 – Andy
Chapter Sixteen
ANDY
“Andy.” I feel my hair being brushed out of my face, tickling my skin. I jerk up. I blink a few times, my eyes trying to adjust to the soft light. “Shit, it's me.” I know that voice. I’m not sure I could ever forget it.
“Sorry,” I mutter as it finally clicks where I am. “I only meant to lay my head down for a few seconds.” Niki is sitting in the chair next to mine, facing me. His thighs are parted, encompassing the chair I'm sitting in, like a shield blocking me from everything else.
I'm over in my normal little corner that I always take up residence in. The ladies here all know me. They're sweet. They would have woken me up at the last minute, letting me sleep until they had to lock up.
“You were snoring.” Niki gives me a lopsided smile that makes him, for once, appear more his age.
“I don’t snore.” I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand to make sure I’m not drooling. That would be really sexy.
“It’s light.” He shrugs. “Kinda cute.”
“Whatever.” I start packing up my crap. “What time is it?” I reach for my phone to check the time.
“Closing time.” Damn, it’s already nine? How long did I crash out on the table in the library?
“You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.” I sigh, shoving my crap into my backpack.
“You get some studying done?”
“Some, but I got distracted.”
“What distracted you?” Niki's eyes flick around the library, searching for a target.
“Not a person. I was searching for some rehab places for my mom.” Niki's attention comes back to me, his brows lifting.
“She said she might go.” I know it may be wishful thinking on my part that she’s actually going to turn her life around and leave the drugs alone, but I still always hold out hope. That one of these times will actually scare her straight. I know I’m setting myself up for disappointment.
“Might.” He clicks his tongue. “And if she does? You just stay living in an apartment that was broken into?”
“I have to take this one step at a time.” I stand up and fling my backpack over my shoulder. It’s not as though I have a ton of choices.
When I got to the hospital, Mom was still out of it, but when she came to, I could see the regret and disappointment in herself. I know she doesn’t want to be this way. Who does? She truly has an addiction that she needs help with. There is only so much that I can do.
“What are the odds she’ll go?”
“Not sure, but I found a few places and made some calls. There is one I’m really hoping has a spot. It’s basically the only option.” It’s free, but it’s hard to get into. “It’s called Synergy Recovery Center. It’s a nonprofit.”
"Think I've heard of that one."
"I know it's a long shot, but you have to get good luck at some point, right?
" I drop my head back to peer up at him. I want to tell him that I think I may have used up some of that luck when I met him, but I don’t utter the words.
My heart gave an excited flutter when I saw him today at the hospital.
I felt less alone just by him being there with me.
I thought for a second he'd tracked me down after I hadn't answered his calls. He's already done so much, and I wasn't in a rush to tell him about my mom. I know it shouldn't embarrass me, but it does.
“Where are you headed?” Niki asks when I start walking, falling into step next to me.
“Home.”
“Can I walk with you?”
“If you want, but if you’re busy—” I shrug, not wanting him to feel obligated.
“I came here for you.”
“Really? Shelly doesn’t owe you a debt?” I nod toward the librarian. Shelly has her head down scanning some books.
“She’s clean.” I snort a laugh. Shelly is in her seventies, and I think she might be packing heat. She can be sweet, but I wouldn’t cross her. “Is there anyone back at your place, or are you going to be alone?”
“It’s not uncommon for me to be alone at night. My mom works nights.” Oftentimes her shift won’t start till ten. “Speaking of. Did you have my door fixed?”
I’d run home this afternoon to change before heading back to the hospital. I couldn’t sit in my diner clothes smelling like fry grease. When I’d gotten home, the door was fixed, and things appeared to be in order.
“It’s the maintenance man’s job to fix it and the lights.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal. What the heck? I can’t get the maintenance man or the landlord to answer the phone to save my life. I don’t even try anymore.
Before I can change my mind, I slip my hand in his. He links his fingers through mine. I immediately feel lighter. "Thanks, it means a lot." He squeezes my hand in response.
Niki tells me about his sister and a little about his mom as we make our way toward my apartment building.
I shouldn't relish the small bit of power I feel when people quickly move to get out of our way when we walk down the sidewalk.
I know they are stepping aside because of Niki, but it's nice not having to look down and avoid making eye contact with them.
As we approach my building, I pause upon seeing graffiti covering the wall by the entryway. It's the mark of the Riders. It's a tag, and a big one at that, letting everyone know this place is under their protection.
"Niki?" This can't be a coincidence. It wasn’t here when I came by earlier.
"I had it done." He gives another one of those shrugs.
I duck my head, feeling suddenly shy because that's so freaking sweet. That's better than any flowers a man could get you. It's not the only one I notice either. There is another tag in the stairwell along with the door to my floor.
"You want to come in?" I ask when I slide my key into the lock.
"Yeah, I got you a few things." He takes off the bag he's got over his shoulder. I wondered what it was but wasn't going to ask.
When I let us into the apartment, Niki checks everything over. "Everything good?"
"As good as it can be." He drops his bag on the loveseat before unzipping it. He pulls out a box and another smaller one. It's easier to tell what the smaller one is. "You need a new one. Yours keeps dying." He hands it over to me.
"You got me a phone?"
"Yours dies in two seconds when it's not on the charger." I nod, a lump forming in my throat, but I choke it down. "And shoes." He taps the other box. "You'll take them."
"I'll take them," I agree. I shouldn't; he has his sister and mother to care for too. He doesn't need to be carrying me as well, but damn it feels nice that he thought of me. "It's an early birthday present."
“Only a few more hours to go until your special day.” He remembered.
This might be my best birthday ever.