9 Jamie
It’s been a few weeks since the phone incident, and things are back to normal, whatever that means, but every day that passes, I get a little more uneasy. I always do when it’s been too long since Gary’s shown up.
I hate the power that man has over all of us. The fact that his absence is what’s putting me on edge is beyond fucked up.
But I try not to think about that. Not today.
Once I finish this run, I’m off for the rest of the day.
The only real upside to my dad’s operation shifting from boosting cars to boosting cars and running drugs is the hours are better.
You need the cover of night to steal a car, but drugs?
Those can move anytime. Hell, sometimes daytime’s better- if you’re not driving like an idiot, nobody looks twice at a car on the road at two in the afternoon.
“Hey- what are you doing here?” Frankie asks when I finish working and make my way to her place.
She’s in the kitchen. Gram’s parked in front of the TV, and when she spots me, she gives me a little wink. I grin and blow her a kiss.
“I thought you’d want to go to Ryan’s game,” I say, walking into the kitchen and hopping up on the counter next to where Frankie is at the sink.
“I’d love to, but it’s like an hour away, right? Don’t you need to work tonight?”
“Nope.” I take the towel out of her hand and hold my other one out for the glass.
She gives me a look. “What are you doing?”
“I’m helping,” I say, grabbing the glass and starting to dry it. “So we can get out of here faster. We need to escape before Gram starts another shitty movie.”
“I heard that!” Gram yells from the other room.
“Good!” I shout back, then glance at Frankie again. “Seriously, I’ve got it. Go get changed. We’ll head out. Christian said he might come too.”
“Really?” she asks, her hazel eyes lighting up.
It’s pretty rare for Christian to come to Ryan’s games. Not because he’s busy- the guy’s always working, but not in a way that stops him from doing whatever he wants. I think it’s just… not his scene. College baseball, loud crowds, people having, you know, fun…
None of that screams Christian.
Doesn’t exactly scream my name either, I suppose- but Ryan is my person. Well… one of them. And baseball is his thing, so I go.
“Yeah- go get ready,” I say, hopping off the counter and gently pushing her towards the door before I turn and start on the dishes. and I’m alone for about five seconds before I feel eyes on me.
“You know, you’re not exactly sneaky in that chair,” I say.
“Not trying to be,” Gram says. Then, more serious, “It’s the fourteenth, you know.”
I sigh. All the money she and Frankie get- survivor benefits, disability, Social Security- it all hits on the fifteenth. Which means if Gary’s going to show up, it’ll be around then.
“We’re on it,” I tell her.
“I know,” she says softly. “Frankie and I are lucky to have you boys.”
I almost laugh at that. I don’t get the chance to tell her that we’re the lucky ones- especially me- before Frankie comes back into the room.
Her hair’s pulled up into a high ponytail, the bruise from the last incident finally gone. Her curls are messy, falling everywhere, and she looks like a normal teenager heading out to watch her friend play baseball.
I can’t help the smile that forms. “C’mon babe,” I say, holding out my hand for her.