I’m clearly disappointed. He can’t control his work schedule, and he’d be with me all night in a heartbeat if he could. “Sorry, I’m still getting used to the fact you don’t work eight to five like everyone else.”
His hand comes up and he pushes a strand of hair behind my ear. “I’d much rather be with you, trust me.”
I lean into his hand. “It’s okay. You have a job. I love that you take pride in doing it well.”
Rick laughs. “I don’t know if I take pride in it, but yeah, I like being the best. It makes people need you.”
I get up on my toes and kiss him on the lips. “Well, I need you when you’re done.”
He smiles against my mouth. “You got it.”
As always, he waits for me to go inside and shut the door. I look at my little video screen on the Ring monitor, and he stands there until he hears the lock click, not knowing I’m watching him.
I smile, and as usual, an emptiness swarms me when he walks away. I head over to my window and peer out, so I can get a glimpse of him pulling away in his car. It’s cheesy, but I don’t care. This man is very important to me.
As he heads down the sidewalk, though, another man approaches him. It’s hard to tell what he looks like, but something happens. Something isn’t right about it. It just feels—wrong.
I initially thought maybe it was just a homeless person, or someone asking for directions.
Out of nowhere, Rick points a finger in the guy’s face, and it looks like they’re both heated.
What in the world? They stand there, bowed up in each other’s faces, yelling words I can’t hear.
Finally, Rick shakes his head, slumps his shoulders in defeat, and they both walk off together.
I’d love to say I’m surprised, but I’m not. Rick has the weirdest life. I just hope he’s not in any trouble. Maybe it’s someone he gets information from. Maybe it’s someone he testified against. I don’t know. His life is so different from mine.
I look at my phone. I should at least send a text message. It wouldn’t be out of the ordinary, and if he was in trouble, or in danger, he’d tell me. I finally send one off.
Me: Goodnight, I had a great time with you tonight.
Finally, I get myself ready for bed, and lay down. I should be so tired, especially after that little treat in the park.
I can’t sleep, though. As if I didn’t have enough worries with Rick, now, this happens.
Who was that man?
Rick Lawrence
I haven’t had alcohol in six months and I immediately down a shot of whiskey. I’m in a daze. My life was already nuts, but fuck. Why am I even here? Entertaining this shit?
“What do you want?” I glare at the man next to me.
“Good to see you too.”
I scoff and shake my head, trying to tamp down pure, unadulterated rage. I should’ve known something would happen. That he would show up. Actually, I did know it was going to happen, instinctively. I think maybe that’s why I’m keeping it together as well as I am. Just knew it.
Not to mention, life was too good. I was too happy. If he wants forgiveness, he’s barking up the wrong fucking tree. That ship sailed when I was eighteen. “Cut the shit. You want something. What is it?”
“Maybe I want to catch up. See how my only son is doing.”
His sarcasm does not go unnoticed. He wants something, and I want out of here. “Ahh, a nice big family reunion?” I shoot him another glare and try not to see myself in him, but it’s impossible to miss the resemblance. The past fifteen years have taken a huge toll. I have no doubt they have. Prison will do that to you. “Should’ve thought about that before all the shit you put me through.”
“What I put you through?” The lines on his face become more pronounced. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Do I look like I’m fucking joking?” I stand up and stare down at him.
He points a finger up at me. “You ran away and left me there, like a coward. I thought I raised you better than that.”
“You taught me to steal by the time I could walk, and you groomed me to be a criminal. You used me. Spare me the noble father bullshit. You got what you had coming.”
He moves to get up in my face.
I reach