smirked and I laughed.
“Nah, just had shitty parents. So we drove for hours until we saw this Help Wanted sign on a farm. I worked there for a few years. They had so many dogs, damn. I loved it. When I had left home I left my collie, Charmer, and my Lab, Barker.”
“If you loved it so much, why’d you leave?”
Delia came over with our food and milkshakes, so I waited until she was gone before continuing.
“The guy I was working for had a heart attack, and his kids were money-hungry. They sold the farm, and I caught a bus…It was going to this place called Haven Hart…and the rest is history.”
I chomped on a fry and watched as Ledger tried to absorb my story. I was okay with it now. Of course, when it happened, I hadn’t been. My life had felt meaningless, every holiday or birthday welcomed with heartache. But as the years moved on, so did I.
“That sucks, Shane. No one should go through that.” Ledger stirred his shake with his straw.
“I’m fine, honestly. What about you?”
He raised his brows. “Nothing like that. My parents both died before I was ten. Dad had a heart attack, and Mom was in a car accident. I lived with my grandparents until they died but by then, I was seventeen. I got some money when they died, so I was able to get by.”
“Shit, that’s sad.” My parents were still alive. I knew they were, even though in my heart I’d mourned them years ago. “Were they good parents?”
He smiled. “I don’t remember much about them other than some birthdays and holidays. My dad liked to play ball with me, but I was little. Mom taught me to cook. My grandparents were amazing, though. I had a good upbringing, even if parts of it were sad.”
“We’re a pair,” I joked, and Ledger smiled.
“I like us as a pair.” He winked and bit into his burger, and I knew I truly liked us as a pair too.
Chapter Twenty
Ledger
While the next couple of days were peaceful, Ciro and Riordan didn’t let up on security. I was glad that by the end of the day Trinity would make the announcement and hopefully—I really hoped—all this shit would stop.
“Do you ever get a day off?” Shane asked as we ate lunch at Quirks and Perks. We didn’t have to be at the club for a few hours, and I wanted to enjoy the day with Shane.
“If I wanted it, yeah. But I love my job. Doesn’t even feel like work most nights. I was actually thinking of talking to Atlas about doing some spotlight DJs. I know a few, and maybe I could be using the time as a vacation with a certain redhead I know.” I leaned across the table and twined our fingers together. When his cheeks bloomed pink, I smiled so hard it hurt.
“I think I have vacation time coming my way.” He was so fucking adorable that I pulled his fingers, glad when he got the hint and came closer so I could kiss his delicious mouth.
“You two are cute, but you asked me to tell you when those muffins were ready?” Mel, the owner, placed a white bag in front of me. “I put a few extra in there for you.”
“Thanks, Mel.” I could already smell the cinnamon and pumpkin. “I’ll take them to the club. Ciro may not look like it, but the man has a fetish or something for food. But he’s as picky as Gordon Ramsay.”
She chuckled and went back to the counter when a customer walked in. When my phone buzzed, I saw it was Ziggy and answered.
“Hey. Trin is recording now, but I’m being told it won’t air until tonight. She got a slot on Hollywood Entertainment.”
“Nice, that’ll get the word out. So what time?”
“Seven. I know you’re working, but you’ll see it as soon as it goes out.”
“Thanks, Zig…for everything.”
He chuckled. “I live to make lives easier, my friend.”
When he disconnected the call, I smiled and told Shane the news.
“Wow, Hollywood Entertainment is a big deal. And by the time you’re out of work, you’ll be free.” He smiled but it was strained.
“I know that face, what’s up?”
“I dunno. I mean, it’s big news, but you haven’t been bombarded with reporters like we thought. Sure, she got this lined up tonight, but it’s not altering your life…haven’t you noticed? Aside from the gifts and the photos in the magazine, no one has harassed