Kickstart My Heart (Burgers and Brew Crue #1) - Lacey Black Page 0,92
present during the conversation. I really only had one question, and that was why. Why did he choose drugs over his family? What did he think he’d accomplish by setting Walker up? Why did he break into my apartment that night?
Devon appeared remorseful over his actions, explaining they were merely that of a desperate man. He thought we had a future together, as if we’d just pick back up where we left off before his arrest. Of course, he needed to get Walker out of the way first, which didn’t pan out the way he planned.
When I left that jail, I felt freer than I ever have. Even when he’s released, which won’t be for a few years, I made it clear he has no control over me and the only way he’d see his daughter is if he cleaned up his act. I guess we’ll see what happens when we get to that part of the journey.
Walker also moved me into his house that very next day. He sent another SOS text to his friends, who all dropped what they were doing to lend a hand. It took less than an hour to clear out that old apartment of our things and take them to Walker’s house. As I stood in that doorway, gazing at the lifeless space, I counted each and every blessing that transpired from our short time in that worn-down apartment.
Mrs. Fritz.
Burgers and Brew.
Walker.
His friends and family.
“Wook!” Lizzie bellows eagerly the moment we join her inside Isaac’s office. She holds up a sack as big as she is.
“Holy cow!” I gasp, while she proudly displays her loot from Isaac. She’s got king-sized candy bars and full bags of fun-sized ones too. “Isaac!” I chastise, unable to hold back a giggle.
He gives us a sheepish grin. “Sorry, I might have gone a little overboard.”
“You think?” I ask.
Walker moves and glances in the bag. “You get any king-sized Snickers for me?” he asks, reaching into the bag.
“I share!” she insists.
“Let’s get out of here before she goes into a sugar coma by osmosis,” I say.
Isaac runs a hand through his hair. “Uhh, Lizzie’s presence is requested in the kitchen.”
I glance over in question, but then it hits me. “Seriously?”
He shrugs. “This is our first Halloween with Lizzie. We wanted to make it memorable,” he informs us with a shrug.
After we stop in the kitchen to see Jasper—where Lizzie gets a new Halloween coloring book, crayons, and slime—we make one final pit stop to the stage, where Jameson is tuning his guitar for tonight’s performance.
“Lizard!” he bellows, a rare grin on his lips as he sets his instrument down on the stand. “How’s my favorite princess witch?”
“Dood! Am I a scare-wee pwincess?”
“The scariest princess I’ve ever seen,” he informs, kissing her forehead. Ever since that night in my apartment last week, Lizzie and Jameson have developed a special bond. Jameson reaches behind his stool and hands over another bag of treats. There’s enough in here to give her cavities every day for her rest of her life.
“All right, we’re gonna head out and go see my mom and aunt. I’ll be back at seven,” Walker tells Jameson.
“Don’t worry about this place. We’ve got it.”
Walker takes my hand in one of his and Lizzie’s much smaller one in his other and leads us toward the exit. “Let’s do this.”
***
Walker
It’s almost eleven, and even though the bar is hopping busy, I take a few seconds to kiss the waiting lips at the end of the bar. Mallory grins as I press my mouth to hers and throws her arms over my shoulders.
“Hi,” I whisper, stealing one more kiss before I need to get back to work.
“Hi yourself.”
“Knock it off,” Jasper grumbles, leaning against the bar beside the stool Mal occupies.
It’s Halloween, one of our busiest nights of the year, and it just so happens to fall on a Saturday. The place is packed, at maximum occupancy, which doesn’t make the people standing outside happy. A good chunk of our customers are in costumes, and that seems to make everyone a little rowdier than normal. Security has removed two guys already for fighting and warned a group of girls to keep their clothes on.
“You’re just jealous,” I tease my workaholic friend.
He scoffs, but I don’t miss the look that crosses his features. Longing. He tries to hide it by looking away, but it was there, even for only a flash.
“It’s almost eleven,” Mallory acknowledges, excitement illuminating her green eyes.