Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,83

the time.

“How far to school?” he asks.

“Just down the road. A couple blocks.”

We step inline, him taking the street side of the sidewalk.

“So, what do you have to talk to me about? Not enough money to cover expenses?” He takes another drag of his cigarette and gestures to the neighborhood as if asking how that would even be possible.

“Don’t be like that.”

He swings his arm around my shoulder and squeezes me closer to him. “Oh, Vic, that’s our relationship. We go back and forth. Married or divorced, that won’t change.”

I roll my eyes and push him off of me.

“Besides, I’m kidding. You know I don’t mind paying for Jade.”

I half smile, not sure where this man emerged from.

“I wanted to let you know that… I met an old friend of ours recently.” I hear the hesitation in my voice and I’m sure he must pick up on it because he stops walking and turns to look at me.

“Who?” He takes another drag of his cigarette and exhales smoke in my direction. My stomach rolls from the smell.

“Reed Warner,” I say his name like I’m not even sure if that’s his name, which of course I am. I may have actually written Mrs. Warner on a scrap paper like a teenage girl this week, ripped it up and threw it away.

Looking nonplussed Pete starts walking again. “Reed? I think he’s more an old friend of mine than yours, right?” The way he asks the question is almost accusatory.

“Yeah, but he stood up in our wedding.”

He purses his lips staring up at the sky like he didn’t remember. “Oh yeah.”

“He was your best man,” I remind him.

“Yeah, yeah, I know.”

He so didn’t remember. This is Pete, somewhere after ‘I do’ and ‘It’s a girl,’ I lost him. I lost him to success.

“Well, it turns out he’s a Big Brother to a boy that Jade is friends with.”

“Wait.” He holds his hand up. “The boy trying to be a man thing?”

“Yes…No… I mean, yeah, Reed is Henry’s big brother. You know the program.”

“He still does that? Why?”

“I don’t know, Pete, maybe because he’s a nice human being?”

His face is laced with confusion. “Did he lose his license to practice law or something?”

“No, he’s the assistant district attorney. He’s doing it because he wants to.” I stop us because we’re nearing the school and I need to get this out before we get there.

“He’s an ADA? What a pussy. He makes dimes when he could be making dollars. What the hell is wrong with him?”

“Okay, let’s forget the whole Big Brother thing and what path he’s gone down to practice law. There’s more.”

He eases his stance, his eyes narrowing on me. “You’re not one to beat around the bush, Vic, what is it?”

Finally, a light bulb went off.

“We’re dating.” The words rush out of my mouth like the Colorado Rapids.

“You’re dating Reed Warner? Our best man?”

“According to you, he was just your best man.”

“Don’t be snide. You’re dating Reed?”

I nod.

He huffs and tosses his cigarette butt on the sidewalk.

“I thought you swore off lawyers?” He digs into his jacket for another cigarette.

I pull out my phone to check the time. We still have five minutes before Jade gets out.

“Turns out not the good ones.” I smile, hoping to ease some of the sting.

He cups his hand over the cigarette and lights it, blowing a stream of smoke out of the corner of his mouth. “Shit. You just ran me over with a dump truck. I thought you were gonna ride my ass about her routine or some shit. Not the fact that you’re dating…my best friend.”

“He’s not your best friend. When’s the last time you talked to him?”

He thinks again, his eyes staring up at the dreary gray sky. “I don’t know. Maybe six years ago? You’re happy?” he asks, looking back down at me.

I nod and smile, thinking this is going to be fine. That I worried for nothing.

“I am.”

“You look like you lost a few pounds.” He smiles, looking me over.

“Gee thanks.” I pat his flat stomach. “Cool it on the beer, yeah?”

He laughs. “You and Reed, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Sneaky bastard.” He inhales and exhales the smoke. The cigarette hangs from his fingers. “That’s it though? Just dating? No wedding on the horizon? You’re not knocked up or anything?”

“No, I practice safe sex after I ended up stuck with you for seven years.” I give him a saccharine smile.

His eyes crinkle at the edges. “She’s the best thing we did.” He glances over to