Clarity - Nicole Dykes Page 0,54

in with them.”

I don’t miss the contempt in her voice when she says “them.” I fight the sickening feeling in my gut. “Well, let’s go see if we can find them.”

She perks up. “Really?”

I smile inwardly, still not liking that her best friends are boys, but I know they’re important to her. “Yes. Really.”

I turn to go toward her old school, and it’s not long before we see Rhett and Fletcher walking on the sidewalk by the school, both with bookbags slung over their shoulders. I slow to a stop and roll down Bree’s window. “Hey!” she shouts happily.

They both recognize her voice instantly and jog over to talk to her. “Hey, rich kid,” Rhett says, whistling when he sees her jumper.

I roll my eyes, and so does Bree. “Shut. Up.”

He offers her a crooked smile, and I’m the next one to speak up. “You guys want to hang with Bree today? Will it be okay?”

They share a look, and Fletcher nods his head at me. “Yeah. That’d be okay.”

I unlock the door, and they both climb in the back with Bree. If anyone saw this, they would probably call the cops. But I know the system, and no one is watching out for these kids, which again makes my stomach twist.

I drive them to get a snack at a drive-thru before driving downtown to the shop. They camp out in the breakroom I have mostly finished now. I open the shop and shoot Blair a text to let her know we have three kids to feed tonight.

She writes me back immediately with laughing emojis and says I’m adorable.

I send her the middle finger emoji and then quickly get to work when a new customer arrives. Rhett seems particularly interested in my work, asking questions frequently, which I actually don’t mind.

A couple of hours later, Blair breezes into my shop with that knowing smirk on her pretty face. I’m sitting behind the front desk, and she leans across it. “Did you adopt two more?”

I shake my head, glancing back to the breakroom where all three are watching television, Bree with a textbook on her lap. I turn back to Blair. “You’re right. They’re her constant. They ground her.”

She smiles, looking into my eyes far too intensely, and I can tell she wants to kiss me. I want to let her, but instead I stand up and holler toward the back. “Your ride’s here.”

Blair rolls her eyes and stands up as Bree walks into the main shop area with the boys in tow. “Do we have to take them home?”

Blair shakes her head. “Hell, no. I haven’t gotten to hang out with them yet.” She flings her hair over her shoulder in her cool as fuck Blair fashion. “I thought we would go grab something for dinner and hang out at the house before I take them home.”

Bree actually lights up. And I mean, the kid is beaming. “Okay.” She turns to me. “Are you coming too?”

I shake my head. “I should probably keep the shop open.”

“Maybe you should hire someone else to do that,” Blair says, brushing past me as she heads toward the door.

“I can barely pay myself at the moment, Blair.”

She just shrugs as the kids go and gather their things. “Maybe you don’t have to worry about that, Rhys. I’ll be your sugar mama.” She winks, and I just shake my head, almost smiling.

“No thanks.”

She laughs, expecting that answer. “You can pay me back in other ways.” She wags her eyebrows at me, and I shake my head, but this time I do offer a smile.

All three kids meet her at the door, and she opens it for them. “I’ll save you a plate.”

“Thanks.”

She smiles at me before they all leave, and I think we can actually add this to our routine.

I’ll do anything I can to make Bree feel comfortable with her new normal.

It’s Friday, and we’ve had Fletcher and Rhett over all week after school. We agreed to let them stay the night again tonight, and Rhys has finally loosened up about the whole thing.

I was shocked when he told me I would have two extra kids to feed on Monday, but it’s become our routine. They both assured me as long as they were back to their foster homes by nine, they were fine. And so far, there’s been no backlash.

I did insist on asking both sets of foster parents Tuesday when I dropped them off and found out quickly they weren’t kidding. None