Wasted Lust - JA Huss Page 0,71
lazy and live off my money?
I don’t have to decide now, though. So I drop it and drift off to sleep thinking I haven’t felt this happy in years.
“What are you doing?” Harrison asks as we settle into the short flight to Fort Collins.
“What do you mean?”
He shoots me a dubious look. “I’m not stupid. You call me when you need to get somewhere fast. So what’s going on today?”
“Just Sparrow’s birthday, that’s all.”
“You sure about that?”
“Jesus, Harrison. I’m not a kid anymore. I do grown-up stuff and I don’t have to explain myself.”
He sighs. “I know that. But I don’t want you taking any risks.”
I squint my eyes at him. “I swear to God, I’m just dropping by for a visit.”
“So you want me to wait around and take you home?”
“Uh…”
“Or back to that town that is not your home?”
“No. OK, look. I’ll tell you something, but don’t tell anyone else. It’s my thing and I’ll deal with it, OK?”
He gives me a conspiratorial nod. “OK.”
I take a deep breath and let it out with my words. “I got kicked out of grad school.”
“What?”
“My mentor said I wasn’t serious about anthropology as a career and I needed to take a sabbatical to think through my options.”
“That’s it?”
“What do you mean that’s it?” I know what he means. This man has been with me through some pretty fucked-up Company plans. But I’m not about to tell him Nick is back or the FBI is asking me to join up with them. “That’s a big deal, you know. I’ve been working my ass off for years for this and it all gets taken away in one afternoon.”
“When did this happen?”
“Yesterday.”
“Who lives in Falls City?”
“My boyfriend,” I huff. “Any more questions?”
“Where is he now?” Harrison’s squinting his eyes even more. He knows I’m hiding something, but what I’m saying makes sense, so what’s he gonna do about it but ask more questions?
“He left for Denver last night. For business.”
“So you’re lonely.”
“I guess. But more importantly, it’s Sparrow’s birthday.”
“Hmph.”
I win.
So I smile. But I look out the window as I do it so he’ll stop with the interrogation. We talk about other stuff the rest of the ride and then when I’m on the ground and I figure I’m gonna get away with no more discussion, he gives it one more try.
“I’m serious about the ride home. If you need one, just call.”
But I’m ready for it. “I’m gonna stay at home and think about my options. There’s no reason to go so far away when all my family is here. But if I do, I will call, believe me. Driving home to Kansas is not my idea of fun.”
“I’m gonna drive down to Boulder to visit my brother then, OK? I’ll be here for the weekend if you need me.”
He thinks I’m in trouble. And I might be, but I’m not sure yet. So I accept his offer of help with a kiss to the cheek and then exit the plane and make my way to the terminal.
The local airport is small, but they know me. I called ahead and asked them to find me a rental car, so it’s ready for me when I get there.
Ten minutes later I’m on my way into town.
I check Spencer and Veronica’s bike shop, Shrike Bikes, first. It’s right in the small downtown, and I need to drive by it to get to Rook’s or Veronica’s house.
I hit the jackpot there, because there’s balloons flying in bunches near the side door. I park the car next to Spencer’s red truck with his shop logo on it, and as soon as I get out I hear the squealing of little girls coming from inside. Ronnie used to be a tattoo artist at her family shop a block down the street. But she retired after she got pregnant. Now she body-paints in the back of the bike shop.
I open the back door and there are kids running everywhere. It looks like tattooed princesses threw up in here. Five wasn’t kidding when he said Sparrow was having a biker party. Every little girl is wearing those fake tattoo sleeves, jeans with tutus on them, and tiaras.
God. I have never seen anything so adorable in my whole life.
“Sasha!” Princess Rory squeals. “Look, Mommy! It’s Sasha!”
Veronica stops painting a little girl’s face and beams up at me. “Hey! I wasn’t sure you’d come.”
“Hey, Sasha,” Rook says, her younger little girl, Starling, on her hip. She likes to name her girls