Page 26 of The Pucking Wrong Man

“I’m sorry you’re hungry, sweetheart,” my mother had whispered as we stood in line. “Just a couple more people in front of us and we can get some dinner.” I huddled in the cold against her jeans, trying not to cry. She always got so sad when I cried.

We had been waiting for what seemed like forever, and the smell of something good coming through the doors in front of us was driving me crazy. Mom had been looking for a job every day while I was at school, but they’d all said no so far. She’d told me it was only a matter of time, though, and then we’d have regular food again. I was just lucky I had free lunch at school every day. I always saved something from my lunch for her. The animal crackers especially made her smile.

Not being around my stepdad anymore also made her smile. So it was okay that I was hungry.

When we got to the front of the line, one of the workers I’d seen in previous visits stopped us before we could get in. “I’m sorry, but we’re out for the day,” he said gently.

My mom stiffened, and when I glanced up, I could see she was freaking out. “But we’ve been standing in line for three hours. Why wasn’t there an announcement? I could have taken my son somewhere else. Now they’ll be closed too.” I could hear muttering behind us from other people who were upset, and I shifted uncomfortably, my stomach growling loudly and making Mom wince when she heard it.

“Please,” she whispered. “There’s got to be something he can have...”

I blinked, coming back to the present hearing Sean rattling on about a recent game we’d won.

“Oh man, your game the other day. You guys are so freaking good. Lincoln Daniels scored that goal and...” Sean was bouncing in place as he went over our game against Detroit, play by play.

I hoped he applied that much memory recall to his school work, because it was impressive.

“When I grow up, I want to be just like Daniels,” he was saying. I scoffed, holding my chest and pretending to falter.

Sean stopped talking, and stared at me sheepishly.

“Daniels, bud. What about me? Defenders have a way harder and cooler job. We have to stop them from scoring, and we have to hit people. Linc’s got nothing on us,” I told him, winking at him so he knew I was joking.

Forwards, always getting all the glory. So showy.

“You call him Linc,” Sean whispered, like he was in awe of the fact that I could shorten Lincoln’s name.

I was never telling Daniels about this. His head was too big already.

I should bring Ari in here, though, he would be able to straighten Sean out on what was the coolest position out there.

Disney would be useless. He would just agree with Sean because it was about Lincoln.

Such a simp.

Sean was wearing a Knights Jersey I’d given him a few months ago, and judging by the stains on it...he wore it every day. I made a mental note to bring another one for him.

“Ooh, is that peanut butter?” Sean asked, bouncing up and down as he eyed the cookies in front of him.

I gave him three.

His mom pretended not to notice; a soft, sad smile on her lips that made me a little sick inside.

My mom had that kind of smile constantly, when she was trying to be brave amidst all the shit that was happening to her.

I shook my head, trying to clear out the echoes of the past battering around in my skull.

Now was not the time for that.

“Here’s two cookies for you, ma’am,” I drawled, ignoring the faint blush to her cheeks.

I liked single moms with the best of them, but I wasn’t going there.

Plus, there was the whole fact that something had happened to my DNA last night, and suddenly, all my dick was attracted to was a ballerina that looked like an angel and danced like sin.

For all I knew, she could be a single mom…but for her, I’d go there.

I’d let her call me Daddy any day.

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