Page 127 of Conquering Conner

Margo made me an official volunteer and as soon as I plugged in the espresso machine, I had kids nosing around. Asking me what I was doing. What was going on.

And then I just talked to them. Figured out want they were interested in. What they needed help with. Homework. How to fill out a job application. How to apply for college. Basic car maintenance.

It’s going so well, Cap’n has plans to build his own place. A place that provides housing and services to wounded vets like Ryan while getting the community involved.

Fitting the lid on the tote I heft it off the table and walk it in the service closet. When I get back, Kaitlyn’s got her coat on. “You want to go grab some coffee?” she says, even though there’s a coffee machine behind her, with all the bells and whistles.

My shift here was over an hour ago. My shift at the bar doesn’t start for another four. The garage is dead, and Ryan told me yesterday that if I showed up today, he was going to shove my Uno cards up my ass.

I have nowhere to go.

Nothing to do.

And she knows it.

“No.” I don’t give her a reason. I don’t have to.

She already knows.

She nods, working on her gloves before giving me a sad smile. “Okay,” she says. “Maybe some other time.”

I don’t answer her because there isn’t going to be some other time. Kaitlyn and I are never going to see each other again.

She knows that too.

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