Page 31 of Bone Dust

I take her outstretched hand. “Ian. It’s a pleasure.”

“Cora. Cora Brooks—and I believe the pleasure is mine.” She gives Savannah a coy look. “I don’t believe you’ve ever mentioned Ian, Savi.”

“Dis is E-ban!” Gigi announces.

“I heard.” Cora chuckles with a sweet smile at Gigi, then turns back to me with an inviting look.

“Can I get you something to drink, Ian?”

“Thank you, ma’am—but no.”

“Ma’am?” she chuckles. “I think I’m insulted,” She turns to Savannah. “I’ll get Gigi’s things.” With a playful glance towards me, she adds, “Ian, it was very nice meeting you.”

“Likewise, ma’am.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Now, Ian,” she says playfully, “if you call me ma’am again, I may have to persuade Savi not to bring you back.” As she walks away, she looks over her shoulder and her suggestive expression lingers. “And that would be a shame.”

A bewildered Savannah looks between Cora and me, and I struggle to suppress a chuckle. It seems like the woman had been flirting with me.

“I’m not sure what all that was about.” Bewildered, her lips purse and pull to the side. “And you … ma’am?”

“What? You’re surprised I have manners?”

“I don’t know what I think—of you or her.”

I study her closely as I hold onto Gigi. What stories has she heard about me? Hopefully, she sees me as a better man than the one she thought she knew. I can’t deny my past mistakes, whether it’s the full front-page photo on The Buzz when I mooned the audience at a concert, or the incident where I got a citation for public urination. But I’ve worked hard to turn my life around since then, and it’s important to me that Savannah knows that.

“I know you’ve heard a lot about me,” I say, meeting her gaze. “But whether you believe it or not, that guy’s gone.”

She seems hesitant, as if she’s struggling with some inner conflict.I don’t blame her. If our roles were reversed, I’d be cautious about me too but, the truth is, getting sober revealed many sides to me. The introvert who brooded over his past mistakes. The friend grieving the loss of another friend, dealing with buried anger issues. And, yes, the cocky bastard who despised mind games.

“Mmm-Mm!” Suddenly, Gigi wraps her arms around my neck and hugs me. The faint scent of lavender and fresh laundry clings to her clothes. It’s soothing and comforting and her actions take me by surprise. Her grip is strong, a sharp contrast to her delicate stature. I freeze for a moment. Her open display of trust and innocence hits my emotions like a blowtorch, melting away the icy walls around my heart with the beauty and purity of unconditional acceptance, and making my insides melt.

Cora returns to the room with a pink and white striped bag. A brown teddy bear’s head peeks out from the top.

“Here you go. You’re all set,” she says with a smile.

“Thanks, Cora.” Savannah takes the bag and loops the straps over her arm.

Cora turns to me. “It was nice meeting you, Ian.”

“Same here, Ma—Cora.” I quickly correct myself.

“Good catch,” she says with a kittenish smile then looks from me to Savannah. “You’ll have to bring Ian around again, Savi. He’s cute.”

Savannah’s expression goes blank while I stifle a twitch to laugh.

I hold the car door open as Savannah safely secures her daughter into her car seat. The little one fidgets and kicks her legs, eager to start her journey. I watch as Savannah carefully snaps the buckle, making sure not to pinch her daughter’s delicate skin. When I hear the telltale click assuring she’s secured, I note Savannah covering Gigi’s legs with a partially folded blanket. She plants a light kiss on her head before closing the door. “This is in case you get cold.”

Gigi gazes out the window, suddenly indifferent. As Savannah backs out of the car, she bumps into me and pops back up, falling back against the car’s frame. “What are you doing?”

“Trying to be a gentleman,” I say with a small smile.

She walks around the back door as I open the front. Gracefully dipping low into the driver’s seat, she keeps watch as I close both doors, and stroll around to the passenger side of the car, and get inside. With the press of a button, she starts the car then turns to me.

“I’m sorry about Cora,” she says with sincerity.

“No need to be. She seems nice.” I pause for a moment before adding, “I’ll show you the way.”

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