Page 6 of Brutal Savage

I shake my head. “No. I’ll do it. I told him I would. I don’t want him thinking I break my promises.”

Her smile stretches. “See? You’re a good dad.”

“I’m not his dad.” My words swell with tension.

I don’t want him to think he ever has to call me that.

“But you are, Tynan. You’re the only parent he has now.”

A labored sigh makes it out of my chest. “I didn’t want to be. Not like this.”

Her eyes gleam with emotion. “I know that. I loved them too. But this is where we are now, and you’re doing right by that boy.” Her shoulders sag. “Let me go help him with homework while you cook.”

I nod and head for the kitchen, planning to make his favorite: mac and cheese with bits of bacon.

At least I can do that right.

CHAPTER 3

ELARA

The following day, on the way to my Saturday morning run, I stop by the local coffee shop so I can grab my grandma some breakfast.

As soon as I enter, someone I know waves me over.

“Elara! Oh my God! Hi!” Alice, a fellow teacher at the school, calls.

She’s about my age: twenty-three. I think she wants us to be friends. She’s nice and all, but unfortunately, my trust issues run deep.

Not surprised to see her here. She is here, like, every weekend. Though I swear she acts surprised every time she sees me, like it’s kismet.

Her eyes round with excitement when I start toward her, but she’s not alone. A guy I don’t know is with her.

“Hey, Alice.” My vision bounces between them.

“Oh…” Her face lights up. “This is my boyfriend, Chris. It’s kinda new.” Her cheeks grow with color.

“Nice to meet you.” I extend a hand, and he shakes it.

“You too. Alice has told me so much about you.” He glances at her and smiles, his eyes filled with affection.

“She has?”

“Yeah…” He straightens in his seat. “She said you’re her only friend at the school.”

“Chris!” She giggles and smacks him on the arm with the back of her hand. “He’s ridiculous.”

“She’s great.” I smile tightly, unsure what to say.

I barely know her. Occasionally, we sit together at lunch or exchange some words when we see one another passing in the halls.

“Well, it was nice to see you, Alice, and good to meet you, Chris. I have to get my grandma some food or she’ll get cranky.”

“Of course! Oh my God, I love her grandma.” Alice looks over at Chris. “She’s hilarious. She plays bridge with my grandma, and she tells the raunchiest jokes,” she whispers.

Oh, no… That does sound like Gran.

“This one time, I heard the funniest one.” She laughs, her attention jumping between Chris and me. “Okay,” she whispers. “So, how is sex like a game of bridge?”

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