Page 85 of Blaze & Ajax

Cueball patted my back. “It’s best not to dwell on the ‘what ifs.’ The fact is, youwerehere when he needed someone, and you finally reached out for help.”

I shook my head. “Ajax said he needed help. I only reacted.”

“And you got it for him,” Alpha explained.

“I need to find a job, but I’ve never held one before. I promised Ajax that I’d stop selling.”

“I could use another server,” Alpha said.

“Thank you, but you don’t have to pretend you need someone. I’ll figure it out.”

“Who’s pretending? I have two people waiting tables between them all week. That’s a lot. I really could use an extra person.”

I looked at Alpha, just now noticing how tired and strained he appeared. His blue eyes had dark circles under them, and his dirty blond hair, falling limply in his face, needed a cut. It showed how much he cared about Ajax and the others.

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. But if I take you on, that means no drugs… taking or selling.”

I nodded vigorously. “You got it. But… I don’t have a driver’s license or… I don’t know my social security number. My mom kicked me out before I could grab anything. I tried reaching out a couple of times, but she refused to talk to me.”

“You have a right to your social security card. Why don’t you try to get it from her, or at least your birth certificate? Then we can get the information you need,” Cueball explained. “You need to push this with her. You can’t live like a non-existent person. She doesn’t have that right.”

“I’ll call a lawyer if I need to,” Alpha said.

“God, the last thing I want to do is talk to my mother, if she’d even let me. Thanks, Alpha. Let me try her first… it’s been a while. If she still refuses, then I’ll let you know.”

That would be a good time to finally face her, apologize for ruining her marriage, and tell her how much I hated her neglect.

Alpha stood in front of me, making me look up at him. “Do you think you could stay here a bit and watch over Ajax? Just at least for a few days?”

“Yeah, definitely. The doctor already told Ajax someone had to stay with him.”

“Good. I’m going to head out to get some groceries for both of you. Please try to get Ajax to eat something.”

“I will.”

“I won’t forget this.”

“This is about Ajax, not me. I’m doing this for him.”

“You have my thanks.”

When Alpha left, Cueball hung around for a bit longer.

“What can I do to help?” he asked.

I looked at my friend, seeing him differently for the first time. He looked older, and a bit stressed, no longer appearing as confident and indifferent as he usually did. There was a vulnerability to him I hadn’t noticed before.

“What’s the matter?” I asked him.

“Nothing. What do you need?”

“Honestly? We need to find a way to fix Ajax’s bathroom. He’s spent all his savings, so he’s got nothing left right now to repair it. If his landlordfinds out…”

“Done. I’ll figure it out.”

I lunged at Cueball and hugged him, something I’d never done before for as long as I’d known him. Slowly, he hugged me back.

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