Page 30 of Shame

“Hiya, Shark,” James Kenting says as I stop behind him, waiting my turn to talk to Terry, who is at the register, ringing people up.

Only a single cashier and register in this store. If you’re in a rush, well, sucks to be you. No one in this town knows how to do anything quick.

“How’s it going?” I answer.

“Not bad,” he says. “Busy preparing for the new school year.”

He’s the principal of the high school and has been doing great things for the school since he started four years ago. Pinehaven has one daycare, one elementary-middle, and one high school. Town isn’t big enough for much more—population wise. Two towns close by send some of their kids here too. The classes rarely have more than fifteen kids, and if there aren’t enough kids, they stick similar grades together in one classroom.

“Didn’t school just end?” I ask.

He chuckles, putting his stuff down on the counter when the other person heads for the door.

“Never stops for us,” he says. “Hey, you got any information about the charity event yet? You need some help? I got a few kids looking for summer jobs.”

I scratch the back of my head. “Uh, yeah. Snapper’s working on it. Not sure he’s got any paid gigs, but I can ask and have him let you know. Plenty of volunteer work, though.”

“Just as well. Teach these kids to be kind, you know? Seems to be lacking nowadays.”

Ain’t that the truth?

He pays for his items and waves before walking out the door. I wait until it closes before stepping up to the counter. Terry eyes me warily.

“They haven’t been back,” he grunts out.

I narrow my eyes on Terry, wondering why the fuck he’s being so defensive. Is it nerves? Guilt? Annoyance?

“Not what I was going to ask. But…” I lean forward on the counter, lowering my voice. “You sure about that?”

“‘Course I’m sure,” he spits out. “Why would I lie?”

I watch him for a minute, trying to decide if he’s lying or not. Don’t think he is, but something’s up with him. He’s acting strange. Maybe he found out about Noah coming to us?

“I’m here about the charity event. Snapper needs to know what you’re donating.”

“Drinks, like I usually do,” he snaps back.

“Don’t get feisty with me,” I grit out. “I am not your enemy here. All I’m trying to do is make this town safe.”

He wants to argue. I see his jaw clenching. But he keeps his mouth shut, which I appreciate. Last thing I wanna do is lay him out for being a cocky prick. Now what I really wanna do, what I’mgonnado, is make sure his son gets to be prospect because that’ll really piss this asshole off.

“Snapper will be in touch,” I say, turning to leave. By the door is a display with fresh flowers. There’s a real pretty bunch full of bright colors. I grab it and hold it up to Terry, who is glaring at me.

“Add this to my tab,” I say as I walk out.

Ain’t got no tab at this place, but I guess I do now.

Before making rounds to other places on my list to get info on who is donating what, I stop at the diner, even though it’s on the other end of town. I don’t want the flowers to wilt. Theyneed water and sunlight, not to be whipped around in the wind from my bike.

Cora and I had a great night last night. Her father was having a good day, something she says is pretty rare. Felt a little bad taking time from them, considering she doesn’t get many days like that. It’s also why I didn’t tell her that he kept calling me by my father’s name, mistaken me for him. Didn’t even know my father knew the guy, but I guess they were friends. Just shows that everyone who’s told me I look just like Pops knows what they’re talking about. I’m sure Cora will put two and two together once she learns my real name, and hopefully she’ll understand that I hid it for a reason. I didn’t want all that to be about me. I wanted her to enjoy time with her father.

It’s been a long damn time since I’ve had a family at home. Yeah, I got my club family, but once I go home… shit’s empty. Dare I say lonely sometimes? Not like how it was when Pops was alive. He always had someone over, was always cooking on the grill and watching football on the big screen. That’s how and why the club became my life. It was at the club, and it was at home. Now? Everything’s just… distant. Kept separate. I know it’ll go back to how it was one day, once all the wrinkles are ironed out. But in the meanwhile? It just kinda sucks.

I like the peace and the quiet, but sometimes I just want that peace and quiet with someone else, too. I remember sitting outside by the fire with Pops and his friends—the guys from the club. Sometimes we wouldn’t speak for hours. We’d just sit there and enjoy not being alone.

Though Cora and I were talking, I got a pleasant reminder of what that was like. A taste of what it could be like with her. If things went somewhere with us. I realized how much I want it to. What I really realized is that I don’t just want a hookup anymore; I want the real thing.

Fuck, and when she kissed me? I can’t even think about it without getting hard.

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