Page 74 of Lose You to Find Me

“Christ,” I mumble.

I know it’d bite me in the ass if I gave him shit about taking care of his kid, but I don’t know if I can handle a full shift when I already promised Mom I’d be home with Dad while she runs errands.

“You good?” Matt asks, popping another fry in his mouth and watching me send a quick reply to my employee.

I shake my head, knee bouncing under the table as the pressure builds in my chest. “Store shit. Down an employee again. Mom wants me to get home by three. Dad already gave her shit about being babysat considering he’s got a whole team of people constantly watching him, but it gives Mom peace of mind knowing I’m there.”

My friends exchange another look before DJ says, “Can’t you just close early for the day? People around here will understand. Most of them know what’s up with your dad anyway.”

I don’t want to tell them that business is down and has been for a while. I’ve wanted to try hiring another person to help me and Ronny out since Mom has been gone from the scene, but we can’t exactly afford to do that right now because of the revenue we lost after the robbery. Buying a dog for Raine has become a big regret since she admitted what she’d done. That money could have gone to better things. Things for me, for Mom, for the store. We still haven’t gotten a payout for the items stolen, and there haven’t been as many sales thanks to the new chain store that went in not even twenty miles away. I’ve already closed early a few times, and Dad has been on my ass about how important consistency is for any business if I want to make money. “Hours need to remain the same no matter what,” he told me. “Don’t turn me into an excuse not to stay open.”

I know Dad comes from a good place when he says he’s confident I can handle anything—that I’m strong. So why the fuck do I feel anything but?

Matt grabs his plate. “I’m getting more fries. You want anything before you have to go, dude?”

I wave him off as he goes for seconds. DJ leans back with his arms crossed and watches me a little too closely.

“Don’t,” I tell him, scrubbing at my eyes.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You’re thinking something.”

“Whichisscary,” he confirms, smirking.

We’re quiet for a few seconds.

Then he says, “Once things are quieter for you, maybe we could do a guys’ night.Talkabout things. Get some shit off your chest. No offense, Caleb, but you look like you’re about to snap.”

He’s not wrong. “I can feel it,” I tell him, leaning back and clenching my fists together to keep composure. I have an overwhelming urge to scream at the top of my lungs until there’s nothing else left. Talking to Matt about shit helped before, so I know it can’t hurt to admit as much to DJ. “Everything is about to change. I know it, but I’ll never be prepared for it.”

“Bro, if there’s something I can do to help at any point—”

“Don’t you get it?” I laugh bitterly, swiping my fingers through my hair. “Nobody can do anything. The doctors can’t save Dad. The bank can’t give me more money for the hardware store. And I couldn’t save my fucking relationship with Raine.”

For once, DJ is quiet. There’s no witty comeback or words of wisdom.

Closing my eyes, I lean forward and drop my head. Hand gripping the back of my neck, I let out a long sigh. “She fucking cheated on me, man. I gave her everything, and it wasn’t enough to keep her. Just like the doctors couldn’t do enough for Dad.”

I hate that DJ is blurry when I lift my eyes to meet his, but there’s no hiding the tears that form in my eyes as I watch him stare at me.

“She told you she cheated?”

“Not in those exact words,” I murmur, using the heels of my palms to wipe my eyes. “I didn’t need her to tell me the details. She said everything she needed to.”

“Christ,” my friend murmurs, shaking his head in surprise. He’s at a loss for words. A first for him.

Matt comes back over and drops down, tossing a fry in his mouth. “What’d I miss?”

DJ stares at me.

I drop my eyes.

And Matt says, “Who died?”

Flinching, I shake my head at the innocent question. “Nobody yet.”

I think DJ smacks Matt, but I’m not sure because I don’t look at either of them.

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