Page 33 of Bear Strength

“We’ll sit down and talk about this,” I try to wiggle my way out of this one, but I know he won’t have it.

I already see the big fight that will ensue, but luckily, the sound of bike tires interrupts us. Dominick jumps up without a single word, and rushes upstairs to get dressed. I walk over to the front door and open it without even hearing anyone knock.

Adrian is already there, and I see him standing with his fist in the air, about to knock.

“Good morning,” I smile.

“Odds are it will be good,” he replies, as he tries to smile.

“The sky looks nice and sunny,” I look up.

“It might rain later. If you go somewhere, take an umbrella.”

“I will, thanks.”

I look at him, as I wait for Dominick to come running back. His cheeks look a little burned, like he spent too much time in the sun the previous days. He notices me looking at him, and he looks a little nervous. He shifts his weight from one foot to the other. I would invite him in, but Dominick should come down any second.

“Will Mason be… at your place?” I ask, not really sure if they call that place home or not.

It looks like a home, but it also looks like it’d fit only a few people. From what I’ve seen and heard, there’s about a dozen of them in the gang.

“He is not there now, but I believe he will be back in an hour.”

“That’s great,” I nod. “I need to talk to him.”

Adrian gives me a puzzled look.

“Can I help?” he asks, and suddenly, I’m washed over with a sudden desire to wrap my arms around him and give him a big kiss on the cheek.

“I just need him to clarify a few things,” I explain. “But, thanks.”

At that moment, Dominick comes rushing out, and almost pushes me out of the way.

“Hey!” I shout at him, but I’m not angry. He tries to leave. “You won’t even give your mom a hug?”

He frowns a little, but turns to do as he’s told. I hug him back, inhaling the smell of my still sleepy child, as I let it go out into the world.

“Stay safe!” I shout after both of them, as they leave my porch, and Adrian’s bike disappears down the street.

The moment I’m about to close the door, I hear the sound of the bike again. I turn around, figuring that Dominick probably forgot something. But, it’s not Adrian. It’s not Dominick.

I look at the towering figure, as he gets off his bike. His Ray Ban’s flicker in the sun. His leather jacket ripples sun waves, like the tide. The sound of his boots on the gravel as he walks over to the house fills up the air around me. I stand there, waiting. My heart in my throat.

“Good morning,” he tells me, with a wicked gleam in his eyes, taking off his sunglasses.

“What… are you doing here?” I ask. “Adrian just took Dominick.”

“I know,” he replies. “I came to take you out for some breakfast.”

“Breakfast?” I repeat, taken aback by his offer.

Is it possible that he somehow knew I’d be coming over? Impossible.

“I know you work the afternoon shift, and I figured you’d want to try coffee and eggs somewhere other than the only diner in town,” he grins.

“That’s nice, but…” I look around, trying to come up with a plausible excuse as to why it’s not a good idea to go anywhere with him. But, nothing comes to mind.

“But, you don’t want to sit on a bike with a drug dealer, right?” he asks, and for a moment or two, I can’t figure out if he’s pissed or not. The smile on his face finally tells me he’s not.

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