Page 76 of Finding Hope

The laughter – and relief – rolls through my chest in a way that releases a coil of tension I didn’t even know I was holding on to. “Oh, that. Yeah, I forgot about that. She told me. I fucking love that kid.”

Britt rolls her eyes. “She’s lucky I didn’t give her detention.”

“She would’ve done her time, then we would’ve high-fived over ice-cream.” I shrug. “She’s just looking out for you, Bambie. Bradisa dick.”

“He might be a dick, but she’s eleven. She’s not allowed to say that!”

Downshifting, I pull around a corner, then speed up. “My girl is twelve, now, Bambie. I can’t believe you don’t know that.”

Fast as a snake, she slams her fist against my thigh. “Twelve is no better than eleven!”

“Whatever.” Laughing, I smack her hand away when she comes back for a second shot. “I’m not her mom, and I’m not her teacher. You willnothear me discouraging her hatred of Brad the Bore.” Pulling into the Wendy’s drive-thru, I turn to her with a grin. “Want a hotdog?”

Pulling up to Lookout Hill, I park the Mustang not so far from the cliff edge and climb out. It’s going on mid-afternoon, so the sun is still high and pleasantly warm.

With the stereo playing low, the soft sounds of Pink’sTrue Loveour background music, I grab our bags of food and drinks, and plop them on the roof. Lifting Britt – though of course, she’s perfectly capable of doing it herself – I shuffle her across the hood to make room for myself, then wait for her to get comfortable and lay back against the windshield.

Grabbing three hotdogs out of the bag for Annie, I set them on the ground and give her the go ahead to eat them. Taking the bag of leftovers, I climb up and lay down close enough to Britt that her bare arm and shoulder brush against mine.

I enjoy watching her out of the corner of my eyes; her silky hair, the button nose with the glittery piercing. Her pouty lips that glint in the sunlight. The sunglasses that hide her most beautiful assets, though her smile makes up for it.

Turning her head the way she did on my sister’s couch on pizza night, she chews her bottom lip in contemplation. “Jack?”

“Mmm?” I work to unpack our food.

“Were you visiting your mom and dad… at the cemetery?”

Stopping, I study her glasses and wish she’d take the fuckers off. “Um…” Shakily pulling out a hotdog, I pass it over and buy a little time. “No olives. No peanuts. No sushi.”

Smiling, oblivious to the fire that races through my blood, she accepts the food and starts unwrapping it. “And no anchovies. You totally nailed it. Thank you.”

Suddenly not so hungry, I take my red soda and sip. Fuck knows if I’m ready for this, but today’s as good as any to try.

Sitting my soda between my legs, I reach across and slowly drag the glasses off her face. She watches me closely, but she doesn’t stop me. Buying time by folding the frame and sitting them between us, I look up and meet her icy blue stare.

“How much friendship are you looking for here, Bambie?”

Biting her lip in thought, her eyes flick between mine. “What do you mean?”

“Well, I could tell you the real reason why I was at the cemetery today, or we could keep it light and I’ll just nod and agree and we can go back to hotdogs and flirting.”

Her brows pull low as she considers my words.

“Either option is fine with me,” I continue. “I honestly don’t mind which you choose. But the heavier version isheavy, and maybe you don’t wanna know. I don’t want to burden you with my shit, so I don’t mind if you choose the easy stuff.”

She watches me for another long minute, then turns back to her hotdog and takes a small bite. Her continued silence has me figuring she’s not interested in the heavy.

Fine by me. I don’t particularly wanna talk about it, either.

“Tell me the real, Jack. I want the truth, always. That’s what friends are for.”

My eyes snap to hers. “Yeah?”

Chewing her hotdog, she nods easily. “Mmhmm. I’m a badass gangster rapper. I can handle just about anything you throw my way.”

I can’t even laugh at her attempted funny. “It’s pretty heavy, Britt. And even if you sent my love note home with a big fat no, it’s not really something most girls will be comfortable talking about.”

She shrugs. Tucking hair behind her ear, she mesmerizes me with the half a dozen glittering earrings that line the shell. “I’m a tough cookie, Jack. If you wanna tell me, I wanna listen. Who knows, you might evenliketelling me.”

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