Page 59 of Give Me a Shot

“Thanks,” he said. “Maddie and I came here for one of Khalil’s fundraising events a while back.”

“Fundraising?” she asked, picking up her Reuben sandwich.

“Yeah, I complain about him talking too much or being too sociable, but it has its benefits. Works quite well for him in his barbershops. He also volunteers with a youth basketball team and the Boys and Girls Clubs. They do community events a lot, and he is excellent at getting business sponsors.”

She raised her eyebrows as she finished her bite.

“I imagine that you’re one of those sponsors,” she said.

He shrugged.

“It’s important.” He took a bite of his hamburger. Drawing attention to any financial contributions he made always made him skin-burningly self-conscious. That had been a key source of discomfort concerning the thank-you banquet. He had started to feel a little tight in the chest thinking about it when Jess reachedout and ran a finger along the edge of his beard. His heart truly started pounding.

“So, Khalil’s the one who keeps you looking so sharp,” she said. She winked at him.

“Uh, yeah,” he said, feeling his cheeks heat.

“Did Maddie have fun at the event here?” she asked, taking another bite of her sandwich.

“Oh yeah, a blast. They had a rock-climbing wall, races, all sorts of stuff she adores. She was so tired she fell asleep on the way home.”

“Sounds like she’s an active girl—young lady. You said she’s twelve, right?”

Mo nodded. Finishing his bite, he wished he had something to drink.

“She’s still a little girl to me, but it’s clear we’re entering adolescence. A little too much attitude, moments where she’ll cry at the drop of a hat. But apparently that’s normal, that’s what all the books say.”

“The books?” Jess asked.

“Yeah, I’ve switched from the ones about childhood development to the ones about the teenage years. I don’t want to get caught unawares.”

“You read books about childhood development?” she asked.

“Um…yeah. I want to be a good parent,” he said. He started to worry that he’d said something wrong.

Jess reached out and squeezed the hand he was leaning on.

“You are a good parent, Mo,” she said softly. “Most parents don’t do that.”

“Oh,” he said. He felt his cheeks getting warm again. “Thanks.”

They sat in silence for a few moments, and Mo had another urge to drink something. He noticed a little concession stand near the stage.

“Do you mind if I leave you here for a second?” he asked.

“No, why?” she asked.

“I’m parched. I’m going to grab something to drink.” He pointed out the stand to her. “What would you like?”

She smiled.

“A coke or some other pop. Thanks.”

“Sure thing.”

He stood up, then realized he was about to leave a woman alone in a park at night.

“Wait,” he said. “I don’t want to leave you here by yourself. Don’t know who could be around.”

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