Page 53 of Bleeding Hearts

“That needs to happen soon before my kid is forced to work for the FBI for hacking into the wrong system.” I wish I was kidding, but I know it’s bound to happen unless we take action. “What the hell am I going to do?”

“I know you wanted him to live a fairly normal life, but his IQ is getting in the way.” Alicia looks up, her eyes filled withanticipation, as if she’s bracing herself for a heated argument. “Maybe it’s time to think of an alternative. He’s bored. Bored kids do dumb shit. This is just the tip of the iceberg and child’s play for him. And at least this time he did it to help Finn.”

With my elbow resting on the table, I use my fist as support. “His math teacher told me he’s using Felix as a tutor for his Algebra II class and making him do Trig, and even then, it’s too easy. I’m supposed to meet with them next week to discuss moving him into AP Calculus. That’s the only class that challenges him since the state requires he take certain core classes to graduate. But seriously, what’s the point if he’s not learning anything because he learned all that shit when he was in elementary school?”

My fifteen-year-old freshman is advanced beyond his years. I thought robotics would help, and it has to an extent but not enough to stimulate his brain. “He should be in college.”

“So, you’re finally ready to talk about that, then?” Alicia pushes the laptop aside and gives me her full attention. “You realize you don’t have to send him away to get his bachelor’s degree? He can earn that here. Go to GSU so you can keep an eye on him. Once he graduates, then he can decide where he’ll attend graduate school. Because you and I both know that’s gonna happen, probably in a few years, before Finn graduates high school. But he’ll be eighteen by then, more mature.”

“I don’t think I have any other option. I’m being selfish and holding him back.” My head hits the table with a thud. “Online classes might be an option until the spring semester. They are typically shorter. Although I hate online. I don’t feel like they’re as good as in person, especially for a kid his age. But if it’s just his core classes, he’d be okay.”

“Look at you.” The smile in her voice evident as she pokes my arm. “When are you going to tell him?”

I lift my head enough to peek up at her. “Not until after we get this shit worked out.”

The front door opens and then closes. The clicking sound of heels on the tile is a clear indication it’s Jodi, not Nolan. And I was halfway right when I see her walk in and toss her purse on the table before she sits down.

But then I realize she’s not alone. Nolan is right behind her with a tray of coffee. He sets it down on the table, then pulls out the chair next to mine. Once he’s seated, he removes two of them, sets one in front of me and the other in front of Alicia. With two left, he gives one to Jodi, who thanks him before taking a sip.

I wasn’t happy last night when he showed up with Felix at a quarter after two. The alarm alerted me the front door opened, and I came out thinking it was just him, wondering what had brought him by so late. As soon as I saw my son, my initial idea faded away. Felix wore baggy dark sweats and a Savannah fire fighters t-shirt that swallowed his skinny frame. We’d stared at each other for a few minutes before Nolan tapped my son on the back, encouraging him to go upstairs to bed. When I started to go after him, Nolan stopped me. Offered me a brief explanation and told me the rest could wait until morning.

The only reason I listened was because of what he did next.

Lowering himself to eye level, he said, “I’m asking you as your boyfriend to trust me on this. If I thought it couldn’t wait, I’d tell you. We talked. Me and him. Go back to bed and try to get some sleep.”

“Why are you up so late?” I’d asked while getting lost in his sour apple green eyes.

“We can talk about that tomorrow, too.” Then he closed the gap and kissed me like a man staking his claim, making me go weak in the knees. “Goodnight, Bethany.”

Then he was gone. Walked right out the front door and back across the street.

I watched his fine ass disappear and while it had crossed my mind to go upstairs and have a chat with my son, who rarely did shit like this, I’d done as myboyfriendrequested. I went to bed, but got very little sleep.

“Drink that.” Nolan points to the large paper cup in front of me. “Carmel macchiato with a shot of expresso and extra whipped cream.”

The women across from me have hearts in their damn eyes, and I want to kick both of them under the table, but I don’t. There is no way Nolan knew this is my go-to drink unless he asked someone. We’ve never discussed it or drank coffee outside of that brewed in my house or his.

“Finn texted me this morning. He said it’s the fuel you’d need to get through today.” Relaxing in his seat, Nolan looks over at Alicia. “Decaf for you.”

A smile threatens to break across her lips as she nods. “Thank you. I miss caffeine, but now that I’m pregnant, I guess I’m gonna have to learn to deal.”

I still can’t believe Alicia is gonna be a momma. Each time I think about it I get excited for her all over again. And the way she learned about it will be a great story for them to share with their little one.

As she takes a sip of her coffee, Jodi shoots him a skeptical look. “Who told you I’m a mocha junkie?”

He lifts the steaming paper cup to his lips, taking a slow sip. “You two underestimate your sons.”

I look over at Jodi and start laughing. “No, we don’t. Those two have been in enough trouble together that they know how to turn on the charm, hoping to lessen the blow. It rarely ever works, but it’s nice to know that maybe one day when theybecome involved with a young lady, they understand the power of kissing ass.”

Rolling his eyes, Nolan brings us back to the reason we’re sitting here. “What’s the plan?”

“We have a meeting with the principal at two.” I motion between me and Jodi. “I’m going to ask if they’ve looked at the surveillance videos. If they try to give me the runaround, I’ll tell them we received an anonymous tip that there’s evidence on them that clears our boys. They won’t find out about Felix’s hacking from me. I don’t want him in that kind of trouble. The most I’m willing to do is tell them I know someone was let in through that back hallway door and threaten to make that public if they refuse to make this right.”

Nolan shocks us all with his next words. “I talked with Wade this morning.”

Jodi squints her eyes, confused. “Who’s Wade?”

“The cop who lives on the corner,” Nolan answers. “He has a kid who goes there. I might’ve mentioned something about hearing kids letting people in who didn’t belong. Asked him what he thought we should do about it.”

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