Page 30 of Here's to Now

“You do know firing me every day doesn’t work, right?”

He sighs loudly. “I can’t get rid of you, huh?”

“Not a chance,” I say with a laugh.

“Fine, fine, but you really can have tonight off if you want. We have plenty of drivers, and I don’t foresee tonight being all that busy. I’d rather you take a night off for yourself than come in and sit around.”

A night off? What the hell would I even do with that? I could sit at home, maybe stream some Netflix (yes, I finally subscribed), but that would involve being home at an hour I most definitely don’t want to be home during. Maybe I could find some piddly shit to do here at the shop, which wouldnotbe taking the night off. I could go grab a burger at Clyde’s, but that would involve seeing Benny.

Actually, you know what? Fuck Benny. I’m going to go have a burger, and if I’m feeling frisky as fuck, I’ll order a beer.

Yeah. That’s what I’m doing.

“Are you sure?” I question Harold before I get too excited about my suddenly free night.

“Positive, kid. I’ll call you if we need ya, but like I said, I doubt we will. Go be wild for a night.”

“Wild, huh?”

“Not too wild. I don’t want to have to bail you out of jail—again.”

I can hear the teasing words in Harold’s voice, but they still sting. He’s only bailed me out once, but it was enough for me. I thought for sure he was going to beat my ass or turn me in to my parents. He didn’t do either, but I think his silence and clear disappointment hurt more than any beating my dad or Harold would have given me. Skinned me raw from the inside out.

“Well, shit. Thanks, man. I appreciate it. I’ll keep my ringer on.”

“Sounds good. Hey, I’m just being nosey here…what do you need tomorrow off for?”

“Uh…” I hesitate, almost afraid to say it out loud, fearing I’ll mess everything up somehow. Because that’s what I do: I get opportunities and I fuck them up—royally. It’s my MO at this point. Life hands me goodness, talent, and gracious chances. I hand life bad decision after bad decision. That’s the pattern I’m trying to break.

“Gaige?”

I jump, startled by the voice on the other end, having forgotten I was on the phone. Clearing my throat, I answer, “Graham has a thing at school.”

“Oh yeah? That’s cool.”

“I’m, uh, I’m sort of taking him.”

The loud voices I’ve been hearing in the background fade as Harold finds somewhere quieter to talk. “That’s…wow,” Harold says, sounding as shocked as I am as a door clicks shut in the background.

“There’s more.”

“More?”

“Yeah. I’m taking Grahamandthe rest of the gang. Gia, Gunner, and Gillian too. Mercy isn’t going.”

I hear him flop down into his office chair, the familiar squeak giving his location away. “I thought she cut you off a few months back?”

I squeeze the back of my neck with my free hand. “I thought so too, but I guess since she needs me now… It’s hard to get into a routine since she keeps yanking them away from me. Every time I get to be alone with them is like the first time all over again.”

“Are you nervous?”

“Do I fucking sound nervous?” I growl unintentionally.

Harold laughs, unfazed by my annoyance. “Nah. Cool as cucumber, kid. How’s Mercy?”

“She didn’t sound good.”

“Damn.” I hear a muffled voice come into the room, and Harold responds before coming back on the line. “I have to go. Someone’s claiming they didn’t get an order of breadsticks I know we sent becauseIpacked it up.”

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