Page 52 of Ash
“Job interview? I thought you were remodeling the dance studio.”
She nods while scratching her head. “I am, but that’s expensive, and so is living at the apartments. So, I went to an interview at Spades.” I can feel it when my face falls.
“The strip club?” Her flinch tells me I might’ve said that too loudly.
“Yeah, I kind of have experience with it.” She laughs, but I am finding zero humor in my girl dancing on stage in front of strange men.
Wait…my girl?
When the fuck did I cross that bridge? “I, uhhh…” I cough to clear my throat. “What about Wade? Where will he be? Have you thought about that?”
Annoyance creeps into her face. “Well, I assumed I’d put the boy in the corner booth to play with his video games while his mama gives lap dances for twenties. That is what strippers with kids do, right? Bring them up in the sinner lifestyle.”
“Wait, what? No. Sunday, stop.” I grab her by her upper arm to stop her from leaving. “Sorry, this is just a lot, and it’s been a long day. I just meant, do you need someone to watch him? Or do you need some money? I could hel—”
“That’s your one,” she warns. “You can only offer me money one time. After that, I won’t talk to you again.”
“Why?”
“I’m not a charity case. I don’t want pity, and I am perfectly capable of working. I don’t really want to go back to that job either. There is nothing wrong with it, but it does drain you. And—” she laughs shortly. “I feel drained enough. But the money will help get me the contractor work needed for the studio without me having to scrape by.” I perk up.
“Contractor work?” She nods.
“Yeah, the place needs remodeling, and like I said, that’s really expensive. Why are you smirking?”
I laugh lightly. “Sunshine, it's only expensive if you have to hire a crew.” She raises a brow.
“Well, I sure as shit can’t do it.”
“No, but I can. And so can the guys. Fox, Derek, and I all have carpentry backgrounds. Who do you think built the piercing studio in Hel’s? Remodeled Fox and Janie’s place as well as Atlas and Ren’s? I mean, I love Atlas, but the man is dangerous with a power tool.” She laughs lightly as she shifts from one foot to the other. “Look, if you want to work at Spades, that is your choice and I’ll support you. I won’t like it, and I will be taking you and picking you up every night, but I won’t fight you. As much as I have the urge to quite literally snarl and bare my teeth at every man that looks at you. But if you’re only doing this because you need some help that me and the guys can give, then why not let us?”
“I’m still hung up on the whole snarling and teeth-baring thing.” She scratches her head and I groan.
“Yeah, I don’t know what’s happening there, to be completely honest. I haven’t really allowed myself to delve into it.” She laughs while patting my chest.
“Well, don’t delve too deeply. I wouldn’t want you to strain yourself.” She goes to pull her hand back, but I grab her small wrist and hold her there.
“I like you.” The words leave my mouth before I even have time to register what I’m saying. Sunday looks straight up at me and nods slightly.
“I know.”
Really?
“Did you just Han Solo my ass?” She lets out a laugh so pure and beautiful my knees go weak. Before pushing up on her tiptoes and kissing my cheek.
“I like you, too,” She murmurs before grabbing my hand. “Now, let’s go get you some caffeine, you look like shit.”
“Wow, you are quite the panty dropper there, Sunshine,” I joke and I watch as she looks at me playfully.
“Charming, do you want me to drop your panties?” I laugh at her slightly familiar question. “Because I aim to please.”
Chapter22
Sunday
“What do you think of Ash?” I ask my son as we sit on the bench at the park, enjoying the nice day. He and I are so busy. We haven’t gotten to just hang out like this lately, I miss it. I miss him being little and wanting nothing but to be attached to my hip every hour of the day. I don’t think I fully appreciated it then. I look at the young man sitting next to me, with his voice changing, his two strands of facial hair he’s so proud of, and his sketchbook and I can’t help but be filled with a little sadness at how fast it all went by.
“In what way?” Wade is only mildly paying attention to me. I can tell by his furrowed brow and his rapid movements over the page.
