Page 36 of Spotlight
“I can change a tire, you know? And change the oil. Although I only did that once because it was so messy.”
He’s wearing a knowing smirk as he pulls on his wet T-shirt. Even soaked in beer, he makes it look good. It probably says something that I don’t want him to think I’m a complete idiot, but it’s not just for me. It’s for women everywhere. We can know stuff about cars or sports. I hate the stereotypes. Even if I happen to fall into a few of them. I could be good at car stuff. I just don’t want to be.
“Is that a no to sharing a ride? Xavier will be here in thirty seconds,” Flynn says.
I open the door to my car, intending to sit and wait by myself while I call a ride. I’m used to doing things on my own, not needing or depending on anyone else. Sure, I have my family and they’re great, but outside of that I don’t let a lot of people in. Certainly not men who are only offering up their services with one goal in mind. Maybe that isn’t fair. Flynn seems like a good guy, and he probably doesn’t have some conniving ulterior motive by offering to share a ride with me or take a look at my car, but I know too well how easy it is to get lost in those small acts of service. Pretty soon you’re expecting it or relying on it. And when they’re gone, it hurts all that much more.
I already rely on other people more than I like. My family helps with Greer, my grandparents dote on me any way they can, my sister is babysitting for me tonight. And my schedule is so chaotic I rarely get to repay the favor for any of them.
I wave at Flynn from the safety of my car. He waits a few feet away until his ride arrives. The car sits there, unmoving until my driver shows up minutes later.
Only once I’m in the Uber does Flynn’s driver finally take off.
“Freaking gentleman through and through,” I mutter, but I can’t help but smile.
* * *
I breathe a sigh of relief when I get inside my apartment. The lights are out but the TV in the living room is on and the colors from the screen shine bright enough I can make out my sister on the couch.
She wakes when I sit on the far edge.
“Hey.” Her voice is gruff. “How was work?”
“The usual,” I say, even though Flynn’s face and words are on a constant loop. “How was Greer?”
“Perfect. As always.”
I snort a laugh. My daughter has her aunt wrapped around her cute little finger.
“Thank you for watching her tonight.” A little of that guilt for needing someone to help me with my daughter slinks in. If the bookstore wins best in the city and gets the attention and recognition to bring in more customers, then maybe I can finally quit the club.
“Are you kidding me?” Ruby yawns. “I love hanging out with her. She helped me replot a scene in my book.”
“You let Greer read it and not me?”
“No.” She laughs softly and yawns again. “She made me watchTangledagain and it gave me an idea.”
“In that case, I’ve seen it about a billion times so maybe if you let me read it, I can help even more.”
“Nice try.” She smiles, eyes barely open.
“Are you staying over?” I ask as I stand. Exhaustion is creeping in, and I can’t wait to wash my face, brush my teeth, and fall into bed.
“I should go back to my place,” she says, and then curls onto her side before her eyes fall shut again. Ruby lives in the same building, two floors up.
“Night.” I toss the throw blanket from the back of the couch to her and then turn off the TV.
The door to Greer’s bedroom is cracked open. I push it another inch and peer in on her. The bedside lamp casts a warm glow over the space. We aren’t able to paint the walls here since it’s a rental, but we compensated by hanging pictures and posters, plus stringing pink twinkle lights.
She’s on her back, snuggled up in the light pink comforter and sheets, clutching her stuffed pink rabbit under one arm. She loves that thing. I have a backup in my closet just in case something happens to it. Though at this point she’s loved it so hard that it doesn’t really look like the original. My heart squeezes, and my body relaxes for the first time in hours.
It’s a reminder that everything I’m doing is worth it. The long hours at the bookstore, followed by late nights at Lilac Lounge. I want to give her everything. Opportunities and love, security. I had a great childhood filled with happy memories, two parents who loved each other and me and Ruby. Plus, grandparents who were active and involved in our lives. Basically, I have the family most people could only dream about. It’s hard not to compare what I had to her situation. She has a great family and life, but her parents aren’t raising her together and she doesn’t see her dad that often. Some days I let it get to me more than others. I hope my loving her more than anything else in the world is enough.
I cross the room to her and pull up the comforter tighter around her shoulders. Her lashes flutter open and then right back closed.
Leaning down, I brush her blonde curls out of her face and place a kiss on her forehead. She smells like toothpaste and lavender. God, I had no idea it was possible to love someone so damn much. I’d do anything for her.
“Momma,” she whispers, still half asleep. She lets go of her bunny and her arms go around my neck.
