Page 49 of Candy

I stepped forward and took his face in my hands. “Michael Bollard, you should have thought about that before you had sex with his mother. Now, get your ass in there and speak to your son.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

MICHAEL

Live with Candy? The thought was absurd, but what choice did I have right now? I couldn’t have a child sleeping upstairs in a bar. It wasn’t like there were actual living quarters up there, just a room and a small bathroom.

I tried to rack my head for anyone else who could help, but I couldn't think of anyone unless I wanted to return to the club. There was also no way I would return to the club—especially now.

I had a kid.

I had a fucking kid.

Holy shit. I needed a drink.

Candy pulled me toward the bar as if knowing what was going on inside my head. “Have a seat. I’ll get you something to drink.”

I nodded to her and approached Harley slowly. He turned to me; it was like looking into a mirror, only thirty-something years earlier. There was no denying it.

“Um, hey,” I said as I slipped into the stool beside him.

“Hi,” he said in a small voice.

“So, your name is Harley?”

“Yes, and I’m six.” I quickly did the math, which added up to my time with Nancy.

“I bet you are pretty confused right now.” He shrugged slightly. “Are you hungry?”

He nodded and seemed to come to life. “Do you have hot dogs? I love hot dogs. I eat hot dogs every day.”

“We do have hot dogs. Do you like fries?”

“Fries? Really?” I nodded, and he grew more excited.

“Do you have ketchup?” he asked as he got to his knees on the stool, and I tensed in case he fell off. The last thing I needed was for the kid to crack open his head during the first hour in my custody.

“We sure do. One hot dog and fries are coming up.”

I started to get off the stool, and Candy raised her hand. “I got it. Do you want anything? I was going to ask Dave to make me a burger.”

I was about to tell her no but decided not to. “Yeah, I’ll take a burger too.”

She disappeared into the kitchen with a smile. For some reason, having her here calmed me, but that wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

I turned to Harley as he spoke. “My mom said I looked like you. Do you think so?”

“I do. You look just like I did as a kid.”

“The candy lady said I would grow up to be as big as you.”

“The candy lady?” I pointed toward the kitchen. “You mean Candy? That is her real name. Candy. Like yours is Harley. Hers is Candy.” He looked surprised and then smiled.

“I thought she just liked candy or gave it away or something.”

“No, that was the name her mother and father gave her.”

“Is she your girlfriend?”

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