I took another moment to look around. This really was a phenomenal school. And with the money I’d save by living with Lance, and a potential scholarship, I might actually be able to go to college, maybe even graduate from my undergrad early with a few credits from here. The idea of trusting Lance was starting to sound better and better. So what was holding me back?
“You know I’ve always loved school. It was my first escape from Mama. The only break I got was in the classroom,” I said mostly to myself before spinning around to face him fully. Decker was looking at me with quiet heat, his dark eyes hooded and mouth parted in that sexy way I’d been dreaming about since I met him. What I wouldn’t give to know what he was thinking.
“I know the feeling,” Decker murmured before letting out an uncomfortable cough. “We can cater your electives to fit pre-med if you are genuinely interested in that,” Decker added before biting his lip. “You could also sign up for the kinesiology course, too. We don’t have any teams here, but we partner with another high school and attend their football games as a sports medicine elective. Would look good on a college application. I can take you to the department head right now if you’d like? They started a week ago, but they’d be happy to have you.”
“Wouldn’t I have to be a student to sign up?” I asked, already knowing where this was headed.
“You’ve been signed up since yesterday, Blakely.”
I let out a frustrated exhale, though I wasn’t truly mad, not after seeing how kickass this school was. I was tired of getting in my own way. Excuses and stubbornness were Mama’s forte, not mine.
“The only reason I’m not pissed at you is because this lab has an RB50 Fluorescence Microscope,” I replied with a laugh, and I realized then that it was the first time I’d truly felt excited about the future since before Mama was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.
“Well let’s go talk to Doctor Lucas. We can get you into the sports medicine club.”
“Okay,” I replied with a wide smile before looking around the room a couple more times. “Thank you,” I whispered, too embarrassed to say it any louder and let him hear that I was thankful for his persistence.
Decker strolled over to me with a humble grin. He didn’t bask in the fact that he was right, which surprised me. Most men Mama brought home liked to brag that they knew what was best for us. They’d tell me what to do and get off on thinking they were smarter than me. But not Decker.
“You’ve been through a lot. You thought you had to do it all on your own because you’ve never had people to lean on,” he whispered. His voice held a tender quality that was both unexpected and invigorating, and oh, how he was right. It was always up to me to keep a roof over our heads and Mama’s treatments in check. I’d been taking care of myself for so long that I didn’t know any better. “But a part of growing up means seeing the bigger picture. Why just survive, when you can thrive?” The moment was too heavy. His body too close. My breathing too shallow. We were in dangerous waters, and I needed to swim my way out.
“Why does that sound like a cheesy marketing slogan?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood. We were driving toward serious conversation territory, and I wasn’t ready to part with more of my honesty.
“Because it is one. I like to save my original genius for the classroom.”
We both laughed, and it felt like a weight had been lifted from my chest. Maybe I could take my future by the balls. Maybe I could be more than a waitress or Sharron’s daughter. Maybe one day, I could have a lab coat and my own stethoscope. I just hoped I could handle sitting in Decker’s classroom without drooling.
8
Blakely
My feet were throbbing. It felt like a thousand bees had stung my heel, making each step burn with pain. I was no stranger to hard work. I could keep up with the best of them with a thankful smile on my face. But Friday nights at Huck-a-poos were fucking killer. It didn’t help that my shoes were so worn that I was one rough patch of concrete away from a massive hole. But Lance had been so kind, I didn’t want to ask him for new shoes, especially since he’d just bought me a few summer dresses and my new uniform for school. I figured a few more busy nights like this, and I’d have extra to spare for a good pair of shoes.
Besides, Rose kept slipping bags of clothes in my arms after my shift. The latest collection of clothes had a couple pairs of stilettos. Maybe soon she’d get sensible and add a pair of sneakers to the pile.
“You look exhausted, B!” Monica yelled over the live band while shaking her hips. She was carrying a large tray of drinks and smirking at anyone willing to give her a second look. Rose kept me mostly on food orders and left the bartending to people twenty-one and over, which meant I missed out on drunk tips, but the pay was still good—way better than what I made as a custodian. At this rate, I’d save up more than enough over the next year to get out on my own.
“I’m fine,” I chided, hating that she was bringing attention to how tired I looked. It wasn’t my fault I wasn’t getting much sleep lately. I wasn’t sure if it was anxiety over starting at a new school, the extended hours at Huck-a-poos, or the fact that across the hall, a man that had me confused as hell was sleeping. Off limits. Off limits. Off limits!
“Well, two tall drinks of water just asked to sit in your section. If you’re too tired to finish out your shift, I’d be more than happy to take them off your hands,” she replied in a sickly sweet tone with a chuckle.
Ignoring her, I turned around to search for who she was referencing, then went tense when my eyes landed on Lance and Decker. Rose was leaning over their table and chatting up my brother, a smirk on her face. I stood there frozen for a moment, praying the world would open up and swallow me whole. Rose must have said something funny about me, because they all laughed, chins tipped back in amusement, then turned their gazes in my direction. Fuck.
Rose lifted her hand and waved me over. Aside from a painfully awkward meditation, I’d managed to avoid my eccentric boss for the most part, and it seemed my luck had finally run out.
I cringed as I walked, dodging bussers and patrons with chagrin. Decker looked sinfully good. His hair was a mess, like he’d been running his hands through it all day. Those thick lashes of his framed dark eyes that left sweltering heat up and down my spine. He had dressed casually in a black shirt that hugged the tight muscles in his chest and those broad shoulders. I practically had to tear my eyes away.
“Blakely, dear, how are you today? Your aura is all over the place; is that a hint of sexual prowess I see? Someone got your eye?” Rose said with a kind smile before patting me on the back.
I wanted to run away and hide in the walk-in freezer until my body turned to ice. I could feel the blush rushing up my skin and turning me hot. “A couple of guys by the bar asked for my number. One of them was kind of cute.” I wasn’t necessarily lying. A hot blond did ask me for my number. But the tan line from where his wedding ring used to be was a big turn off.
“What?” Lance asked. I could practically see the invisible forcefield of overprotectiveness washing over him. Fuck. I saw the hint of his bright teeth as they gnawed on his lower lip in irritation.