“Oh, you mean dahlias!” the woman says. Flower lady for the win. “Yes, it’s the perfect time of year for them. What color family are you thinking?”
“Let’s do pink. All the shades of pink you have. A big bouquet.” But I catch myself. “Actually, do you think we could keep it under a hundred?”
The lady gives me an understanding smile. “I’ve got plenty of lovely filler flowers, don’t worry. And no baby’s breath.”
“Awesome. Thanks.”
Cam gives me a look. “What are you doing, man? We always go in on the birthday flowers together. She doesn’t need two.”
“For once I have money. And I owe it to Minnie—uh, Mom, I mean.”
As the woman scratches something down on a notepad, Cam puts his hands in his pockets. “That all we need?” he asks quietly.
I cut my eyes away from him. “That’s all.”
My mom’s birthday is a week after Minnie’s, a fact Cam knows because every year it’s a thing. Half the time anunspoken thing, but still a thing, even in the years I don’t celebrate with her. Even in the years—like this one—I’m not even certain I have her current address. No matter the year, it highlights the glaring difference between my real mom and the woman who acts like a real mom.
After we pay and give the woman Minnie’s address, we head out onto the street to find lunch. “So all of a sudden you’re living large, huh?” Cam asks. “How’s the new job, anyway? Mom says the manager loves you.”
“Naturally.”
“So it’s working out?”
“I’m sitting on a decent stack of cash for a few hours of work, so yeah. Hopefully it doesn’t all go to the Bronco.”
“That’s half the reason you took the job anyway, isn’t it? Supporting your baby?”
“Yeah, but she’s going to need work sooner than I thought; broke down again last night.”
“I can loan you what you need,” Cam says.
“No way,” I say quickly. I still owe Cam for the generous loans he gave me back in high school. And even if he only jokingly agreed to let me pay him back when I sign my first NFL contract, that’s the first check I’m going to write if I go pro. “But you can give me a ride to the restaurant to pick her up.”
“How’d you get home last night?”
“Jade.”
There’s silence for a beat.
“I about went to bed with a headache after ten minutes in the car with that chick,” I continue.
“Uh-huh. She’s a lot.”
“No kidding. You know how much she hates me working there? You should see the way she glares when I walk in for the night. It’s pretty funny.” I think back to my first night at Somerset Grill, the look on Jade’s face from across the roomwhen she realized I was the new waiter. Arms folded over her chest, nose in the air. Even when she’s being hateful, she looks good. Especially in that tight little skirt she has to wear at work.
I look over at Cam, who’s watching me and shaking his head. He narrows his eyes. “Don’t even think about it, dude.”
“What?”
“You know exactly what.”
I try to stop the smile sliding across my face. “No, I don’t.” I nod at the sandwich shop across the street. “Let’s get subs.”
“Don’t go near her. In fact, don’t even look at her. It’s too messy.”
“I’m not gonna go near her,” I say as we cross the street. “That’s the last thing on my mind.” I try to pretend like it hasn’t even occurred to me, but Cam’s smirking; I’ve never been a great actor. “I mean, she’s hot; not saying I wouldn’t tap that if she offered herself up to me on a silver platter.” Cue the graphic image in my head of a fully naked Jade on a giant silver platter.
“Oh, you would? Really?” Cam asks, pulling open the door to the sandwich shop. “No shit.” He laughs. “Good thing you’re arrogant as hell. Jade wouldn’t let a guy like you within spitting distance.”
