Smith grunted. “Gotta be a chick problem.”
“You got that right. And no, I don’t want to talk about it.”
Smith snickered. “Like I was gonna offer.” He turned on the radio. Alternative rock played a low hum. “But Evan, if you’re serious about being all family-like, it wouldn’t hurt if you picked up donuts and coffee now and then. Like Jordan sometimes does. And Hector. They try to buy my love.”
“More like your silence,” Evan grumbled.
“Yeah, ’cause they’re smart like that. Learn and grow, my man. And for the record, I like ’em glazed. I can eat about six at a stretch. Just sayin’.”
Evan glanced at Smith. “So you’re saying I can bribe you into being a decent human being?”
“Never said anything about being decent, but if that’s what helps you sleep at night, sure.”
“Oh my God. You are just like Cash.”
For once Smith didn’t growl at the name. His evil laughter wasn’t much better, but Evan had hopes for the guy.
“Six glazed donuts, huh?”
“Yep. But I’d never say no to seven.”
* * *
Hours later, as Evan finished at Vets on the Go! and started his car, his phone rang. He hit the hands-free button and pulled out, more than ready to celebrate his first free weekend from work in weeks. Of course, with his luck he’d be bored to tears because Kenzie would no doubt still be ignoring him.
He groaned. Lila hadn’t told him much, only that she’d been putting a good word in for him. He hadn’t had much to say to her about Hector. He hadn’t seen the guy in days. On a big job with his brother, Finley, and Martin, Hector had been working out in Tacoma from sunup to sundown.
“Hello?”
“Um, Evan?” Daniel’s voice brightened Evan’s whole day.
“Yo, Daniel. How’d the tryouts go?”
He’d been thinking about the boy since his discussion with Lila. Every time he tried to imagine a future with Kenzie, he saw the kid in it. And it didn’t bother him in the slightest.
“I made the team!”
Evan cheered. “That’s incredible. Way to go, man! I knew you could do it.”
“Yeah. I’ve been practicing those moves of yours and working really hard. And…I won’t lie. I kind of told the coach you were working with me, like, giving me extra coaching and that you’d help out if he needed it, no problem.”
“So, you lied.”
“Hell, yeah. Dude, I made the team.”
Evan laughed to himself. “Daniel, it doesn’t have to be a lie. I’m happy to help you practice if you want.”
A pause. “Kenzie’s working, so she probably won’t be around after school or anything.”
“Does your sister play soccer?”
“No.”
“Then why would she be at your soccer field? Look, I love the sport, and you’re growing on me. Like a fungus, but you know, it’s not so bad.”
The boy laughed.
“I can’t make it every day, depending on my schedule, but I’ll have a lot more time once my cousin is working again. Should be another week and I’ll go back to being behind a desk a lot more.” Which bothered him, to his surprise. “So I’d welcome the chance to get on my feet.”
