“How about we blow off the rest of the day and go to a museum or something?” Clearly I wasn’t comfortable with words. But I wanted to show her how much I appreciated her. And maybe take her to my favorite place.
Maybe it would become her favorite place too.
“Please, not the railroad museum.”
“What?”
She rolled her eyes. “My dad loved the railroad museum. I don’t know why. Maybe because he’s a hobo at heart? But we went like once a month. It’s okay the first five times, but after that…”
I cracked up. “Wow. You have so much patience it’s kinda amazing.” I chuckled some more. “I was thinking the Crocker Art Museum. They have American art, European stuff, amazing architecture and sculptures. It’s my favorite place in Sactown.”
She smiled. “I’ve never been, but it sounds like my kinda place.”
“Good. Let’s go then.”
* * *
Hours later, after we’d closed down the museum—security actually escorted us from the building—we were laughing and talking about the stern expression on the poor woman’s face as I drove us home.
“I feel like the principal just caught me making out under the bleachers or something.” Indy giggled.
“You say that like it happened before.” And I did not feel okay with that mental picture. I cleared my throat. “Were you a troublemaker in school?”
“Yeah right. I didn’t have the time. Once I got my license, I was running my Gran to doctor appointments or working at a sandwich shop to help out with the bills. I didn’t even go to prom.”
I sighed. “I didn’t go to any dances either. All my brothers were out of school, and I was in a hurry to catch up to them, prove to them that I could work with them too. You saw how well that worked out in the end.”
“I find it better not to rely on other people. You can see how well that worked out for me.” She laughed bitterly. “Present company excluded of course.”
As we idled at a red light, I turned and watched her stare out her window, sadness etched on her features. Until now our mood had been so light and fun, I ached to get back to that with her. Of anyone, Indy deserved some happiness given how much life had crapped on her.
But I was coming up empty with how to turn the mood around.
And when I pulled into my parking spot, my mood grew even darker.
Nathan and Austin sat at the little patio set Ryan had out front, but my closest brother was mysteriously missing. Nathan and Austin’s gazes were locked onto my truck so there wasn’t a chance to dip out unseen.
“Christ,” I muttered.
Indy turned to me with a frown. “What’s—oh.” I knew the second she caught what I was seeing. “That’s…gonna be awkward.”
“Seems to be my middle name lately.” I sighed. “You want to stay in the truck?”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to hide.”
“’Kay. Let’s go face the firing squad.”
“Literally,” Indy murmured.
“What? They’re not packing.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean that. I meant the job. Firing me. It was a joke?” She laughed unevenly.
“Oh. Right. Ha.”
She shot me a look like she knew I was only humoring her, and this time my laughter was real.
“Fuck me. You’re cute. Come on. Let’s see what the fuck they want so we can see about dinner. Pretty sure my fridge is empty. We’ll probably have to order out.”
