“She’s a strange bird,” Toni says.
“There’s only one Echo.”
“You know what I’d be doing if I were you?” Toni asks, getting back to a juicer topic and forgetting all about Echo. “I’d be reaching out to that hottie football player, and I’d try to get him out for a date. Maybe he’ll spill some dirt about why he got fired. That’s a story worth big money to the media. You know what I’m saying?”
“What the fuck, Toni? You want to go seduce some loser and sell his story to the press, go for it. I don’t want anything to do with that shady shit.”
Toni clucks her tongue and heads toward the back. “That’s a mistake, babe,” she says. “Look, we’re not like those people. He’s rich, and he’s fucking over other people with his money and his position in life. Having people fuck you back just comes with the territory. I wouldn’t hesitate to sell a dick pic, a story… Shit. If there was enough money in it, I don’t know there’s much aside from illegal shit that I wouldn’t do.”
There’s no arguing with Toni. I’m not even going to try to change her mind. She’s entitled to her views.
I’m suddenly exhausted. I check the tablet and see my client for two is confirmed. He’s a regular, and he just wants a small addition to a piece I did for him two summers ago. Should take me no more than three hours, including sketching and placing the stencil.
I am relieved in some ways. Glenn is a great guy. Older man, not too chatty. Easy to talk to if I’m in the mood, but able to be quiet and let me work once I’m in the flow. It’s a small gift from the universe that I’ll take today because the last thing I want is to hear any more about Levi Olson.
15
RYDER
I walkinto my rental house to find my buddy Austin, sleeves rolled to his elbows, feet on the coffee table, furiously typing on his laptop.
“Uncle Austin,” I say as we walk through the door.
Austin jumps up from the couch, immediately closing the lid on his laptop. “Would you look at this.” He opens his arms and bends down to greet Cora and Luke. “Who are these kids? They’re so big.”
Cora throws herself into Austin’s arms, which breaks my heart. We looked at pictures of him last night so I was sure she hadn’t forgotten him and wouldn’t be scared. She rests her head on his shoulder, and he kisses her hair while he rocks her in a giant hug.
Then he sets her down and extends a hand to Luke. “Hey, little man. Do we shake hands now or what?”
Luke chuckles, but I can see he’s a little more nervous than Cora was. He doesn’t say anything but sort of leans close to Austin, who wraps him in his arms. “It’s been a minute, man. It’s okay if you kind of forgot me.”
But then, Austin sniffles. He steps away from Luke and covers his face with his hand. He dramatically flops to the floor, pretending to be hurt. “You don’t remember your favorite uncle. It’s okay, guys. I’m not hurt.”
Luke flops onto the floor and hugs Austin, reassuring him, “I remember. I remember.”
As much as I doubt I’ll try the same technique to get Luke past his speaking anxiety, I’m impressed at how effective it is.
Once everyone is standing and the hugs are done, I send the kids to the bathroom to wash their hands so I can give Austin a hug of my own.
“Hey, man. Amazing to see you.” I clap him hard, and he hugs me back before motioning his arms around the place. “Cute house, adorable neighborhood. I can see why you left the city. This is a whole change of pace.”
I nod. “Star Falls is starting to feel like home. You want to go out for dinner? Gracie’s brother owns the best Italian restaurant here in town.”
“Gracie?” He cocks his chin and grins at me. “Is that her name? Tell me all about her. And yeah, I’m down for Italian. Luke still love pasta?”
“More than anything,” I confirm. “I should call and see if we need a reservation.”
When the kids come back to the living room, I empty their backpacks and send them upstairs to play so Austin and I can talk.
“Fifteen minutes,” I tell Luke. “Watch your sister for fifteen minutes. I’m going to try to get us a reservation at Benito’s. You feel like going out for pasta?”
“Is Gracie going to come?” he asks.
Austin shoots me a look that says everything.
“Nah, bud. Gracie’s working tonight. But we’ll see her this weekend, I’m sure. I want her to meet Uncle Austin. Go on now. Fifteen minutes.”
Once the kids are upstairs, Austin drops onto the couch. “I see the kids like her. What’s she do?”
