Tinker looked down the hall Olivia had disappeared down. “Because that girl showed up at your door and you didn’t hesitate for even a minute.”
“I hesitated plenty,” Abby said.
Tinker picked up a strand of her hair again, twirling the end around his finger, the silky strand smooth against the rough pad. “Not in a way that mattered. You’re rearranging your whole life to protect her. That makes you someone worth taking a risk for.”
Abby gaped at him. “I…I don’t know what to say to that.”
“Say you’ll go on another date with me.”
She took a deep breath. “I can’t.”
Tinker pressed his lips together and let the strand of hair fall from his fingers. It had been a long shot. He’d blown it the first time, walking away when he’d learned about Will. She had no reason to trust him. No reason to think he’d do anything different.
He nodded. “I understand. I’ll still help, through VACA or Katherine. Whatever you need.”
“I can’t for at least the next two weeks.”
“What?”
“We’re working on the Spring Showcase as soon as we go back to school on Monday, and it’s going to have all my attention for the next two weeks,” she said.
“What’s the Spring Showcase?”
“The art and drama departments have an evening where there are short drama performances, with costumes created by the fashion students and scenery from the art students. There's also an art and fashion exhibition in the main foyer and theater foyer.”
“It sounds like a lot of work,” he said.
“It is. It’s a big deal for the seniors because we invite recruiters from some of the top colleges and institutes in the country, even some from overseas. It’s not unusual for several students to receive scholarships from the portfolios they present.”
“All this happens after school, right?”
“Most of it,” she said. “Some of it happens during the day.”
That damn strand of hair beckoned again. “Who watches Will?”
“My mom.”
He nodded absentmindedly. He could work with two weeks. It would give him time to rebuild her trust. A hint of a plan formulated in his mind. One that would convince her he was serious and he meant what he’d said.
“Abby.” He tugged on the strand of hair again.
“Mm hmm?”
“Why don’t you walk me out?”
Her eyes widened slightly. “Oh. Okay. Sure.”
He stood and took her hand to pull her up. He kept her hand in his until they were outside and he’d pulled the door shut behind them.
“You really are amazing, you know that, right?”
She scoffed. “No, I’m not.”
It killed him she couldn’t see it. That her fuckwad ex-husband had walked away from her and his kid. “Yes. You are. For one, you’re raising a son, by yourself.”
She shrugged. “Lots of women do that.”
“You took in a kid that isn’t even yours. That you have no ties or loyalty to,” he said, as if she hadn’t spoken.
