“Bo says you’re a good man.”
“Not near as good as he is.”
“I don’t know. If I needed someone to fix dinner or give me advice, I might pick him.” Ty snickered, then sobered. “But if I need someone to teach me how to kick ass and take names, I’d choose you. Don’t get me wrong, I still don’t like leaving my friends behind to move here, but I’ve had a lot of time to think after you dropped me off.”
Really? “I wasn’t gone that long.”
“I’m a fast thinker.” Ty flashed a grin. “Anyway, he told me about some of the things you’ve done, how you’ve put yourself on the line for other people.”
“It’s part of the job.”
Ty snorted. “I’m pretty sure giving Grandpa half your liver isn’t in your job description.”
Oh that. Giving a literal part of himself to save a man who’d disowned him. “I did what I had to.”
“I know. I see that now.”
Lucky got the feeling Ty wasn’t only talking about Grandpa’s new lease on life. “I’m sorry I’ve said or done things that hurt you. I never meant to. I wanted what was best for you.”
“Yeah. It still might take some time to get used to you being back from the dead, and having to make new friends and all, but I’m willing to try getting to know you if you’re willing.”
Oh, dear Lord. Lucky needed something, anything, to stave off the tears he felt welling up in his eyes. “Works for me. But I got to tell you, running around town hunting poofballs ain’t my thing.”
“I got Uncle Bo for that.”
Uncle Bo. Nice. An idea came to Lucky then that could backfire on him. “I’m heading to Spokane this weekend to help your mother move. I’m flying up, driving a moving van back down. Think you might want to take a couple days off school and go with me? Maybe see your friends while we’re up there? Um… providing your grades are good enough you can afford to miss a few classes.”
“Really?” Ty nearly squealed in his excitement. “That’d be awesome.”
“Your mom’s driving the loaded-down car, so you’ll be stuck with me,” Lucky warned.
“I think I’ll survive.”
Lucky pulled his car up to the gate, the stubborn-assed deterrent to residents, but not two-bit lowlife stalkers. The clicker wasn’t working, damn it. He keyed in his code three times before the gate rose and he drove through.
“Uncle Lucky?” Ty asked in a small voice.
“Yes.”
“I’ve been thinking.”
Could be dangerous for a Lucklighter. Look where thinking—or not thinking—had gotten Lucky. “About what?”
“Instead of going to college for engineering, what if I took criminal justice instead?”
Imitation is the sincerest form of flatteryBo had said.
“What’s your goal? Police work, investigator, forensics?” Please, dear God let him not—Charlotte had mentioned Ty wanting to follow in his footsteps, back before Ty discovered he’d have to give up his friends and school, move here, and started resenting his uncle.
“I want to be like Uncle Bo, and Walter. And you.”
Lucky turned the car off in the driveway. Ty retrieved his things from the back seat and got out of the car.
Lucky didn’t move.
“Aren’t you coming in?”
“You go ahead, I’ll be there in a minute.” Lucky managed to hold the floodgates back until Ty went into the house.
