Page 31 of Third Time Lucky

“Been there,” he mutters, his fingers flying over the keys before he writes something down on the pad beside him. “Okay, then. I have a car coming for you, since the parking in that neighborhood is abysmal, and it would be better for you to leave yours safe in the garage.”

“Whatever you think is best.”

He stares at me, eyes framed by glitter, fingers tapping thoughtfully on the desk. “He must have made an impression for you to be going out of your way like this.”

“He’s a good guy. And it’s for charity. Anyone would do the same.”

“Doubtful. But you are right about him. From everything I’ve heard and seen, he is a very good man. I doubt he’d have been accepted into our little club if he weren’t.”

I grin. “Between you and me, I’m still not sure how George got in.”

Mr. Gordon mimes locking his mouth closed with his fingers. “I’ll do nothing to spoil his bad reputation while he’s away. Undeserved though it may be.”

Undeserved? Has he seen George’s magazine collection? Rue has, and explaining to her that some comics were meant for adults only was not easy. “That’s a shame.”

He adjusts his glasses with a distracted air, and I feel like there’s something he isn’t saying. “Anything wrong, Mr. G?”

“I know you mean well, but you won’t be here that much longer, so if I may offer some unsolicited advice? Have a care with Mr. Redmond.” He looks down at his desk, obviously deliberating. “He hides it with humor, but I get the impression that he has a tender heart. I suppose he strikes me as someone who could use some looking after.”

Somewhere on that laptop is information to back that up, I’m sure. Those security guys are as thorough as an anal probe and just as invasive. Also Mr. Gordon seems to know things that he shouldn’t.

But didn’t I sense that? Joey’s tender heart? And those knots crowding his shoulders aren’t just from unpacking. He needs someone to have his back. Someone to look out for him, who doesn’t secretly use him to get off. “I’ve got it covered.”

Keeping an eye out for Joey doesn’t feel like any kind of hardship. Maybe in the process his Manny mojo will rub off on me enough to make me the father Rue needs me to be while I’m deciding where we go from here.

It doesn’t need to be more complicated than that.

---