Page 42 of Waiting for Redemption

“Wanna send a picture to your mom?” I ask Hendrix who is dipping his french fry in my chocolate shake.

“Yeah!” He hops over to my side of the booth and I pull up my camera. I fully expect him to open his mouth or do some crazy face that boys his age usually do. But instead, he throws his arms around my neck and smiles ear to ear. A foreign feeling grows in my chest and I lean in slightly, smiling big before snapping a photo of us.

“Okay, now a crazy one,” he says, growling as he holds his hands up like a dinosaur.

Ah, there it is.

I snap another few photos as he changes poses and send them to Ruby.

Ruby

Ruby

If he starts getting tired you’re more than welcome to go to the house. I’ll be off in an hour and there’s a spare key behind our street number sign above the door.

Me

Yeah, I think he’s about to pass out in the booth. We can head that way now.

Ruby

Honestly Tank, I owe you one.

Me

Hush, woman. You owe me nothing.

“You ready to go home?” I ask Hendrix as he slurps the rest of his milkshake.

“Yes!” He shimmies his butt as he scoots out of the booth, making me shake my head with a laugh. I get Hendrix buckled in his seat as the excitement from the day seems to catch up with him. He lets out a big yawn as I shut his door, and just as we’re pulling out of the lot I hear his little voice from the backseat.

“This was like the best day ever. Thanks, Tank.” His eyes fall shut and open again only halfway before I turn my eyes back to the road.

“No problem, buddy. Anytime.” I smile, swallowing past a lump in my throat.

This isn’t the first time I’ve hung out with Hendrix, but it’s the first time we’ve ever been together without Ruby—and it felt so…normal. For the first time in my life, I’m actually starting to picture what my future would look like with a wife and a kid—orkids. Being someone they can rely on, someone who can teach them new things, who they run to when they’re sad, need help, or simply want to share something that made them happy. My heart squeezes at the thought as I look back at Hendrix passed out in the backseat of my truck.

They have no idea the impact they’re making on my life.

CHAPTER16

RUBY

Work today was absolute madness.For some reason every customer today was extra needy and Heather does not do well under pressure, so that left Max and I running the show the entire day. I’ve missed working behind the bar with Max, ever since Tank started, and with Shane still helping on nights her studio is closed, he and I hardly ever see each other anymore. Unfortunately, I barely got to enjoy our shift because we were going nonstop all day.

When I finally pull into my driveway I try my best to take a deep breath to release the stress from my day and get into mom mode before seeing Hendrix. I’m sure he’ll be bursting at the seams to tell me all about his day with Tank, and I need to be ready to receive it and match his excitement. Evenifall I can think about is a bubble bath and rubbing my feet until I can’t feel my thumbs.

I cut off the engine and grab my bag from the passenger seat, but when I shut my car door something in the back seat of Tank’s truck catches my attention.

A booster seat.

I stop in my tracks, then look back at my car to see an identical seatstillsitting in the backseat of my car and two thoughts cross my mind.

How did I forget to mention Hendrix would need a booster seat?

I can’t believeheremembered and…boughthim one?

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