Page 49 of Small Town Sizzle

“I mean, I don’t want to brag…” She shrugs, but the twinkle in her eye gives her away.

I chuckle. “And your mom? How’s she doing today?”

Jazlyn’s face softens, and she sets her pencil down. “She’s good. She had to leave, though—got an emergency call.”

“Emergency call?”

“Yeah, she had to go pick up some kids. She said she wouldn’t be gone long. That’s why Leti picked me up from school.”

I frown slightly. “Pick up kids? What do you mean?”

Jazlyn glances up, chewing on her lip thoughtfully. “She’s a social worker for the whole county. Sometimes, the police or someone calls her when kids need help. You know, like if something bad happens, and they can’t stay where they are.She’ll take them to a safe house or family member. They stay with us for a bit if there’s no place for them.”

I blink, caught off guard by how matter-of-fact she is about it. Now, I remember when I met them all for the first time and she told that little boy that she wouldn’t take him back. He must’ve been a kid that needed help.

My heart breaks a little, but it helps me see Maya in another light, too. I knew she was a social worker, but I don’t think I fully comprehended what all it entailed. It takes a special kind of person to do what she does.

“That’s… a lot to take on,” I say.

So she wasn’t avoiding me, she was just dealing with a lot of stuff today?

I inhale and exhale slowly, feeling a little ridiculous for letting those intrusive thoughts invade in the first place. In a messed up way, I’m happy to know that work is what had her preoccupied and that it wasn’t her regretting our night together.

She shrugs. “Not really. It’s kind of cool. I mean, those kids need a place to go, right? And we have a place. Plus, Mom always says we’re lucky to have what we do, so why not share it?”

This kid—barely twelve years old—is talking about generosity and empathy like it’s second nature. It’s humbling, to say the least.

Maya’s a really good mom, which isn’t surprising.

“That’s a pretty amazing way to look at it,” I say, and I mean it.

Jazlyn grins. “Thanks. I try.”

We lapse into a comfortable silence for a bit, the sounds of her pencil scratching against paper filling the space.

“So,” she says suddenly, glancing up at me, “what about you? You’re always here fixing stuff. What’s your deal?”

I laugh, surprised by her bluntness. “My deal? I’m just here to help out.”

“Yeah, but why?” she presses.

“My mom was a big part of this place, but my brother and I run the construction company that’s doing all the work.”

She tilts her head, curious but not pushing. “Fair enough. But you know, if you ever need advice or anything, I’m pretty wise for my age.”

I chuckle. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a math problem to conquer,” she says, waving me off dramatically.

I watch her for a moment, a small smile tugging at my lips. This kid is something else.

As I turn back to my work, I feel a little lighter. I guess maybe it was a little selfish to think that Maya was avoiding me when she clearly has a lot on her plate.

When I stand up, I feel the room shift and grab onto the edge of the couch, silently hoping that Jaz doesn’t notice. My head starts that soft throb that means a migraine is incoming. My vision blurs and I can feel the dizziness start, too.

Ever since I hit my head in Culver City. They usually are few and far between.

Maybe I should get looked at.

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