Page 7 of Dirty Puck

“You’re firing my son?” And I almost leaped out of my seat to choke the life out of the asshole. Benny needed his therapy.

Mr. Tom put his hands up defensively to what? Calm medown?Fuck calm.“There’s a new facility that’s just opened up. It’s a school and therapy together, full day. Dr. Sharp is a leader in neurodivergent medicine and she has patients who are very similar to Benny’s case. I believe she can help him more than we can.”

“A new school? Would that be good for him? He loves his school and his teachers. I don’t want to stress him out.”

“I’ve called Dr. Sharp. You have to be recommended to even get a foot in the door. She can see you on Tuesday at three. Can you make it?”

“I work, but I guess I have no choice. I can’t believe you’re doing this to him.”

“Bree—” No.Nowhe didn’t get to use my name. I death-glared the mother of all death glares. “Ms. Michaels,” he corrected, “this is for his benefit.”

“What if he doesn’t get in? What then?”

“Then come back here and we’ll figure something out. But I just don’t think I’m the best fit to help him now.”

Tears welled in my eyes, but I nodded and took the paperwork. Then I picked my boy up and got the hell out of there. Benny pressed his head against my shoulder as we walked to the car.

“Hungry, buddy?” I asked through my tears and he smiled. We drove to a pizza joint not too far from our place. My boy loved pepperoni and mushrooms on his pie, just like his momma. I got him lemonade and a Coke Zero for me.

He watched little kid videos on my phone while we waited for our food. When our server set the pizza on the table, I let him keep the phone to give me a chance to cut up his slice into small squares, giving it a chance to cool.

For his one slice, I ate three. Cleaning up after hockey players made me hungry. Sue me. Then I boxed up the rest of our pizza, paid the bill, and headed home to change. I wasn’t allowed to wear my uniform into Slits, even if it didn’t stay on.

After changing, I walked Benny across the hall to Mrs. Grazia’s apartment. I brought her the rest of our pizza.

“My Benny,” she said, smiling, and he giggled because she’d neglected to put in her dentures and he found her missing teeth funny. He threw his arms around her legs to hug her.

I squatted down to his level. “Okay, buddy. Momma has to go to work. Do I get hugs?”

He turned to me, almost knocking me on my butt with the force of his little body. My heart felt full. “Love you,” I said.

My boy kissed my cheek. That was as much as I’d get back for now, but it spoke volumes. So I left them to it, heading for job two. All of my thongs and bikini tops stayed in my locker at work until wash day. I wasn’t ashamed of dancing. It helped me pay those hefty bills that our insurance didn’t cover. Still, I wanted to keep that part of my life separate from our life together.

On my way to the club, I got a call from a coworker at the arena.

“Can you swap shifts with me? Work Monday and I’ll cover tomorrow?”

“Everything okay?”

“No. I just found out my grandmother died.”

“Oh, I’m sorry… Do you really want to work tomorrow?”

“I don’t have PTO and I can’t afford to not work. The funeral is on Monday. If you switch me tomorrow, then I already have Saturday and Sunday off. Monday will be covered.”

“Done.”

“It won’t be an imposition?”

“I’m sure not. Mrs. Grazia watches Benny for me. Unless she has a doctor’s appointment, which she hasn’t mentioned to me at all, she shouldn’t mind. Do you think you’d be up to cover my Tuesday afternoon? Benny has an important appointment.”

“Bree—you’re a lifesaver. I owe you, so I’ll absolutely take your afternoon.”

“Just make sure Mr. Hicks knows about the change.”

“I’m waiting outside the office now.”

“Text me when it’s taken care of.”

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