Page 24 of Always a Roommate
“Because you’re you.” She gave me a warm smile. “You don’t show it often, but all you really want to do is help people.”
Heat crept up my neck. “That’s why I’m here, actually. I have a kid in my last class of the day, Trevor, and I think something is wrong at home.”
“What happened to make you suspect that?”
I told her about finding him in my classroom and then about him showing up at the house. She listened intently as she expertly diced carrots and dumped them into a pot.
When I was finished, she was quiet for a long moment. “His father’s sick?”
“That’s what I’ve been told. I don’t know about his mother.”
She pursed her lips. “Before you do anything, you need to gather some more information. I think I can help. I’ll make some calls and see if anyone in my book club knows anything about this family.”
Relief flooded through me. Mom’s book club had their hand on the pulse of Gulf City. They knew everything that happened here. If there was something else going on with Trevor’s family, they’d find out. “Thanks, Mom.” I scooted off the stool.
“Of course.” When I turned to go, she called me back. “Shane, you’re a good man.”
I wasn’t sure what to say to that, so I didn’t say anything.
She continued, “Sometimes I think you try to hide it, but maybe try a little less.”
“See you Sunday?” They were the only words I could get out.
She nodded.
I waved to my dad before heading out the door into the gray afternoon. Dark clouds swirled overhead. The storm might not hit us directly, but we’d be in for a number of days of rain as the outer bands skated over town.
I really hated hurricane season.
When I got home, Rae’s car was in the driveway. I couldn’t wait to tell her my mom was going to ask around about Trevor. The thought stopped me on the front stoop. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually wanted to see her.
Inside, Rae and Tanner were sitting on the floor, their backs against the couch. They’d shoved aside the coffee table and were watching a dumb sitcom on TV.
Neither looked up as I walked in, but their laughter intertwined, making something inside me clench. They were good friends, I knew that, and Grams had said Tanner was spoken for, though I wasn’t sure that was true, but a feeling I told myself wasn’t jealousy stabbed through me.
It had nothing to do with anything romantic. At least, I didn’t think so. But Rae was friends with Tanner, good friends. While I was her punching bag.
“Did you guys see the news of the storm coming?” I asked.
Tanner nodded glumly. “It’s not supposed to hit us, but I’m preparing the Hut anyway.”
“Shouldn’t you be there right now?” It wasn’t yet closing time, and he was here.
He shrugged. “No one is coming to the beach when it’s so gross out. I closed early.”
“He brought ice cream,” Rae said brightly, as if that was a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why she’d also taken off work early.
I was tired of being the guy always questioning everything. The one who remained stoic and unfeeling. So, I dropped the act and climbed over them to sit on the couch.
Rae held a pint of brownie swirl ice cream toward me with one spoon sticking out. “You know you want to.”
Was that all it had taken for her sarcasm and irritation to end? Five simple rules? I knew it wouldn’t last, but I’d enjoy it while it did. I took the ice cream and stuck a giant spoonful in my mouth.
The ice cream was too sweet. The show was dumb.
But for once, the company was okay.
Yet, I couldn’t help feeling there was something coming for us that wouldn’t be so easy.
