Page 24 of Crash and Burn
“That’s perfect!” Tink climbs in bed next to Sienna, and I slide in next to her.
“I’m surprised this bed is big enough for the three of us.” Sienna laughs.
“Have you seen how big the guys in this clubhouse are? They’re huge! They gotta have beds they’ll fit in.” Tink giggles, making me giggle, too.
“That’s true,” Sienna agrees. Tink turns the movie on. I pass out at some point before the movie ends.
* * *
Sunday was uneventful. Tink had to work a shift at Rosie’s Diner while Sienna spent time with Wren. Neither one is at the clubhouse again today. Tink working at the diner again, and Sienna went to A Novel Bunch. I’m spending the day reading and ignoring the world. Rascal is going to be back today, and I need to go back to ignoring him.
I’m sitting outside at one of the picnic tables when a black SUV with a Louisiana license plate pulls up. I watch as a couple of men dressed in fancy suits climb out of the vehicle. They look like they’re part of some kind of mafia. Maybe Russian. Sunglasses cover their eyes as they walk toward me. The first one stops at the picnic table, removing his sunglasses.
“Jenny?” he says.
“Excuse me?” I close my book.
“I’m sorry, you look identical to someone I used to know.” He’s Russian, and his accent is thick. “You wouldn’t happen to be related to a Jennifer Jones, would you?”
His words cause a lump in my throat. “Uh, that was my mom’s name.”
“Was?”
“Yeah, she passed away a couple years ago.” I fight back the tears that are threatening to fall. Talking about my mom is still a sore subject, and I don’t know who the hell this guy is. He seems to be evaluating his next words carefully.
“Can I ask how old you are?”
“Twenty-five,” I tell him.
His eyebrows furrow for a few seconds before his eyes widen as if he came to a realization. “I think I’m your father.”
