Page 32 of Composed at Randy's
Speaking of home, I really need to get back to mine before my people find out I'm gone and send out a search party.
“Thank you for the meal, everyone, but I really need to get going.” I make to stand up, but when I give Bael a nudge, he doesn’t move.
I nudge him again, only this time I put my weight into it, and I get the same result. It’s like trying to move a boulder.
“You don't have to leave.” Bael looks at me with those puppy eyes. “You can stay with us as long as you want.”
I want to say yes. I really do. Hell, he could ask me to do anything right now and I'd want to do it, but I really need to get back to my people.
“I’m sorry, but I need to go back now.” I give Bael’s magnificent bicep a poke, and he takes my hand.
“I know how hard it is to accept help, but you don't need to do things alone. Everyone needs help sometimes,” Bael’s eyes are soulful as they stare into mine.
“I could use some help getting home,” I admit. “Can you give me a ride?”
Bael exchanges glances with all of his friends. “Why don't we go back to the hotel just for tonight? We can work on setting you up tomorrow.”
Setting me up? What the hell does that mean?
That’s when a silver daddy comes up to the table. “Do you need help, kid? These guys are nice enough, but pushy,” He has a yummy accent that gives me French-Canadian vibes. There’s a cacophony of cries from the band denying his words, and he says, “Pipe down, I’m not talking to any of you. Kid, if you want to leave, you can. No one here is going to stop you.” Then Silver Daddy gives Bael a meaningful look. “Right?”
When Bael ignores him, Silver Daddy gives his leg an extremely vigorous poke. Okay, it was a kick. A hot ass old man just kicked the shit out of a gentle giant for me, just to make sure I'm okay.
Are these happy tears stinging my eyes? How are there so many decent people in this one small diner? Is this what Marty means when he tells me the whole world isn't as bad as I think it is, and it's worth getting out more and giving everyone a chance?
I'm definitely coming back to this dinner.
“Thank you, Silver Daddy, but I’m fine.”
The man gives me a startled laugh. “The name’s Archie, and I'm glad you're fine. Just make sure and let me or anyone else inthis diner know if that changes. And you boys take this kid home right now if he wants you to. Got it?”
“You heard the man,” Harvey says, finally looking up from his phone. “We’re leaving early tomorrow, and you're all going to need some rest, so stop fucking around.”
I’m not really sure what that means, but I’ve got a lot of stuff on my mental plate, so I let it pass by without comment.
Bael gives a sulky affirmative and finally lets me push him out of the booth.
“I’ll settle up here,” Harvey tells us once he's ushered us into the limo. “You lot go straight back to the hotel as soon as you drop Wren off at home.”
“For god’s sake Harvey, he doesn’t have a home!” Travis shouts.
We all turn to gape at Travis.
Shay shoves him in the shoulder. “You can't just say it like that, dumbass.”
“Have some fucking manners, dude,” Mel sighs.
“Sweetie… no. Just. No.” Laura sounds so disappointed I'm tempted to apologize to her, and I don't even know what's happening right now.
“It’s okay even if you don’t have one, Wren. No one is looking down on you.” Bael is hovering over me and twisting his fingers together. “Do you want me to hit Travis for you? He's small, but I think I can do it without hurting him too much.”
“Hey!” Travis cries in indignation.
This is when all the pieces fall together for me. Don't look at me like that. I haven’t been anything but honest with you about my smooth brain issues. I have keepers and everything, remember?
No wonder everyone has been so nice to me and trying to jam food into me. They think I'm homeless.
Well, shit.
