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  “In my room. I could name him Eddie.” Aiden shrugs out of his coat and slings it onto the seat beside him.

  “Why would you call a goat Eddie?”

  He shrugs. “He looks like he’d smell like Eddie.”

  Glenna, the waitress, chuckles at Aiden as she places a kid’s menu in front of him.

  “I want a grilled cheese and fries and a vanilla shake.”

  I raise my eyebrows at him, and he adds, “Please.”

  She takes my order as well. Just after she delivers our food, Aiden cries, “Neal! Mom, Neal’s here!” He climbs up on his knees and waves his arms like everyone in the tiny diner didn’t already hear him. “Neal! Come sit with us!”

  Neal Chambers lives across the street from us and good god, he is wet dream material of the highest caliber. A strong, sculpted jawline, thick, wavy hair, and eyes the pale blue-green color of a robin’s egg. He’s a little over six feet tall, but that towers over my five foot six frame. Though he has an eleven year old daughter, he’s only thirty-three, not at all too old for me if the situation was different. More than once I’ve had dreams about those lean muscles and flexing biceps.

  I’ve done my best not to drool over him since he first introduced himself and helped us get settled into our new neighborhood. He is also a single parent, so we have that in common and often help each other out.

  Neal slides into the booth beside Aiden. “Hey, buddy. Where are my fries?”

  “You have to ask the lady.” Aiden points to Glenna. “And say please and thank you, or Mom will give you the mean look.”

  Neal looks up at me with a smile I can feel in my stomach. “Are you giving the poor kid the mean look?”

  “It’s been a long morning. Someone locked a goat in one of the hotel bathrooms. Scared the crap out of me and then knocked me down.”

  Neal leans back, his smoky laugh filling the space. “And I thought having to sweep roaches out of a minivan was bad.”

  Neal manages a full-service car wash, and his horror stories rival mine. People are disgusting.

  “Where’s Bailey?” Aiden asks.

  “She’s at school. I’m just here to pick up my lunch, then I have to go back to work. Her hamster had babies yesterday, though. If you want to come over and see them tonight.”

  “Yes!” Aiden wiggles around in his seat. “Can I keep one?”

  Neal gives me an apologetic look. “That’s up to your mom.”

  “We’ll see,” I reply, taking a bite of my sandwich.

  Aiden shrugs. “It’s not as good as a maybe, but better than a no,” he informs Neal. “She wouldn’t let me have a goat today, but I could name a hamster Eddie.”

  Sighing, I restrain a laugh. “You are not naming any animal after that poor kid.”

  “But he smells.”

  “So does your butt.”

  Aiden laughs out loud and returns to his sandwich. Neal wears an ear to ear grin and shakes his head at me. I can only imagine how he sees me, arguing about hamsters and insulting my kid with stinky butt jokes.

  Glenna brings Neal’s boxed food over to the table, her eyes sweeping over him from head to toe. I can hardly blame her. He must get that everywhere he goes.

  Getting to his feet, Neal says, “Bailey and I will be at the party a little early tomorrow to help you set up.”

  “Thank you. I’d really love the help.”

  “Be good, buddy,” he tells Aiden, and I try not to stare as he walks away.

  It’s a massive failure. But with an ass like that, I’m not even close to sorry.

  # # #

  As promised, Neal and Bailey show up early to help me set up Aiden’s fifth birthday party, and I couldn’t be more grateful. I spent half the night baking cookies and his cake, wrapping his presents, and putting together gift bags. It’s a bunch of dollar store crap the other kids’ parents are sure to sneer at, but they can bite me. I’ve done what I can afford, and Aiden will love it.

  Noble pulled some strings with his friends Cassidy and Wyatt, who own the community center, and they agreed to let us hold the party here. They even closed the pool to the public for three hours, so Aiden and his friends could swim.

  I set up two folding tables in the corner, far away from the splash zone, one for the food and the other for the gift bags and presents. Because Aiden is a complete dinosaur fanatic, everything is dino themed. Noble even promised to have one of his buddies show up in a T-rex costume at some point. I can’t wait to see the look on Aiden’s face.

  The only sore spot today came when Aiden asked if his grandmother was coming, and I had to tell him she couldn’t make it. He shrugged it off quickly because they aren’t close, but it was another reminder to me that I’m all my little boy has. My worst fear would be something happening to me because he’d end up in the foster system. I haven’t heard good things.

  Today, though, we’re all about the happy shit. My little man is turning five.

  The party is a success, judging by all the laughter coming from the kids. Two lifeguards watch over them as they play in the shallow end of the pool. It looks like half of Violent Circle is here. Emily—one of my friends from the circle—helps me plate up the pizzas that have just been delivered.

  Neal approaches us, and he has changed into a pair of board shorts. “You aren’t going to swim?” he asks.

  Abs.

  All I can see are clearly defined abs and the light sprinkling of chest hair that dissolves into a happy trail which definitely makes me happy.

  An elbow catches me in my side and the oof sound that escapes is totally cool and feminine. I promise.

  “Neal asked you a question,” Emily says, amusement thick in her voice. The bitch has a pointy elbow, but I guess I should be thankful she made me stop ogling him.

  “Sorry…I was watching the kids. What did you say?”

  Neal’s smirk makes it clear I’m busted, but he doesn’t call me out. “You don’t want to swim?”

  “Oh, no, I can’t. It’s not exactly happy fun lady time in my pants right now.”

  The words spill out like someone else is saying them. What the hell is wrong with me? This is why I can’t have nice things. Like normal boyfriends. Not that I’m interested in Neal. Still, I’d like to not be a weirdo who spouts random craziness.

  “Okay then. Save me a piece,” he says, nodding toward the pizza. He turns and strides toward the pool. At the last second, he takes a running jump and does a cannonball right in the center of the kids, making them all laugh and splash him.

  “Smooth, girl,” Emily laughs, and I scratch my nose with my middle finger. “I can’t blame you though. Who knew superdad was so hot under those clothes?”

  Aiden comes running up, water dripping down his face from his hair. “Can I have some pizza now?”

  “Dry off a little and grab a chair. Are you having fun?”

  Denton chooses that moment to enter in the dino costume, and Aiden’s body follows his head as it whips around so fast his feet slip out from under him. He seems to bounce off the floor, he gets up so fast, and cries, “Never mind! There’s a T-rex!”

  Denton stomps his way over to the pool, hitting the button that makes a roar sound from the costume, and the kids cheer, falling over each other to get out of the pool. Aiden runs up and stands in front of him.

  “Happy birthday!” Denton roars, spreading the little T-rex arms. Aiden dives in for a hug, then runs around behind him and grabs the tail.

  Denton has obviously never been around a group of five year olds if he thinks this is going to go well. He’s mobbed, poked, prodded, and hugged from every direction. He dances around, pretending to bite them and roaring until too many kids descend on him at once.

  I’m sure they didn’t mean for it to happen. They just pushed him off balance and the edge of the pool was right there. Emily gasps and grabs my arm as we watch for a long second that seems to go in slow motion. Denton teeters, and almost recovers before falling into the four foot deep water with an i
mpressive splash.

  I hear a yell of “Fappy!” from someone on the other side of the pool before laughter drowns out everything. Neal jumps in and helps Denton get to his feet, which isn’t easy with the inflated costume floating around him.

  A few of the kids look worried until Denton waves, then falls back and floats on his back, backstroking his way to the steps.

  Emily looks at me, and we break into laughter. “Never a dull moment when the Frat Hell guys are involved.”

  The ear to ear smile on my little man’s face could light a stadium.

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  Chapter Two

  Neal

  “Dad,” Bailey moans. “I’m old enough to stay by myself.”

  “You’re mature enough to stay by yourself, but the law says twelve, and I don’t think orange is my color.”

  “Can I stay with Veronica?”

  “She’s working too.”

  Veronica and I have been spending more and more time together since Aiden’s party a little over two months ago, [SM1]always with the kids, since neither of us is looking for a relationship, no matter the rumors flying around the circle.

  She rolls her eyes, slings her backpack over her shoulder and follows me to the car. I hate that I have to take her to work with me, but I’m lucky I can do so. It’s only when I have to work a Saturday, and we have a comfortable lobby with wifi, so it’s not like I’m torturing her. I’ve worked there since she was a baby, so she’s practically grown up at Jetsky’s Car Wash.

  It’s a bright, sunny day, and it looks like half the town is lined up at the entrance, though we don’t open for a few minutes. We’re experiencing a bit of an early Spring this year. It’s over sixty degrees and everyone wants to get a winter’s worth of salt and sludge off of their cars. It’s going to be a long day.

  Employees stand in clumps around the property, talking and laughing, and most wave at us as we make our way inside. “Bails, it’s going to be a busy day and I won’t be in here much. You know where to find me.” I hand her some money. “For snacks. Make sure you tell me or Beth that you’re going.” There’s a small convenience store a couple blocks away where she likes to grab an ice cream if she gets bored.

  “Thanks Dad.”

  “No problem, fam.”

  “Ugh.” She stomps away, and I’m sure her eyes are in full roll mode.

  What can I say? You have to find the little joys in life, like embarrassing your daughter with tween slang. It doesn’t matter that I have no idea what half of the shit means.

  Bailey and I have been on our own for over five years now, ever since her mother, Nina, ran away with some lowlife wanna-be musician. We haven’t heard from her at all since Bailey was six. I know she’s better off without her mother, but I also know that every birthday and holiday that passes without a card or phone call chips away more hope from my little girl.

  She’s grown up fast, and I couldn’t ask for a better kid. She’s responsible and mature, caring, and a good student. Everyone keeps telling me to beware the upcoming teen years, but so far, so good.

  I stop to chat with Beth, the older lady who works the register. She’s the only employee who has worked here longer than I have, and all the customers love her. “They’re wrapped around the building already,” I warn.

  “I’m ready for them. You have Margo selling today, right? So it should go smoothly.”

  “Let’s hope so.” I turn around to say goodbye to Bailey, but she already has her nose in her tablet, and headphones on.

  I do a quick walkthrough of the tunnel, making sure everything is as it should be, then give Margo a signal to open.

  Jetsky’s is a full service car wash. Customers pull in and exit their vehicles, leaving us their car keys. There are two lanes, each with two employees who sweep out the cars first, then drive them around and put them on the track. Once they put them in neutral, they hop out, and the car is pulled through the automated wash and rinse. Two more employees catch it on the other side, and one drives it out before they both wash the windows and surfaces on the inside.

  At the same time, two front line employees dry the vehicle and Armor-all the tires. The whole process takes less than ten minutes, but with bumper to bumper cars like today, there’s no down time.

  Fortunately, I’m a manager. I used to despise these types of days when I was sweeping or scrubbing windows, but now I oversee the employees, and chat up the customers, most of whom have been coming here for years. It’s a good job, and the management position pays well enough that I don’t struggle to give Bailey everything she needs and most of what she wants.

  Living on Violent Circle, I’m sure most people assume I’m broke, and would be surprised that I have quite a bit of savings. No, I live in public housing because my bitch of an ex destroyed my credit, and you can’t rent an apartment here with shitty credit. It sucks that I pay as much as others do to live in nicer apartments, but I like my neighbors, and everyone watches out for my daughter, so it’s not all bad.

  Besides, I have big plans in the works.

  “Neal! How the hell are ya?” Harrison, the owner of a local car dealership grabs my hand and shakes it like a bottle of salad dressing. I swear I hear a knuckle crack—his or mine, I’m not sure which.

  “Doing good. How about you?”

  “Keeping my thumb on it. I noticed you’re still driving that Nissan. I can get you in something a lot newer. We’re overstocked so I can get you a hell of a deal.”

  Every single time.

  Like clockwork, every week he brings in the vehicles, usually newly acquired from a rental company, for us to clean, and not a week goes by that he doesn’t try to sell me a car.

  “I’ll be passing that car on to my daughter someday. It’s a workhorse,” I assure him.

  We chat for a few minutes, and he heads inside to watch his cars make their way through the tunnel. I swear, the adults love to watch it through the floor to ceiling windows as much as kids do.

  The morning goes by fast, and before I know it, Bailey hunts me down for lunch. I look up from speaking with a customer and she’s waving my lunch box. I nod and gesture inside so I can finish the conversation, then head inside for a quick break.

  “What did you make us?” I ask, handing her a soda and sitting beside her at the small breakroom table.

  “Turkey and cheese sandwiches, baby carrots, and peaches.”

  She insisted on making our lunches this morning, and since I would’ve just ordered a pizza or grabbed hamburgers, I was happy for her to spare us the junk food. Sometimes I wonder who the adult is in our house.

  We eat in silence for a few minutes before she asks, “Can we go to the zoo tomorrow? It’s supposed to be warm and sunny again.”

  “That sounds like a great idea. We’ll make a day of it.”

  “Can Veronica and Aiden come with us?”

  “I don’t see why not. If Veronica has to work, we can take Aiden.”

  “She doesn’t.”

  My eyebrows jump up. “And how do you know that?”

  “We chat on messenger.”

  I don’t want to say anything to make Bailey feel bad or doubt herself, but I need to check she isn’t pestering Veronica too much. I know she needs a woman to talk to, but it’s also not her responsibility.

  “Okay, I’ll talk to her about it this evening.”

  “Thanks,” she says with a grin.

  “You know I’m on fleek, girl.”

  Soda spurts out her nose, and she coughs out a laugh. “You have no idea what that word means.”

  “It means I’m cool.”

  “If you say so.”

  Her smile brightens my day as it always does.

  # # #

  “Zip your jacket, Aiden,” Veronica tells him as we make our way through the turnstiles at the entrance of the zoo.

  “Why?”

  “It’s chilly.”

  “And the zookeepers won’t mistake you for a monkey,”
I add.

  He looks up at me and blinks. “Because monkeys don’t wear jackets?”

  “Exactly.”

  Aiden zips his jacket and Veronica shakes her head at me, grinning. “Where to first?”

  “Lions!” Aiden cries.

  “Snake house!” Bailey argues. Yeah, that’s my kid. All these cute, fuzzy animals and she wants to see the creepiest one.

  I must have a look on my face because Veronica gives me a teasing poke in the ribs. “Are you afraid of snakes?”

  “You mean slithery, evil death ropes? It’s not fear, it’s common sense.”

  “My friend had a five foot long python she was getting rid of, but Dad wouldn’t let me have it,” Bailey adds.

  “I saved our lives. And probably our neighbors. If it got loose, it could wipe us all out.”

  They laugh, and Aiden looks up at me. “I don’t like snakes. I don’t want to go in a snake’s house.”

  “We’ll let the girls go visit the snakes while we watch the lions.”

  Relief washes over Aiden’s pinched face, and Veronica smiles as he takes my hand.

  “Meet you in twenty minutes at the meerkat exhibit?” she suggests.

  “Sounds good.” I look down at Aiden who is wiggling around, but still holding my hand. “Ready, A?”

  “Yes! I want to hear them roar!” He lets out a loud roar.

  “Be good, Ade,” Veronica warns, and she and Bailey head off in the opposite direction.

  When we approach the lion enclosure, I’m glad to see they’re out lying in the sun where we can see them. Aiden runs up to the glass and gives another loud roar, making the people around us laugh.

  “They roar like dinosaurs! I saw it on TV.” He peeks up at me, squinting. His brown hair has a red tint in the sunshine, a gift from his mother. “Are lions related to dinosaurs?”

  “Sure they are. We’re all related, if you go back in time far enough.”

  His jaw falls open. “I’m related to a dinosaur.” The incredulity in his voice is hilarious. I’ve blown his mind.

  “Sure, like, a third cousin, a thousand times removed.”