'I gave her a break! She's in the lounge!'
Which was next to the janitor's closet, which was next to the sound system closet.
Mia went running. The sound system closet was open, all the equipment in it blinking like mad. Hands over her ears, she searched, searched… and finally found the power button and hit it.
Blessed silence.
Mia slumped against the door, exhausted. When Dick popped his head in and saw her, he frowned. 'Where the hell is your niece?'
God, could it get any worse? Remembering the threat of layoffs, she decided it was never too late to do a little senior butt-kissing, so she smiled. 'Working somewhere, you know, helping out. Why?'
'Because I think she's lifted my wallet.'
Chapter 10
After summer school ended, Kevin walked across the field toward the teen center, hoping against hope Mike would be there for his interview with the board members.
Unfortunately, Mike had a bad habit of 'forgetting' appointments like this, even though Kevin knew that was just a self-defense mechanism. People could say they were politically correct all they wanted, but most had a problem hiring a handicapped man.
Mike knew this all too well; he'd lived it. And Kevin had lived it with him.
The day was a hot one, and Kevin swiped his forehead with his arm. He'd spent the morning teaching science to himself. The kids had been there plenty, but as a group of teens required to take this class to make up for a failing grade, not one of them had showed signs of life. He might as well have taught How to Scratch Your Ass Effectively, because no one gave a shit.
Science fascinated him, and he'd hoped to fascinate the kids. Turns out only his classroom did that, because as he'd discovered, thanks to the science burners lining the back of his classroom, it was the most popular place on campus for smoking weed.
When he'd caught Cole climbing out the window this morning, he had to admit he'd assumed the worst. He'd studied the files of the kids he had, so he knew Cole had a crappy home life, with no father and a mother who worked nights and slept days, paying her son less attention than she did the family cat. He knew that Cole had been beat up several times by the mother's boyfriend and that when he graduated next year he planned on entering the military in order to get far, far away.
If he graduated.
He was in danger of failing several classes, hence the summer school program.
But he also knew that despite Cole's rough home life and somber attitude, the kid had brains. He just didn't know anyone cared. He was in need, and Kevin knew all too well what happened to kids who went unheard, and he didn't intend to let that happen to Cole. He'd reach him. Somehow.
He entered his office. His empty office.
He tunneled his fingers through his hair. He couldn't save the world, he knew that. But neither, apparently, could he stop trying.
By the time Mia drove them home, she had a pounding headache and not a little bit of indigestion. It hadn't been anything she'd eaten. She tossed a glare in Hope's direction.
The kid was hunched in the passenger seat, chewing on a black thumbnail, staring gloomily out the window.
They stopped at the cell phone shop, where Mia bought a cell phone for Hope so that the next time the little thief stole her car she'd be able to call her. They'd also gone to the grocery store because Mia had promised, and though they hadn't spoken, Hope filled a cart with a bunch of crap like white bread, eggs, bacon, real butter…
Cholesterol City.
'So that was a fun day, huh?' Mia asked as she pulled onto her street. 'We'll have to do it again sometime.'
Hope stared straight ahead. 'You want me to go home.'
'Honey, that would be my fondest wish,' Mia said fervently.
Hope slumped farther into the seat.
'But you're not driving yourself across the country again.'
'My car doesn't work.'
'And I'm not putting you on a plane across the country all alone.'
'Ah, how sweet,' Hope said. 'You're worried about me.'
'I'm worried about the other passengers. Who knows what you'd come up with or where you'd decide to get off. Nope, we're stuck together until Sugar comes this weekend.' Mia turned off the engine and got out of her car, stole a peek to the right-
And watched as Kevin pulled up, riding that bike. God, she loved the sleek, sexy lines… and the bike wasn't bad, either. She locked gazes with him as he reached up and pulled off his helmet. He got off the bike, the material of his shirt stretching across his shoulders and back as he tucked the helmet beneath his arm. Looking just a little hot and a little bothered, he shoved his sunglasses to the top of his head and raised a brow.
Feeling a little hot, a little bothered herself, she raised one back.
Hope got out of the car, slammed the door, and headed up the walk. Halfway there, she whirled back and held out her hand. 'Keys?'
'You've got to be kidding me.'
Hope sighed. 'I can't drive off with your house.'
'You'd find a way,' Mia muttered and tossed the keys, managing to spill her Chanel silk clutch purse to the ground as she did.
Contents spilled: Lancome lipstick, gold fountain pen, her Sidekick, a tampon, and… three condoms.
Hope looked at them and smirked. 'So people your age actually do it.'
Hope grabbed the groceries she was carrying and headed toward the house.
Mia began to pick up her things, wondering how much damage Hope could do.
'I take it the two of you had a great day.' Kevin hunkered down at her side. He picked up the condoms and looked at her in a way that made her feel… hungry. He dropped the cordless back in her purse and let out a low laugh, which upped her status from hungry to starving. 'For what it's worth,' he said, 'I'm glad people our age actually 'do' it.'
'You're impossible.'
'Yeah, my ex-wife told me the same thing just today.'
She stared at him.
He shrugged. 'Old news. I was very young and stupid when she broke my heart.'
'I didn't ask.'
'But you wanted to.'
Damn it, she
'Nah, it's part of my charm.' He handed over her pen. 'I was only eighteen, the same age when she divorced me for not kissing her ass enough.'
