I want to trust him so much, but I just don’t know if I can. All I know is I can be here for him, and if he falls again, I’m just going to have to let him pick up the pieces this time. But I know I’ll still be right beside him.
We talk about the pawn shop, the liquor store, and the tattoo shop. I tell him I’m going to start looking for a house, and he talks about using the library and the gym. Our ten minutes have gone by, but the officer still hasn’t come to collect him, so we continue to talk.
“So are you seeing anyone?” he asks me.
I want to tell him about Ginger, but a part of me feels like she’s too innocent to even mention here. “Not really.”
He laughs. “That sounds like a yes, brother.”
“We’re ex-cons, Kyle. There’s no woman crazy enough to deal with that.” But even as I say it, I’m thinking about Ginger and how she doesn’t seem to care about my past. At least what she knows of it.
“Don’t throw your life away because of me, Oz. You think you have guilt and need to apologize? What about me? I’m ate up with it. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about what you did for me.”
I interrupt him. “You didn’t ask me to.”
He shakes his head. “No, but I didn’t stop you either. But my point is, don’t throw your life away. You may have the title of an ex-con, but both of us know that doesn’t define you. That’s not who you are. You’re a man that loved your little brother, that’s it. And some woman will see that and be all right with it.”
I’m quiet for so long he slaps his hand on the table. “What’s her name?”
I let out a deep breath. “Ginger.”
The door opens behind Kyle, and the officer steps in to collect him. He stands up, and I can’t resist any longer. I pull my brother into my arms and hold him tight. “I love you, little brother.”
He laughs and slaps me on the back. His voice is deep and filled with emotion. “I love you too, big brother.”
He gets to the door and turns around. “I know you don’t want to bring her here, but when I get out, I’d like to meet this Ginger.”
He walks out, and I tell him truthfully, “I’d like you to meet her.”
9
Ozzie
I drive straight from Syn City to the Ranchlands and don’t stop until I pull into the parking lot of Ginger’s produce stand. She’s there helping a customer, and she waves when she sees me. I stand off to the side and wait as the man she’s helping flirts with her. Ginger laughs but doesn’t flirt back. She’s bubbly and smiling, and most likely the man is taking it as flirting, but it’s not. She actually is very nice to him but deflects any attention he gives her.
When he finally leaves, I walk up to her. “How many times do you get hit on in a day?” I ask her.
I wasn’t expecting that to be the first thing out of my mouth, but it is what it is. Ginger tenses as she looks at me. “I don’t know.”
I walk around her makeshift counter and corner her against a table full of vegetables. I grab the hair that’s hanging over her shoulder and twirl the curl around my finger. “Once a day, five times a day, what is it?”
She’s staring up at my mouth. “Yeah, something like that.”
I shake my head and put my hand at the base of her neck. “Fuck, you need a full-time protector.”
Her hands go to my waist. “Are you wanting the job?”
I can’t take my eyes off her. “Yeah, I think I do.”
Her smile is almost heart-stopping. “I’d like that.”
“Go out with me tonight,” I say to her in a demanding tone.
She’s shaking her head, and I wait for her to tell me she’s going dancing or her ex is coming over or something like that. Already, I’m wanting to claim her as mine.
“I’m about to close. If you will help me, we can go from here.”
I breathe easier. “So, yeah, you’ll go out with me?”
She wraps her arms around my waist. “Yeah, only you.”
I take a deep breath. It’s going to be easier saying this without her looking at me. “There’s things you need to know about me. I don’t know what all you know, but I was in prison...”
She interrupts me and rests her chin on my chest to look up at me. “I know. Your mom told me everything, and I’m still here. I still want you, Ozzie.”
“I went and saw my brother today.” I don’t know why I tell her, but I feel it’s important. Finally, after what seems like forever, I’m able to let go of some of the guilt. Now I just have to work on feeling that I’m worthy of Ginger. I’ll do whatever I have to in order to prove I am, though.
She looks concerned. “How is he?”
I tighten my arms on her. “He’s good. He’s got plans for getting out and getting his life together. We worked out a few things. He wants to meet you.”
She looks surprised. “You told him about me?”
I nod, and her smile deepens. “I’ll go meet him anytime you want me to.”
But already, I’m shaking my head. “No, not there. When he gets out, I’d like you to meet him.”
“Is he getting out soon?”
I look at her closely. “A few years actually.”
Her hands slide up my chest. “And you want me to meet him then. When
