“Nice to meet you, sir,” Jensen said, and I fell for him a little more as he held out his hand respectfully for my homeless friend to shake.
“Nice to meet you, too, young man,” Gabe replied, returning the gesture.
“Where are you staying tonight, Gabe?” I asked. There was no way I could let him sleep rough, even if I had to deal with Dad’s wrath to make sure Gabe had a decent night’s sleep.
“Well, little one, I think meeting you has turned my fortune around. I’ll be well taken care of this evening. So you can stop worrying your pretty little head over me and start taking care of yourself,” he replied.
“I think meeting you has been a good luck omen for me too!” I said, smiling. “I met Jensen, and I have a job now over at the coffee shop. So if you find yourself down on your luck, come and find me at work.”
“That’s very kind of you. Now, what are your plans for this evening?” he asked, and I shifted nervously. I didn’t want the evening to end, but in reality I knew that there was nowhere we could go that didn’t cost money, and I was unwilling to go anywhere else with him without paying my way.
“I guess I’ll be heading home soon,” I replied, unable to keep the slight tone of regret from my voice. “I have to work tomorrow.”
“Forgive me for asking such a personal question, but would your father happen to be around five feet, ten inches with dark hair and a scar on his left cheek?”
“Yes,” I replied warily. “How did you know that?”
“Perhaps then it would be better if you didn’t go home so soon. Your father stumbled out of the bar about twenty minutes ago. He was somewhat inebriated and mentioned that his daughter, Lauren, was at work so he’d have the place to himself. I’m afraid that he invited the people he was with back to your home to carry on the party.”
My shoulders dropped as I looked to the ground. He must have been in the bar pretty much all day to be drunk this early. I was so ashamed that I could barely look at Jensen or Gabe. Nancy had been right, and I needed to face the reality that Dad’s ugliness would always bleed into my life, and if I held on to Jensen, it would eventually infect his life as well.
“Do you have anywhere else to go?” Gabe asked me gently.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of her,” Jensen said.
Gabe looked at him carefully before replying. “I believe you will, young man. Well, then I hope you enjoy your evening, and I look forward to seeing you again,” Gabe replied, and with a tip of his cap, he was off down the street.
“Come on,” Jensen said, putting his arm around my shoulders and tucking me into his side as he started walking.
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere safe,” he replied. I didn’t ask where, knowing in that moment that I’d follow him anywhere.
Chapter Twelve
Jensen
After bumping into her friend, Lauren seemed tense and withdrawn, and I sensed she was embarrassed about her father. But despite the change in her mood, I couldn’t help but feel as though running into Gabriel had been a blessing. The idea of her hiding in the corner of her room or motel lobby while her father partied with a load of guys from the bar made my blood boil.
It made no sense that I’d feel so fiercely protective about a girl I hadn’t so much as kissed, but I couldn’t help it. Lauren was a survivor. She was fierce and strong, and despite the circumstances of our meeting, I knew she was good. Sometimes people are born into circumstances so bad that pride and principles are the currency you have no choice but to barter in order to survive. That she would spend all day on her feet to scrape together a wage that she could probably make lifting a few wallets spoke volumes about the person she was. That she was the product of bad stock didn’t give me ammunition to judge her. It made be proud to stand by her side.
I could tell she was deep in thought as we walked to the pizza parlor. Knowing that, if I asked her, she’d say she wasn’t hungry, I ordered a large pepperoni pie to go and a large plain cheese, just to be on the safe side. The food smelled delicious, and after paying, I steered her back onto the street. Only when we stood in front of the Snowflake Inn did she come to her senses.
“This is your stop,” she said, looking up at the sign. “I guess I’ll see you around then.”
“Oh no, you don’t. You’re coming in with me,” I said, giving her shoulder a little squeeze.
“Oh no. I don’t think you’re allowed to entertain people in your room, and I’m pretty sure they won’t allow you to sit eating pizza in the lobby here,” she protested.
“The owner is lovely, and I’ve paid good money for my room, so I can see who I please in it. And if anyone protests, I’ll pay extra to cover your stay. Besides, we’re only going to eat some food and watch a movie. It’s not like we’re throwing a wild party.”
“Maybe I could stay for a little while, but I really don’t want to get you in trouble,” she said, though her protest was halfhearted at best. Now that the magic of our date had been somewhat dampened by her father’s behavior, she looked tired, and that made me want to take care of her even more.
I opened the door for her before she changed her mind, and it turned out that her fears were unfounded. The lobby was empty but for a receptionist who was talking on the phone. We hurried past her and into the lift up to my floor.
“It’s really nice here,” Lauren said, walking into my room as I closed the door behind us.
“It is nice,” I agreed, “and they do a great breakfast.” I put the food down on the coffee table and began unloading the bag when I noticed how awkward she looked, hovering in the middle of the room as though she had no clue what to do with herself.