I got as much meat and veggies on mine to hopefully mask the taste of the sauce, and Shad followed suit.
Lunch went well, Shad studiously avoiding any awkward topics that mentioned his wife or his family at all.
He also tried to talk about more than just Holt, though it always kept swinging back toward him.
I could see the guilt hitting Baker with each question she couldn’t answer—or wouldn’t—and I changed the topic each time to steer him away from overwhelming her.
In the end, Shad was catching on, and I could see him mentally kicking himself once we were walking out the door.
He did, however, touch on the elephant in the room as we were heading back across the street.
“I know that you’re not comfortable coming home,” Shad said as he came to a stop next to his truck. “I more than understand that, and I want you to work on you, not pleasing others. So Copper asked for you to stay with him.”
Baker’s head whipped in my direction. “What?”
“You’re more than welcome to stay,” I said. “Or we can get you an apartment on the same floor as me. Reign’s either going to be in jail or a psych ward and will be moving out pretty soon.”
Because I was going to kick her ass out to make sure that I could keep Baker close.
Though, I would’ve kicked her out anyway just because she’s a fuckin’ nut job, and I was tired of her leading the people in my life around by their noses.
“I don’t know…” Baker said.
“Just do it for a bit,” Shad said. “We can reevaluate in a few weeks, get you lookin’ at places to stay again.” He hesitated. “You’re not going back to Decatur, though. You’re stayin’ in Dallas.”
Baker wrinkled her nose. “I can’t afford Dallas.”
“You can if I give you a raise.” Shad held up his hand before she could protest. “Yes, I’m more than aware you can do it yourself, but I’m seriously underpaying you, and you know it. At first, it was to get us on our feet, and you didn’t need the money because that was the one thing Joey could do—provide for you. But we’re back on our feet now. You don’t have to sacrifice your pay because of me. And your mother should’ve upped it a long time ago, but she wasn’t thinkin’ about anything else but the business. I’m thinking about my girl now.”
After a little bit more back and forth, the two hugged, and Shad left.
When we were standing out on the sidewalk in front of Castanon Industries, she waited until he was fully into traffic before she said, “The moment you have an issue with Holt and me being there, I want you to promise me you’ll tell me. And we’ll leave.”
I opened my mouth to deny it, but she held up her hand and said, “Seriously. That’s the only way I’ll stay.”
And because I was a complete dumbass, I agreed.
I wish I hadn’t.
Maybe when the shit hit the fan for me a few months later, she wouldn’t have left without a word, leaving my crushed heart behind.
Eleven
I might have to call in thicc today.
—Text from Baker to Copper
BAKER
Two months later
Copper was the best roommate in the world.
Seriously, he was so caring and good-natured that I fell into a false sense of security.
At first, I didn’t think that I was hurting him in any way.
I thought he was more than okay with Holt and me squatting in his life.
