Page 43 of Find Me in the Rain


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I slap her thigh again. “Char, you’re sleeping in my car right now. Get the fuck up.” I nudge her shoulder.

She slowly rocks awake, opening her eyes. “Oh my God, I feel like I got stoned. Not the drug, like a medieval stoning. Every muscle in my body hurts. Who knew this could be a workout?”

I drag my feet, following her up the stairs. I don’t even take my costume off. I fall into my bed, money in hand, and sleep the hardest I have in a long time.

The alarm blares from my phone. Oh my God, I could’ve sworn that I just lay down. The second alarm comes through not a minute later.

“Ugh.”

I shut the alarm off and throw my comforter as far away from me as I can manage. It’s too tempting. And I cannot be late to Jack’s conference.

I don’t have to look good for this, right?At least, not that good. I have never had less motivation in my life.

Why couldn’t we just do this over the phone? That would have had the same effect.

Quickly getting ready, I throw jeans and a decent shirt on. I slip flats on my feet and make sure he is up and ready to go.

I must have the best son in the entire world. He is already dressed with his backpack, and he’s eating a granola bar in the living room. Like he’s just been waiting for me the whole time.

I walk over and give him a small kiss on his head, breathing in my personal scent of happiness. “You ready?”

He hops off the couch. “Yep. Hey, I want to ask you something when we get in the car.”

We begin making our way out to the garage.

“Just ask me, bud.”

He shakes his head and opens his door, hopping into his car seat. “Not yet.”

Impatient, wanting to know what he’s being so weird about, I hurry up, buckle him in, and then get in the driver’s seat.

Pulling onto the road, I finally break the silence. “Okay, what did you want to ask me, buddy?” I switch between looking at him and watching the road.

He’s bouncing his thumbs on top of each other, obviously a little nervous. “I, um … well, I want … I want …” He huffs out a breath.

“Just ask me, buddy. It’s okay.” My heart tugs at his nerves. I can’t imagine why he would be nervous to ask me something.

He keeps playing with his thumbs. “I kinda wanna play a sport.”

My smile beams at him through the mirror. “Jack, that’s great. What sport?” I try to reassure him the best I can.

“I was talking to Erick because he plays. And he said it’s kind of expensive. That’s why I’m so nervous to ask. Money’s hard, I know. I hear you, Josh, and Char talk sometimes …” He trails off.

My eyes sting. I never want our financial strain to ever hold him back. And since I’ve started at Fireflies, money has been my least concern.

I stretch my hand back, reaching for his. He takes hold of it.

“Listen, bud, we are doing just fine, okay? You name the sport you want to play, and we will find a way to make it happen, I promise.” I give his hand a little squeeze.

His legs begin kicking. “Really?” I can hear the smile in his voice.

I pull into a parking spot at the school and turn, giving him my full attention. “Really, Jack.”

His smile is beaming, lighting up my whole world. I grab my water bottle and take a drink.

He shouts, overwhelmed with excitement, “Awesome! I want to play hockey.”

I begin choking, spitting the water out of my mouth.You’ve got to be kidding me.Could’ve been dance, football, soccer, basketball—literally anything else. But this boy of mine wants to play hockey?