Evan pushed the bracelet box my direction. "I have no use for it. There's no one else I'd give it to."
My mind went straight to the possibility of pawning it. I was in no position to turn down an expensive gift that might help my bank account. I reached for the box, and Evan took gentle hold of my wrist. "Just one date. Tomorrow's Sunday."
"I promised my son I'd take him to the park."
"Which park?"
I stared down at him. "I suppose persistence helped you get where you are in the business world."
His mouth turned up on the corner. "It definitely helped. We can sit on the park bench, watch him play and we'll talk. That's all."
"We'll be at Lion's Park at noon. There's a playground in the far corner." I dropped the bracelet box into my pocket. I didn't thank him. I just nodded and walked away.
twenty-two
. . .
Ronan
Colin had talked me into going for an early morning bike ride. A cold mist had covered the mountain but that didn't stop the two of us from getting into our usual competitiveness. We raced down the trail. I'd taken an early lead but slowed when my pedal hit a jutting rock. I managed not to fall, but Colin's back tire threw dirt at me as he bolted up and around that same rock. We reached the part of the trail that swooped down fast and also spread out wide enough for me to pass my competitor. It would be my last chance to race past Colin. My bike tires left the ground as I hit a lip on the trail. I leaned down and sped up to catch Colin's back tire. His helmet turned as he glanced back over his shoulder to see where I was at. I used it to my advantage. The look back had slowed him just enough for me to tear off around him. I had to ride close to the edge of the tree-lined trail. I ducked under a low branch. It scraped the top of my helmet as I torpedoed under it. I pulled up even with Colin. He turned and looked at me through his goggles, then lowered himself over his bike again. I did the same.
I was focused on the trail. It was narrowing, and my opportunity to shoot in front of Colin was ending. I didn't notice the tree branch until my pinky finger caught on it. I yelled outin pain as my finger was wrenched sideways. The vibration and sound of the finger snapping jolted through me. Colin took off. This time he didn't look back. He hadn't noticed that I came to a dead stop.
I was wearing gloves but that didn't matter. The middle of my pinky was at a sickeningly weird angle. It was going to be a bitch getting the glove off once the finger swelled. I got off my bike and drank some water. I held my breath and slowly pulled the glove free. The lines on the knuckle had vanished from the swelling. My whole hand throbbed. I'd just fucked up my new job.
I got on my bike and rolled down the rest of the trail holding the bars with one hand. Colin held his helmet and goggles in one hand and the bike in the other as he waited at the end of the trail.
"What the fuck happened to you?" he asked before noticing that I was holding my bare hand against me. "Ahh shit. Did you break it?"
I held up the nearly dangling pinky.
"Shit, guess so. Well, let's get you to urgent care. I beat you, by the way," he reminded me as we walked back to his car.
Isat on the edge of the exam table and stared down at my newly taped hand. The doctor stabilized the broken pinky by taping it to the next two fingers. My right hand was basically worthless and would be that way for at least five weeks. It was only my pinky, but it had just fucked up my entire life.
Colin came in with a can of soda. "Figured you could use a dose of sugar. They're just printing out your post-visit care instructions." Colin sat down in the spare chair. "Look, Ro, don't worry about the rent. I'm making enough to cover it. Maybe you can get some disability?"
"Don't think I've got enough hours behind me for that. Nope, as usual, just as my life starts looking up, I manage to fuck it all to hell. I'm sure Rachel will be fast to kick me to the curb when I can't even work."
I was discharged, and Colin and I left the hospital. I plunked myself down on the passenger seat and he climbed in behind the wheel. "Does it hurt much?"
"Still numb from the shot. Fuuck." I rested my head back and closed my eyes. My phone buzzed before I could fall asleep. I had to cross my left arm over and fish it out of my right pocket. It was a text from Rachel. She'd attached a photo of Jack wearing a new sweatshirt with a dinosaur on the front.
Jack insisted I take his picture and send it to you.
Tell him his new sweatshirt rocks.
Even texting was awkward without my right hand. And since I was talking to Rachel, it occurred to me that I was going to be clumsy in another important part of my life, too. I was going to lose her, and that thought hurt way more than my damn finger.
She wrote back.
That made him smile. Now he's singing that he rocks as he dances around the apartment. How was the bike ride?
Rachel and I had texted briefly in the morning. She told me she planned to spend some quality time with Jack, and I let her know I was riding with my brother.
It didn't go so great. I'll explain later. Can I see you?
There was a long pause.