“Trust me, it’s going to be the best damn thing to happen to him in a long time.”
“You’re sure?”
“Definitely.”
I hand over the cash for Jackie’s groceries and give the woman one last smile before taking off out the store doors to find dad and Ari, knowing that today with what I just did, is going to be a game changer that could only bring greatness.
Chapter 15
I step out of the grocery store to find dad just about finished loading up his old pick up with our groceries while Ari runs around the parked cars being as unhelpful as possible.
I shake my head as I watch the scene before me. Perhaps I could help him out a little. After all, I’m kind of hoping that life might change for dad from here on out. We should celebrate the times of it being just the three of us before dad goes ahead and makes it the four, maybe six if we include Jared and his little brother.
Shit, I’m probably getting my hopes way too high, but I can’t help but want the best for dad. He deserves love in his life, especially after having to deal with me for all those years. It couldn’t have been easy.
I make my way over to dad and grab the last bag out of the cart and put it away. Once the job is done, I grab hold of the cart and have one last joy ride as I return it to the store. Ari’s scream steals my attention and I watch over my shoulder as dad chases her through the parking lot so he can get her back in the truck.
Doesn’t he know you’re supposed to entice her with treats? Works every time.
Dad finally catches her and tackles her into his arms before dragging her ass back to the truck. I laugh to myself, get rid of the cart, and head back when I hear a feminine voice calling out over the sound of the busy street going about their day.
“Harrison,” Jackie calls from the entryway of the grocery store.
I grin like a devil child as I watch dad’s head whip around at the sound of his name. He stops what he’s doing, looks dumbfounded at her for a moment before righting himself, and starts heading her way with Ari’s hand firmly clutched in his. Jackie goes to meet them in the middle and I decide it’s probably best that I do too seeing as though dad has absolutely no idea what I just did inside that grocery store.
I reach them just in time to hear Jackie give the politest scolding I’ve ever heard in my life. “You really didn’t need to do that.”
Dad’s brows pull down and it’s clear that he’s about to put his foot in his mouth so I discreetly clear my throat and catch dad’s eye, letting him know to play along with it. I see the internal battle inside and smother a grin when he gives in to my games.
“Really, I insist. It was the least I could do.” Dad’s eyes flick back to mine and I see it all over his face, hoping he just said the right thing and didn’t come off sounding like a complete fool. I give him a little nod and he lets out a silent breath.
My grin widens. I’ve never seen him look so nervous in my life. It’s fucking hilarious.
Jackie gives dad a gracious smile that blows him away and I don’t doubt he’s doing his best to work out what the hell I did with that cash. “I don’t know how to thank you,” she tells him, going all breathy as Ari watches on without even the slightest clue of the magic happening right before her eyes.
I can’t miss the opportunity to play matchmaker once again. “How about dinner? Does tomorrow night suit you?”
Dad’s mouth drops as Jackie blushes.
Score one for me…Actually, I guess it’s a score for everyone.
She nods ever so slightly and I see the big, fat ‘yes’ on her tongue when at least eight massive, black SWAT trucks come tearing down the street with a fleet of police patrol cars right on their tails. Their lights are flashing red and blue, but not a sound is coming from them and it’s clear that whatever is going down here is happening with the intent of not alerting the person they’re after.
The whole street stops to gape as men in black tactical uniforms storm out of the trucks, guns up and ready to go as the cops work quickly to block off both sides of the road, giving them a huge perimeter to work with.
It all happens within seconds with dozens of people stopping to watch the show.
Every eye remains glued to the SWAT team as they barge their way into a clothing store, the same very clothing store that Tully and I had only just been in the other day to ask for an employment application.