Mr. Heartbreaker: Black Mountain Academy

We’re all inside mine and Vi’s small apartment. Rooster got home three days ago and somehow my girl talked the old geezer into moving in with us. Rooster wasn’t happy, exactly, but he seems content. I don’t know if he’ll agree to anything long term, but for now he has and that makes Violet happy.

The surprise of the day was when Green and Parker showed up on our doorstep, wanting to talk to Rooster. Apparently, Green knows Rooster from back when he was a rookie. That was a while back for sure—especially since Green is now retired and about to take over coaching his own minor league team.

“No point. I take care of myself.”

“Damn it, man, you’ve been living on the street. All you had to do was to find me or one of the guys, Rooster. You knew we would help you. You had to.”

“It was my fault,” Rooster mutters and for the first time, he sounds like a broken man. I know Violet hears it too, because she jumps up and goes to Rooster’s side and holds his hand.

“You need to back off Mr. Lucas. Rooster has had a rough time and I won’t allow anyone to upset him,” she snaps.

Green jerks his gaze over to Violet. I grin, because my girl is in definite mama bear mode right now.

“Mom said you claimed Rooster now,” Green laughs.

“Claimed?” Violet asks. I frown and walk over to her, because I don’t like his choice of words.

“The only asshole Violet has claimed is me,” I grumble, wrapping my arm around Violet’s waist and pulling her back against me—tucking her in so her head is under my chin.

“Hah! Little Mikey is jealous,” Parker laughs.

“Kiss my ass,” I grumble, feeling Violet’s body laugh.

“Mike,” Violet laughs. “Quit being goofy.”

“He’s not being goofy. He’s being jealous,” Parker laughs.

“A good woman can bring that out of you,” Green says, and I can’t argue with him, so I don’t. Instead, I bend down and place a kiss on Violet’s shoulder. Green clears his throat and turns back to look at Rooster. “Rooster—”

“Just let it go, Green. Sometimes, a man has to admit he was stupid. I’m the one who didn’t put money back. When I got sick and couldn’t work, things just went from bad to worse. Nobody’s fault but my own,” Rooster responds, sounding tired. “Besides it’s over and done now. I’m too old to be taking anyone’s charity.”

“Rooster, don’t—” Violet starts, going back to stand beside him. I let go of her, but my arms instantly feel empty.

“I don’t want to give you charity, Rooster. I want to give you a job,” Green announces.

“What are you yammering about now?” Rooster mutters and he would sound irritated if he wasn’t so breathless.

“Come work for me,” Green says.

Violet visibly relaxes after that. It’s as if until that moment, she didn’t realize that Green was here to truly help Rooster. Then again, Violet doesn’t trust people. She learned that lesson the hard way.

Thank God she gave me another chance.

She sits down on the floor beside the kiddie-size beanbag chair that Gladys has taken up residence in. I’m not wild about having a chicken in the house, but I’m learning to adapt. Gladys is definitely special. Until him, I’ve never seen a chicken that was house trained. Gladys is. He goes on a pad.

“Work for you? Boy you done lost your pea-sized marbles.”

“I’m serious. I’m taking over coaching a minor league team. I have complete power to hire my own team and I want to hire you.”

“What in the heck fire for?” Rooster snaps, ruining it when he starts coughing.

“It’s not been that long, Rooster. I remember what a father you were to all of us. We related with you. You brought the best out of us, and when we were in a slump kept at us until we pulled out of it. My boys would be lucky to have you.”

“You want me to be a damn den mother?” Rooster wheezes.

“I do,” Green responds unapologetically. “That and more. It’s a decent paying job and there’s a good apartment with free rent included, Rooster. There would be no more living on the streets.”

“I like the streets. I don’t have to deal with bullshit,” he responds, proving he is extremely stubborn. Green is probably just the same though, because he’s not going to back down. The two go back and forth and I’m still trying to figure out who is going to win. Then, Green brings out the big guns.

“Come back to Texas with me, Rooster. I’ll even buy Gladys the best chicken coop money can buy.”

“Gladys’s not a coop kind of guy,” Rooster argues.

“Maybe not but it would be luxury and he can spend his time there while you’re working. Come on, Rooster, you know this is a good opportunity for both of us,” Green practically begs.