“Little fuckers,” I growled.

“Ronan,” Beth tsked.

“They are,” I insisted. “The same kind that used to push my dad around because he couldn’t fight back. I loathe little cowards like that.”

“Your dad got picked on?” Evan asked, his eyes wide with shock.

“He was skinnier than you. Shorter, too.”

“Wow.”

“Ask him when you see him this week. He’ll tell you all about it.”

“Did you get picked on?”

“No, I was always big for my age. But my dad made sure my brothers and I always looked out for other kids. We never used our strength to hurt anyone or intimidate them. He knew what that did to a kid.”

His lip trembled. “That’s good,” he mumbled.

“I’m going to talk to the principal tomorrow,” Beth stated.

I nodded, knowing how little good that would do, even though she had to do it. Those little fuckers would taunt him even more when his big sister came to stick up for him. She could confirm what he said, but I wasn’t sure that would help Evan’s case much. They would assume she was lying as well. After seeing him fall, their bullying was going to pick up even more.

I stood, looking at them. I pulled my phone from my pocket. “I’m ordering dinner, then I have some work to do.” I looked at Beth. “Can I have a little alone time with Evan?”

“Paige was looking after dinner.”

“You go tell her I’ve got it covered. Evan and I will be in in a moment.”

She hesitated, and I leaned close, kissing her forehead. “Please,” I breathed out.

She stood and went inside, and I sat beside Evan. “You know what boys were there?”

“Yes.”

“Where did it happen?”

“Around the corner where I wait for the bus. It was a little late today.”

“Anyone else around who can verify it?”

He paused. “Jenny was there. She helped me up.” He held up the wad of cotton in his fist. “She gave me this to stop the bleeding on my lip.”

“This Jenny—she your girl?”

He muttered something I didn’t catch. I bent closer. “What?”

“I’d like her to be. She’s really nice. But she’s quiet, and she gets picked on too. Her mom works, and she lives in an apartment. She goes home alone every day. She walks because it’s right around the block.” He sighed. “She has pretty red hair, and she talks to me. Sometimes she sits and has lunch with me.” He peered up at me. “We share our lunch. She never has much, so I pretend to be full so she can eat more.”

My heart almost burst with pride for this kid. His parents had done a tremendous job raising him and Beth. She had carried on instilling him with goodness, and he was awesome.

“You have any information on Mr. Humphries?” I asked casually. “An email or anything?”

He nodded. “We all have teacher contacts in case we need help. He is one of mine.”

“Will you share it with me?”

He looked confused but agreed.

“I’m gonna help you, bud. You just have to trust me.”

He slipped his little hand in mine and squeezed. “I do, Ronan. You—you’re like a big brother and a dad all rolled into one.”

I wrapped my arm around him with a hug. My dad always said things were better after a hug, and he was right.

“I got you, kid.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Beth

I tried not to take out my sour mood on the customers on Wednesday. Ronan had been right. The principal offered little in the way of help, informing me that they had a zero tolerance for bullying, but Evan had never complained and no one had seen what occurred. I argued that my brother never lied and the principal needed to question the boys. He informed me they came from very good families, and he was certain there was a simple misunderstanding.

“It is slick on the grass. Perhaps Evan’s crutches simply slipped,” he said, his voice condescending. I disliked him immensely. Evan was just another kid. He’d given me little assistance with Evan’s disability, never tried to help or make things easier for him, and always turned a blind eye to my complaints. I had no doubt it was because of who we were. Or, more importantly, were not. I wasn’t rich, influential, or important. Therefore, neither was Evan. It angered me, but that was the only school in the district Evan could attend. Until I was done with school and got a full-time job, living with Paige was the only place we could afford.

Sometimes, life sucked.

Ronan had come in from talking to Evan, carrying two bags of Chinese food. Liam showed up, and dinner was good. Evan even smiled and laughed. After dinner, the two men sat with him again, talking, and Paige and I stayed away, giving Evan the time he wanted with them. I assumed whatever they said encouraged him, and he’d gone to school the last couple of days without complaint, and nothing seemed to happen. Still, I worried.

Tags: Melanie Moreland Vested Interest - ABC Corp Romance
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