Crazy Hot Love (Dirty Dicks 2)

She laughs and kisses me. “I’m totally jealous. Prove your manliness to me

and win me another prize.”

“Excuse me,” a woman behind us says.

I let go of Claire to turn around and see who it is, but I’ve never seen the woman in my life.

“Claire? I didn’t realize that was you.” The woman pulls Claire in for a hug, but Claire remains stiff in the woman’s arms. “I’ve been meaning to stop by the classroom after school. The boys and I got you a little gift, but I keep forgetting to drop it off.”

Claire pulls out of the woman’s embrace. “You didn’t have to get me anything, Amy.”

“But I want to.” The woman looks between me and Claire. “You saved my boys’ lives. It’s the least I could do.”

Oh shit. This must be Troy and Marcus’ mom. I know Claire has felt so much guilt about this woman’s boys. Everything between us has happened so fast, I haven’t had a chance to follow up with her about that night we talked and how she’s doing.

Amy smiles and turns to me. “I just wanted to thank you for giving my son that unicorn. He’s been trying for the last hour to win it, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this excited.”

I wrap an arm around Claire’s waist and pull her against my side. She relaxes in my arms. “You’re welcome. I heard he’s going to give it to Maria.”

Amy rolls her eyes and laughs. “They grow up so fast, don’t they? Well, thank you again, and I’ll see you around, Claire.”

Claire waves, and Amy turns away, only making it a few steps before her twin boys bombard her.

“You know, it’s never too late to talk to her.”

Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Claire looks up at me. “What would I say?”

“Whatever’s weighing on your heart.” Claire opens her mouth, but I stop her. “And don’t tell me nothing is weighing on your heart, because I can see it, Claire. I told you, your feelings about that night—the guilt—are not something that will just go away. But I firmly believe that if you talk to her about it and get it off your chest, it’ll help you down that road to recovery.”

Claire takes a deep breath and blows it out. She turns and searches the crowd for Amy, who has moved a few more feet away and is standing at the ring toss.

“Road to recovery makes it sound like I’m battling something dark.”

“But you were.”

“Yes.” She nods. “But after talking with you, I’ve been able to move past a lot of it.”

“But not all?”

She shakes her head. “No, not all.”

“Go, Claire.” I give her a little nudge, and she stumbles forward. I expect her to turn around and tell me all of the reasons why she needs to put this off, but she doesn’t.

Nope, my girl is strong and determined, and even though she looks like she’s going to vomit, she walks right up to Amy and taps her on the shoulder.

I stand back, hands in my pockets, a smile on my face, and so much love in my heart for this woman. She’s facing her fears head on, and I couldn’t be prouder of her.

32

Claire

I shake my hands and fingers out as though I’m about to play some sort of instrument when all I’m trying to do is regain feeling. My legs are tingling as they carry me toward Amy, and while I’m physically sick at the thought of talking to her about that night, I know it’s something I have to do.

The last several days have been masked by Trevor and the time I’ve spent thinking of him. But at night when I lay my head on the pillow, sometimes I still see Troy and Marcus’s scared little faces.

I step up behind Amy and take a deep breath. When I blow it out, I tap her on the shoulder. “Amy?”

She spins around, smiling. “Hey, Claire.”