your shit, and just when you think just maybe you've got a handle on things, it all goes to hell." Tucking his arms tight around his chest, Ace let out a long breath through his nose. "She was a good kid. Smart. I looked out for her, and Mom did her best. Then I went Afghanistan and came back to this furious teenager that I barely recognized."
" Rehab will help," Liam offered limply.
" Yeah, but getting her to go? I don't want to strong-arm her, but there aren't any choices left. Cole doesn't deserve all of this. He can't stay with my Mom all the time, she's got a full-time job and not as much energy as she used to, you know? All I've got to offer is a one-bedroom apartment and weird working hours. When he stays over, we're always falling all over each other. Fine for a day or two, but in the long run--"
" Gene's house is mostly empty." Liam blurted out, the idea coalescing only as he spoke. "It's not very big, but there's his bedroom and his office. I've been -- I'm supposed to be emptying it out. Selling things. I haven't -- but if you want. There's space."
" I can't move into your house." Ace tipped his head back, watching the mill of clouds. "I'll think of something."
" No. I'd like it. I mean--" Liam stopped, took a breath. It may have been impulsive and risky for his mental health, but Liam identified too much with Cole just then to offer anything less than the moon if he could. "It's space that no one is using, and you need it. As long as you buy your own groceries, it won't cost me or Gene anything. You can even bring George. Put the litter box in the basement."
" And Gene won't care that you're opening up his house?"
" To an uncle taking care of his nephew?" Liam offered a lopsided smile. "I think he'd get a kick out of it actually."
Ace went quiet, his right knee bobbing up and down in restless frustration. The air was too thick, laboring in Liam 's lungs as he waited. He busied himself counting the heavy inhalations and the ragged exhalations. A motorcycle tore by, shattering the night's peace with an angry clatter of the engine.
" I'll help you pack everything up. Help out." Ace offered into the silence. "If you need it. Kind of like an exchange or whatever."
" You don't have to. I mean, Cole is going to need you a lot these next few weeks."
" There's plenty of me to go around. Besides, I have to do something, or I'll feel like a worthless freeloader." Ace smiled tightly. "I appreciate it, Professor. You're a good egg, you know that?"
Liam flushed and dropped his attention to the toes of his sneakers. Across the street, a neon light gave an irritated buzz before snapping off abruptly. The world went incrementally darker.
"Do you think Frankie is avoiding Goose?" It was a flimsy subject change on Liam's part, but to his surprise Ace took the question seriously.
" Probably. I don't remember what all we put in that note, but it probably put her back to the wall." Ace licked her lips. "She's never actually told him no. Not once. He would have never kept trying if she did. You know how they met?"
" I figured at the bar."
" Nope. Roller derby after party."
" Seriously?"
" His big sister is the captain of the Brawl Busters. Frankie was a blocker for a while, pretty good at it too. She dropped out when her Dad retired and left her the bar, not enough time for it. Back then though she was something to see. Famous for her after parties with cocktails that could knock a grown man to his knees. Goose brought some of his home-brewed moonshine to this one party. I think it was his sister's birthday. He ever give you some of his stuff?"
" No." Liam had seen one or two jam jars in the back of Goose's car, but never thought anything of it.
" He's always tinkering with the recipe, but no matter what it'll take the enamel off your teeth. Apparently Frankie had one sip, told him that he was her new best friend. Everyone talks about that party now. It's a legend, the two of them soused on moonshine, making eyes at
" Rehab will help," Liam offered limply.
" Yeah, but getting her to go? I don't want to strong-arm her, but there aren't any choices left. Cole doesn't deserve all of this. He can't stay with my Mom all the time, she's got a full-time job and not as much energy as she used to, you know? All I've got to offer is a one-bedroom apartment and weird working hours. When he stays over, we're always falling all over each other. Fine for a day or two, but in the long run--"
" Gene's house is mostly empty." Liam blurted out, the idea coalescing only as he spoke. "It's not very big, but there's his bedroom and his office. I've been -- I'm supposed to be emptying it out. Selling things. I haven't -- but if you want. There's space."
" I can't move into your house." Ace tipped his head back, watching the mill of clouds. "I'll think of something."
" No. I'd like it. I mean--" Liam stopped, took a breath. It may have been impulsive and risky for his mental health, but Liam identified too much with Cole just then to offer anything less than the moon if he could. "It's space that no one is using, and you need it. As long as you buy your own groceries, it won't cost me or Gene anything. You can even bring George. Put the litter box in the basement."
" And Gene won't care that you're opening up his house?"
" To an uncle taking care of his nephew?" Liam offered a lopsided smile. "I think he'd get a kick out of it actually."
Ace went quiet, his right knee bobbing up and down in restless frustration. The air was too thick, laboring in Liam 's lungs as he waited. He busied himself counting the heavy inhalations and the ragged exhalations. A motorcycle tore by, shattering the night's peace with an angry clatter of the engine.
" I'll help you pack everything up. Help out." Ace offered into the silence. "If you need it. Kind of like an exchange or whatever."
" You don't have to. I mean, Cole is going to need you a lot these next few weeks."
" There's plenty of me to go around. Besides, I have to do something, or I'll feel like a worthless freeloader." Ace smiled tightly. "I appreciate it, Professor. You're a good egg, you know that?"
Liam flushed and dropped his attention to the toes of his sneakers. Across the street, a neon light gave an irritated buzz before snapping off abruptly. The world went incrementally darker.
"Do you think Frankie is avoiding Goose?" It was a flimsy subject change on Liam's part, but to his surprise Ace took the question seriously.
" Probably. I don't remember what all we put in that note, but it probably put her back to the wall." Ace licked her lips. "She's never actually told him no. Not once. He would have never kept trying if she did. You know how they met?"
" I figured at the bar."
" Nope. Roller derby after party."
" Seriously?"
" His big sister is the captain of the Brawl Busters. Frankie was a blocker for a while, pretty good at it too. She dropped out when her Dad retired and left her the bar, not enough time for it. Back then though she was something to see. Famous for her after parties with cocktails that could knock a grown man to his knees. Goose brought some of his home-brewed moonshine to this one party. I think it was his sister's birthday. He ever give you some of his stuff?"
" No." Liam had seen one or two jam jars in the back of Goose's car, but never thought anything of it.
" He's always tinkering with the recipe, but no matter what it'll take the enamel off your teeth. Apparently Frankie had one sip, told him that he was her new best friend. Everyone talks about that party now. It's a legend, the two of them soused on moonshine, making eyes at
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