Page 39 of Turn Me On
“If I can have a piggyback from Uncle Zane,” she insists.
“I hope my agent is as good at negotiating as you are, kiddo,” I say, picturing Maddox in London, all badass and strong, protecting my best interests. Hell, expanding them. I’m lucky to have him in my corner.
I’m lucky, I’m lucky, I’m lucky.
I repeat that silently so I can stay the course. I haven’t sent him any more selfies since yesterday. Twenty-four hours and counting. I deserve a medal.
Eliza tilts her head to the side. “What’s an agent?”
“Someone who goes to bat for you,” I say as I squat and offer myself as her ride.
She scurries up my back. “Iwent to bat today. Can I be an agent?”
“Sure can,” I say, standing then walking out of the park.
“I bet I’d be as good as your agent,” she says.
“My guy is a rock star, so I’d say you would be.”
“Uncle Zane,” Eliza says, “do you think you can steal off that lefty reliever on the Phoenix Scorpions?”
“Whoa. You’re already studying pitchers in the major leagues?” I ask.
Gage flashes me a winning grin. “Course she is.”
“Daddy says baseball is educational when we watch it together. He teaches me everything, like how to frame a pitch.”
I whistle. “That is downright impressive. Look at you, Gage. Finding a way to make your favorite form of entertainment educational.”
My brother lifts his chin proudly. “That’s right.”
He squeezes Eliza’s foot playfully—lovingly too—and my heart expands.
We make our way to a nearby quick-serve organic café. Over smoothies and tofu tacos, we catch up on how Eliza’s doing in summer camp. When she grabs crayons from a cup on the table and starts to draw a cat, I ask Gage how work is going.
“What’s the latest with the boss man?”
Gage slumps in his chair. “The other night, Neil was harping on me about the glasses.Oh, there’s a speck on this one. It was our best night in a month, and he’s focused on smudges on the drinkware. I’m not even the dishwasher,” he says with a huff.
“He sounds like a pain in the you-know-what,” I say.
“Butt,” Eliza puts in as she colors in a cat.
I laugh, then Gage continues, scratching his jaw in resignation. “But that’s what bosses are. He’s kind of like you-know-who.”
Dad, I mouth.
“Yup.”
“Bet you’ll never leave a speck on a glass again,” I say heavily.
He shudders. “Learned my lesson. Maybe I’ll find another bar, but the pay is good, so it is what it is,” he says, then crunches into a taco.
I wish I could solve this problem for him. Swoop in and get him a new boss. Or, better yet, a new elbow. But I can help in other ways, and I wonder if now would be a good time to ask if I can set up a college fund for Eliza? I don’t have a deal in hand yet, but Iwantto do this for them so badly. Trouble is, Gage has been so committed to carrying the weight of parenting solo that I need to find just the right moment, and while he’s venting about his job is probably not it.
Still, I dip my toe in with, “Let me know if you need anything.”
“I’m good, man,” he says with a firmI’ve-got-thisgrin. “I do appreciate you listening though. And coming here and hanging out with us. I know you’re busy.”