Until We Touch (Fool's Gold #15)(67)

He had a good life, he reminded himself. People he cared about and who cared about him. The relationships he had these days were safe. They would last. There wasn’t anything on the line so there wasn’t anything to lose.

Percy got up. “I’ll be right back,” he said and headed up the stairs. Two of the dogs opened their eyes and watched him go, but they didn’t move.

Percy returned with a book in his hand. He gave it to Jack and sat on the sofa.

“I read it,” he said, both proud and shy. “The whole thing. Kenny’s been working with me and that software program really helped. I wasn’t as bad as I thought. I think I can do it. I want to get my GED.”

Jack patted him on the back. “Good for you. I’m glad. Congratulations on finishing the book. Let me know when you want some more. We’ll go get them.”

“Sam already took me. I’m going to work real hard, Jack. You’ve given me a great opportunity and I’m going to take advantage of it.”

“I’m glad.”

“I want to go to college. And I know what I want to do while I’m there.” He paused for effect.

Jack held in a groan. Percy looked eager as he spoke. Excited. Jack had a bad idea he knew where this was going. It made sense. He was around the three of them all day. He saw the glamorous side of the sport. But to play football professionally?

He studied the kid impersonally. Percy wasn’t big enough and he hadn’t been working on his skill set. With a lot of coaching maybe he could make a team at the community college, but his odds of going pro were about zero. That required a gift from the gods and Percy hadn’t been chosen. At least not as far as Jack could tell.

He would let him down gently, Jack told himself. Maybe run him through some drills so he could see how much work was ahead. Maybe if they went to a Pac-12 game with UCLA or Stanford, Percy could see what was expected of a—

“I want to study to be a teacher. I want to help kids like me. Kids who slip through the cracks and are sent on to the next grade, even though they’re not ready.”

Jack stared at him. “A teacher?”

“Uh-huh.”

Jack started to smile. If Larissa were here, she would take this moment to point out that despite his best efforts, he wasn’t at the center of the universe every single minute.

“That’s great,” he told Percy. “I think you’ll be a terrific teacher.” There was more to discuss. Like the fact that he should start at a community college to build up his study habits in a less competitive environment. And that Jack wanted to make sure they found the best four-year for him to transfer to. But that was for later.

“You’ve got a goal,” he told Percy. “That’s how all greatness begins.”

“Kenny says it’s all about fundamentals.”

“Kenny would say that,” Jack murmured, feeling kind of good about himself and what was happening with Percy. Was this why Larissa did it? For the sense of accomplishment and knowing she’d made a real difference? He had to admit, he liked it.

The front door opened and Kenny walked in.

Percy grinned. “We were just talking about you. I was telling Jack what you said about fundamentals.”

Jack watched his friend approach and saw the blood in the other man’s eyes. As he stood, prepared for what was coming, he had the brief thought that word traveled fast. Then a fist flew into his face and the world went dark.

* * *

“NOTHING’S BROKEN,” KENNY grumbled as he put ice into a dish towel.

Jack sat at the kitchen table and carefully felt his face. His friend was right. All the bones felt as they had before. There was swelling, but that would go down with time. On the bright side, Kenny was holding his right hand as if it hurt him. One fact the movies never mentioned when they showed those fight scenes—it hurt as much to hit as be hit.

Percy hovered in the entrance to the kitchen. “I don’t understand,” he said for fourth time. “You’re not mad at each other.”

“I was mad,” Kenny said. “I made my point and now it’s over.”

“Fighting doesn’t accomplish anything,” Percy told him.

Jack took the offered ice and put it on his jaw. “There wasn’t a fight. I was hit. There’s a difference.”

Five chiweenies danced in the kitchen, trying hard to trip anyone standing. Jack was grateful to be in the chair. His face hurt and he knew it was going to get worse before it got better.

Percy looked between the two men. “You’re not going to tell me what that was about, are you?”

“Nope,” Kenny said.

“So I should go upstairs?”

“Probably a good idea,” Jack told him.

“Whatever,” Percy muttered and left.

The chiweenies went with him. Jack had a feeling all five of them would end up on the bed, rocking out to music he was too old to understand.

When they were alone, Kenny took the chair opposite Jack’s and sat down.

“You had to sleep with her. I warned you to leave her alone, that she was family. But you did it, anyway.”

Jack was torn. On the one hand, he was glad Larissa had someone looking out for her. On the other, he didn’t want to get hit in the face again.

“We’re both adults.”