His expression turned to stone. Avery didn’t wait to see what he’d do. She drove out of the lot, her thoughts rioting. She’d go to her apartment all right. But she wouldn’t give up on Rowdy.

She wouldn’t let him forget that he’d promised her tonight, and all day tomorrow. Whatever it took, damn him, he would make good on that promise.

Before he left her for good, he’d give her that memory, one that would last her for the rest of her life.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

THINGS HADN’T GONE quite as he’d planned. No one had played their part correctly, most especially not Avery. She was different now, more outspoken, more confident and independent.

Being on her own for a year hadn’t weakened her. No, it had given her inner strength.

He grinned. That wouldn’t last, though. Next time he got everyone together—everyone but Sonya, because really, when it came to his plans, she’d been more a hindrance than a help—he’d make sure all the pieces fell into place. And then Avery wouldn’t be so high-and-mighty.

He could hardly wait.

* * *

ROWDY AGAIN SAT on the floor, spending precious minutes greeting the dog while Marcus stood back, watching in apprehension. Alice, bless her, went straight for the kitchen and more cookies and juice. Maybe this would be their routine, makeshift picnics in the apartment with him working hard to put Marcus at ease.

“I got that red car,” Rowdy said as he produced the small vehicle and another length of track. “What do you say we hook them up?”

Hanging back, Marcus glanced toward the kitchen where Alice hummed while getting their snack. When he looked back at Rowdy, he chewed his lip, then asked, “Are you mad?”

Damn. Had the kid picked up on his mood? He thought he’d covered up pretty good, but he knew all about survival, how you had to learn to judge those things, even at a very young age.

Rowdy had already decided that he would never lie to Marcus, no matter what. So he said, “At you, no.”

Rubbing a forearm under his nose, Marcus shifted nervously.

Rowdy found himself expounding, trying to put the kid at ease. “It’s nothing, really. Just a disagreement with a...friend.” God, Avery was so much more than that. Or at least, he’d thought so. Now he just didn’t know.

“Who made ya mad?” Marcus asked.

It struck him that Marcus feared his bad mood would spill over onto him. Probably in the past, with his ass**le parents, he’d caught the brunt of everything bad that happened.

His mood soured more, but Rowdy finally got Cash to settle down. He stroked the dog’s back. “You know, Marcus, mostly I’m disappointed, I guess.” He cupped Cash’s furry face, rubbed his long ears. Dumb as it sounded, he said, “I got my feelings hurt about something, and I’m gloomy about it. But I think playing cars will make me feel better. So do you want to?”

Alice walked in with a tray. The big faker didn’t fool him one bit. She’d heard everything, even though she pretended she hadn’t.

“Let’s eat!” She sat yoga style on the floor, perpendicular to Rowdy so that Marcus could sit across from him, then set out cups of juice and cookies on napkins. “The cookies are fresh from this morning. Marcus helped me make them.”

“No kidding?” Rowdy took a big bite and groaned. “Man, that’s good.”

Now, with Alice close, Marcus inched over and seated himself. His bony knee hit the cup of juice and it spilled, sending a puddle spreading out.

Marcus froze, his face going pale, his eyes wide.

Alice said, “Oops!” and scooted so the juice wouldn’t soak into her slacks. “Good thing I brought napkins.”

Rowdy leaned forward. “Marcus?”

Mouth pinched, shoulders hunched, the boy looked down at the floor.

Rowdy wanted to pull him into his lap, to cuddle him as he’d cuddled Cash, to swear to him that nothing bad would ever again happen to him, because he wouldn’t let it. But he knew better than to try that. “It’s just juice, buddy. I’m forever spilling something, and it’s not a big deal. It wipes up.”

“Already done,” Alice said, making a point of not really looking at either of them. “No harm done.” She stood. “I’ll refill your glass, honey.”

Marcus still didn’t look up. Rowdy heard him swallow.

Fuck it. “You know what I’d like to do, Marcus? I’d like to hug you and tell you not to worry about it. But I know you need time to believe that it’s fine. It hurts my heart, man, really bad. Right here...” He put a hand over his chest. “To know you’re worried about it, so please don’t be.”

In a small voice, Marcus said, “You can keep the car.”

God, he would slay dragons for this kid if he could. But all he could do was sit here with a cheap-ass toy and reassurances that didn’t mean shit. “I want you to have it. I want us to be friends and to play together, and I don’t want either one of us to worry about anything bad happening.” Rowdy held out the car. “Please, will you take it?”

Looking miserably confused, Marcus accepted the car, more because he was afraid not to, Rowdy thought, than because of any trust.

Jesus, this entire day had been a bitch. He rubbed the back of his neck and forced a smile. “Thank you.” Very, very gently he reached out to cup a hand over Marcus’s head. He said again, “Thank you, Marcus. I appreciate it.”

Again, the kid held perfectly still until Rowdy removed his hand.