A Little Dare - Brenda Jackson [19]
“Is this it for the day?”
AJ’s statement jerked Dare from his thoughts. AJ had placed the cloth he’d used to dry off the car back in the bucket. “Yes, that’s it, but make sure you come back tomorrow—and I expect you to be on time.”
A scowl appeared on AJ’s face but he didn’t say anything as he picked up his book bag and placed it on his shoulder. “I don’t like coming here after school.”
Dare shook his head and inwardly smiled, wondering who the kid was trying to convince. “Well, you should have thought of that before you got into trouble.”
Their gazes locked for a brief moment and Dare detected a storm of defiance brewing within his son. “How much longer do I have to come here?” AJ asked in an agitated voice.
“Until I think you’ve learned your lesson.”
AJ’s glare deepened. “Well, I don’t like it.”
Dare raised his gaze upward to the sky then looked back to AJ. “You’ve said that already kid, but in this case what you like doesn’t really matter. When you break the law you have to be punished. That’s something I suggest you remember. I also suggest that you get home before your mother starts worrying about you,” he said, following AJ inside the building.
“She’s going to do that anyway.”
Dare smiled. “Yeah, I wouldn’t put it past her, since mothers are that way. I’m sure my four brothers and I worried my mother a lot when we were growing up.”
AJ raised a brow. “You have four brothers?”
Dare’s smile widened. “Yes, I have four brothers and one sister. I’m the oldest of the group.
AJ nodded. “It’s just me and my mom.”
Dare nodded as well. He then stood in front of the door with A. J. “To answer your question of how long you’ll have to come here after school, I think a full week of this should make you think twice about throwing rocks at passing cars the next time.” Dare rubbed his chin thoughtfully then added. “Unless I hear about you getting involved in a fight again. Like I said, that’s something I won’t tolerate.”
AJ glared at him. “Then I’ll make sure you don’t hear about it.”
Not giving Dare a chance to respond, AJ raced out of the door, got his bike and took off.
“Ouch, that hurts!”
“Well, this should teach you a lesson,” Shelly said angrily, leaning over AJ as she applied antiseptic to his bruised lip. “And if I hear of you fighting again, I will put you on a punishment like you wouldn’t believe.”
“He started it!”
Shelly straightened and met her son’s dark scowl. “Then next time walk away,” she said firmly.
“People are going to think I’m a coward if I do that. I told you I was going to hate it here. Nobody likes me. At least I had friends in L.A.”
“I don’t consider those guys you hung around with back in L.A. your friends. A true friend wouldn’t talk you into doing bad things, AJ, and as far as anyone thinking you’re a coward, then let them. I know for a fact that you’re one of the bravest persons I know. Look how long you’ve had to be the man of the house for me.”
AJ shrugged and glanced up at his mother. “But it’s different with you, Mom. I don’t want any of the guys at school thinking I’m a pushover.”
“Trust me, you’re not a pushover. You’re too much like your father.” She then turned to walk toward the kitchen.
Shelly knew she had thrown out the hook and it wouldn’t take long for AJ to take the bait. She heard him draw in a long breath behind her and knew he was right on her heels.
“Why did you mention him?”
She looked back over her shoulder at AJ when she reached the kitchen. “Why did I mention who?”
“My father.”
She leaned against the kitchen cabinet and raised a curious brow. “I’m not supposed to mention him?”
“You haven’t in a long time.”
Shelly nodded. “Only because you haven’t asked about him in a long time. Tonight when you said something about being a pushover, I immediately thought of him because you’re so much like him and he’s one of the bravest men I know.”
AJ smiled. He was glad to know his father was brave. “What does he do, fly planes or something?