Page 34 of Nuts

“Not until late. No.”

“Go get your shit. Whatever you need to get by for a while. Until we can figure something out.”

“I don’t. I don’t have anywhere to stay. I haven’t got--”

“You’ve got me,” I said. “And, you can stay here.”

She looked up. “Seriously?’

First, I needed to get her away from him. Then, I could take care of what needed to be taken care of.

I reached for her hand. “Come on,” I said. “We can go get your stuff together.”

Chapter Thirteen

Joey

I wasn’t excited to be staying with Percy for the reasons one might think. The satisfaction I felt about being there wasn’t sexual. I was grateful that his offer wasn’t simply an offer. It was more of a demand.

He truly cared.

I hadn’t felt that anyone cared about me since my mother passed.

I looked around the sparsely furnished – but very tidy – home. There wasn’t a single thing out of place.

On the far wall, a television sat atop a console. Beside it, a wooden display case with a glass front was filled with various baseball memorabilia. Flanking the console were two low back fabric chairs. Directly across from it, a well-weathered couch sat.

I motioned toward the display case. “Is that you’re personal collection?”

“Some of it. The good stuff.”

I knew how much baseball cards meant to him. Heck, it was how he made a living. I walked to the case, peered through the glass, and admired the neatness of the display.

Everything was perfectly placed, centered, and in plastic protective cases. Four autographed baseballs in glass cubes, and more than two-dozen cards, one of which was in its own little shrine.

“What’s the special one here on the top?” I asked.

“Mickey Mantle #311,” he said.

“What’s that mean?”

“It’s a 1952 Mickey mantle card. He played for the Yankees. It’s a pretty sought after card. It’s been in my family since 1952.”

“Oh, wow. That’s impressive.”

“That’s why it’s on the top.”

I turned toward him. “I need a hobby.”

“You’ve got one already,” he said.

“What’s that?”

“Finding parts for Harleys.”

“That’s not a hobby,” I said adamantly. “I’m going to make a career of it.” I looked at my pile of random clothes and the suitcase I’d filled with my belongings. “Where do you want me to--”

“Second door on the left. It’s a guest room. Smoke stayed in it once, but other than that, nobody’s ever slept in there. Don’t worry.” He chuckled. “I washed the sheets.”