Chapter 4 Inks Game 4

Molly

“No Della.” I hated telling her no. If I had my way I would give her the whole world. But wanting to give her everything and being able to afford it. Were two very different things.

I knew down to the last penny how much I had in my purse and I didn’t have enough for the little Halloween costume my daughter was fawning over. Not if we wanted to eat this week as well.

Her little face crumbled. Pouty bee sting lips quivering and I knew I was about five seconds away from a full blown screaming tantrum.

Warily I glanced around. She didn’t throw a fit often but when she did-

Her wail went up. Loud and insistent but instead of throwing herself on the floor like she usually did, she turned and ran.

“Della stop-“

She didn’t get far. Running straight into a pain of muscular denim clad legs. She would have fallen on her bottom if tattooed arms hadn’t plucked her up before she could.

“I am so sorry.” Dropping the half full basket, I made my way down to the end of the aisle. Looking everywhere but at Inks smiling face.

It had been a week since I had moved in and apart from hearing him move around his apartment thanks to the paper thin walls I hadn’t seen him or his friends again. It was kind of embarrassing that I was meeting him again like this.

“She wasn’t looking where she was going.”

Deep blue eyes locked onto mine. “No harm done. Isn’t that right little Della?” He chuckled, tapping her on her little button nose. “And why are you crying?” Wildly he looked at me. His eyes darted down to the meagre shopping and then up to the little costumes and realisation flickered into his eyes. “Nothing in her size?” He asked me quietly. 

I didn’t answer.  Better to remain silent than to admit the truth. I couldn’t afford it.

One week here and I had already lost the job I had lined up. Until I found another one, then we just didn’t have the money for fancy new costumes.

Cocking his head to the side, Ink studied me. “Is everything ok?”

Fuck, why did he have to ask that? Like he actually cared? I crumbled. My face twisting just like my daughters had. “Oh god I’m sorry.” Biting down on my fist I turned away. Desperately trying to keep the tears at bay.

“Hey Della?” I heard the dark haired biker say behind me. “You see those sweets there. Can you run and grab me some please.”

Squealing she skipped off on her little side quest. The whole costume fiasco was forgotten. At least for now.

“What’s going on?” A heavily tattoed hand came down on my shoulder , turning me towards him. For a second he looked taken aback at the tears swimming in my eyes.

“You can’t afford a costume for her?”

Wretchedly I nodded, a single tear slipped from my eye and I wiped it away angrily. 

Again he glanced at the basket forgotten at my feet. And this time he frowned so hard that two little lines appeared between his eyebrows. “Is that your food for a week?”

God I hated the judgement in his voice. This was meant to be my fresh start. The place I could start over without all the sympathetic looks.

It wasn’t meant to be going like this already?

“Money is a little tight.” I admitted begrudgingly. “I had a job lined up, but they had to let me go because-“ my eyes slid to my daughter who was busy filling her arms with chocolate and sweets. “Della,” I called out a warning.

“She’s just fine.” Ink said quietly. “You lost it because you didn’t have child care? That sucks.”

“Yeah.” It did suck. And honestly I didn’t know what I was going to do. I didn’t want to run home with my tail between my legs and prove to my parents that I couldn’t handle the real world. 

“I’ll find something.” Forcing myself to smile, I lifted my head. “It was nice seeing you again.” I wanted this conversation to be over.

Ink stared at me in silence for a second and then nodded. “Sure. I’ll see you around I’m sure.” He didn’t sound put out at all that I was cutting our conversation short. Instead he gave a little wave and took the sweets from my daughter. Heading towards the checkout with the kind of confidence I had always wished I’d had.

I couldn’t help it, I watched him go. Eyeing up his ass under the blue jeans. He really was a great looking guy and he seemed kind of sweet as well. I shook the thought away. I was here to rebuild my life. I didn’t have time to be drooling after bikers, no matter how hot their asses were.

Keeping a tight hold of my daughters hand, we paid and made the short walk home in the drizzle. I had to keep sight of what was important. 

A job, a roof over our heads and hopefully soon a car. That was all that mattered.

“Momma look.” Tearing her hand from mine, Della rushed towards our front door. “Pizza.” 

I could almost hear her salivating.

“Don’t touch it.” I said in a rush. “It’s probably been delivered to the wrong door.” Arm full of bags, I stared down at it.

“And this-“ squealing with delight, Della pulled out a little sparkly purple costume from the bag next to the box. 

Ink.

Ink had bought my daughter her costume for Halloween and ordered us a pizza. Like he thought I wasn’t capable of looking after my own daughter.

I was going to kill him. I was going to-

There was something scrawled on the box in a red marker pen.

Inks and Metal

9am Monday.

Don’t worry I’m taking this all out of your first pay.

It was signed off with a smiley face and a x. I stared down at it. Unable to decide whether I was furious with my neighbour or completely blown away by his kindness.

Could I even be mad at him when I was pretty sure he had just given me a job?