Free The Rock Season by R.L. Merrill

house and then went in early to work. Patrick came in when we opened at 10:00 and I drilled him about what happened the night before.
    “No clue. We were over at Tina’s and then he left with Gretchen. I didn’t see him again. He texted me later and said he was going to the shop to look for you and I answered that you weren’t there but I never heard back.”
    I had sent Mom a voicemail telling her where Peter and I were the night before. She was the least likely to flip out.
    “I hope he’s ok,” I muttered. “I’m glad summer school is over or he’d be hurting right now.”
    Patrick was helping me with a display and when I climbed up on the ladder and asked him for the hammer, he exclaimed, “What the fuck happened to your head?”  
    “Pipe down,” I said, hoping our customers hadn’t overheard him. “I broke up a fight last night and got hit in the head with a beer bottle. It’s no big deal.”
    “No big deal? Did you fuck anybody up?”  
    I rolled my eyes. “No. I left that for the police. Now don’t go running your mouth about this. I don’t need to hear it from the grandmothers or Pops, you hear me?”  
    He nodded and looked at it again. “Did you have to get stitches?”  
    I nodded. “Yeah, like twelve or something.”
    He smiled in approval. “That’s gonna leave one badass scar.”
    I groaned. “Will you shut up about it and hand me the other end of that banner!”  
    “Sure thing...Badass.”
    And that was just the beginning. Of course he didn’t keep his mouth shut. As soon as we were done, he texted Peter, who told Pops, who told Mom and who then told the grandmothers. So when he and I went home for dinner, everyone made a huge fuss.
    “Ali, you need to quit that job! You did not go to college to break up fights with low life people.” Grandma Samadi was the first to get to me, followed by Grandma McShane.
    “Aaron, my boy,” Grandma McShane murmured. “I’ve got some ointment that will help with the scarring.
    “Scar! How’s that going to help you find a wife, Ali? I told you I want great grandbabies.”
    I groaned and kept my head down trying to eat my Potato Leek soup in peace.
    Pops came in next and lightly smacked the top of my head. “Hey slugger, pass the bread, would you?”  
    I handed him the bread and then felt soft hands on my shoulder.
    “I’m sorry you were hurt, my son.” Mom kissed the top of my head and went to her seat quietly.
    Pops and I sat on each end, the twins on one side of the table, the grandmothers and Mom on the other. Every now and then my cousin Aziz would join us. This was one of those nights.
    “Cousin, you look like hell. You need to quit all this nonsense. Let me get you in with the bank.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Aziz, I have no interest in getting back into that kind of work. I’ve told you before. I’m fine. The store is great, we’ve been in the black the past four months, and this side gig is just for fun. All right? Now can we please just eat?”
    But Pops wasn’t done. I could feel him eyeing me from across the table. I knew we’d go for a walk after dinner and I was almost looking forward to telling him about the Goddess, who I was going to see again on Wednesday. It couldn’t get here quick enough.

Chapter Seven
     
    Stevie
     
    “So what’s the game plan,” Maryland asked me as we sat at a picnic table near the snack bar.
    I shrugged. “I don’t know! I haven’t seen him yet. And since when did this become about seeing a guy? I thought we were having a girls’ night?” I winked at her, fully accepting that I was full of shit. I had been a little disappointed that my Savior wasn’t in the entrance line and that I hadn’t seen him.
    “It’s all part of the package, baby girl! We always check out the scenery when we come to shows and to be honest, I am really hoping I see some good scenery tonight! I’ve got some feelings I need to work out, if you know what I mean.”
    I choked on the water I had just