Page 110 of Feeding Hope
A sigh left my lips. What Katy had done meant something, but it was one drop of kindness in an ocean of cruelty. It was bestI stayed away. Shit, I couldn’t offer Katy anything, and a girl like that didn’t need my friendship. Katy was too good, too sweet, and I’d drag her down with my darkness. Katy had already suffered in her young life. She didn’t need a friend who couldn’t face reality.
Katy
Alex was here somewhere, but not at our bench. He’d stood me up, and I guessed why. Well, I wasn’t tolerating that. I had his lunch and dinner for him. I’d hunt Alex’s damn ass down even if it took all day. But something inside told me where he’d headed, and I raced down the steps and towards the park.
Alex wanted peace and quiet. He’d head here where he felt safe and sure enough, there he was, near the lake. I snarled as I saw three women skirt a wide path around him. He didn’t have the plague! People were so damn cruel.
I rushed up and plonked myself down on the bench. “Next time I say meet me for lunch, I mean it!” I snapped.
Alex looked surprised. “Katy, I thought you’d gotten into trouble, so I was avoiding you.”
“Oh, I worked that out. But I wasn’t. However, I’m none too pleased at having wasted twenty-five minutes hunting you down. Here, lunch,” I stated and pulled out two chicken cobs, a cake, crisps and a pork pie. Alex looked down at it, raising an eyebrow.
“Katy, you can’t keep feeding me!”
“How much do you want to bet?” I retorted. Alex glanced at me in shock and then laughed.
Chapter Three.
Katy
Wow, how had I not seen how white Alex’s teeth were until he smiled? They shone against his tanned skin. And it was actually nice to hear Alex chuckle. Undoubtedly, Alex had little to laugh about. That took years off him, and he appeared younger than I believed he was. The streets aged a person, and I’d put Alex at late forties, possibly even early fifties. But with his smile and eyes lit up, Alex looked to be in his mid-thirties. Damn.
“You’re challenging me?” Alex teased.
“Yes. I’d have happily bought you breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, my boss, Aiden Armstrong, has given me a company card to buy you food with.”
Alex stiffened as I mentioned Aiden’s name, and he put the roll down. “Did Aiden or you buy this?”
“I did today,” I replied quickly. What on earth just happened? The moment I spoke Aiden’s name, Alex became stiff, and it was obvious there was a problem. Immediately, I sensed Alex would refuse to eat something bought by Aiden.
“Don’t get me anything from Aiden Armstrong. Katy, please. You don’t have to provide food for me either, so if you can’t afford it, stop,” Alex said, but his gaze lingered on his lunch.
Gently, I placed my hand over Alex’s, surprised at how clean it was and held his eyes. “Alex, I can bring you breakfast and lunch. Honestly, I live pretty simply, so that won’t break me. At night, though, how about you attend the soup kitchen I volunteer at? I’m there Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I’m also there on Sundays. It’s the hall at the back of St Mary’s church.” I was trying to distract him from the heavy mood that had overtaken him.
“Are you inviting me?” Alex asked, picking his roll up again.
“Yes. If you’d like to come. You don’t have to, but you’ll receive a free meal,” I babbled.
“And get to see you in action. Tell me, do you have a frilly white apron?” Alex teased.
“No!” I exclaimed, and Alex laughed. “But I wear one with bobbies on.”
Alex choked on a bite of roll, and I slapped his back. His eyes widened, and I poked my tongue out.
“I…I just…wow. I bet that makes you popular at the soup kitchen.”
“No, as they’re old lady saggy boobs.”
Alex sputtered a second time, and I began laughing. “Stop!” he begged.
“Fine, I’ll behave. I’m not at the soup kitchen today, so is it okay if I bring you some dinner tonight?”
“Not with Aiden’s money. Actually, no, don’t. I’m not your responsibility, Katy.”
“No, but I wished when I was growing up somebody would be kind and give us some food, and nobody did. Now I refuse to let someone go hungry if I can help it.”
Alex
