Read Out of Time (Nine Minutes #2) for Free Online Page B

intelligence and showing a strong resilience to Misty’s verbal abuse. Even Chip was more captivated by him than mad when they’d started discussing politics and world events.
    But truth be told, if the kid was going to be living here, he would have to be tough. Maybe Grizz was right to let some things go. To let him have an undignified nickname like Grunt.
    It wasn’t until a few weeks later, after Grizz cut out Misty’s tongue for an off-the-cuff comment, that the child’s true intelligence came out. Without any medical experience, or at least none Blue knew of, the kid somehow managed to nurse her back to health by himself. Nobody had really liked Misty and most of the regulars weren’t even fazed when Grizz had come out of his room that night with blood all over him. Grunt was the only one who jumped up immediately and, seeing Grizz wasn’t hurt, had enough intuition to know something was terribly wrong. Misty hadn’t come out of Grizz’s room.
    That night, Blue had watched from the pit as a hysterical Misty leaned heavily on the child she had been so mean to while he slowly and gently guided her back to her room.
    That kid is way too good to be living here . Blue sighed and took another swig of beer.
     

 
    Chapter Seven
    2000
     
     
    In the car outside the strip mall, Ginny dried her eyes with the last of the tissues she’d found in her glove compartment. She needed to clean up before going to pick up Jason.
    She got out of her car and headed for the yogurt shop at the end of the mall. Without looking at anyone, she headed straight for the ladies room and locked the door behind her, almost gagging at the overwhelming scent of lavender air freshener. The mirror showed her eyes were still red and swollen, and her nose was starting to run again. She unwound some toilet paper and blew her nose, then splashed cold water on her face. She had already cried off all of her makeup. Thoughts of Grizz, Tommy, the kids, everything, all swirled around her. She didn’t know how long she stood there, bent over the sink, taking in large gulps of lavender air.
    Someone jiggled the door. “Be out in a sec,” she said flatly.
    She used a paper towel to dry her face, then headed back out to her car without making eye contact with anyone in the store.
    Less than ten minutes later, she pulled up to Max’s house and beeped her horn. She could’ve gone inside to get Jason. She liked Max’s mother. Denise Reynolds was genuinely sweet, but Ginny just didn’t have it in her to make small talk. Besides, she couldn’t trust herself not to fall apart. She needed to talk to someone. Carter . She would call Carter when she got home.
    Sarah Jo wouldn’t have been a good option. Ginny knew how much Jo loved Tommy. Jo and Tommy had a special history, and even though Carter had become close to both Ginny and Tommy over the years, she could be counted on to be more loyal to Ginny.
    Did Sarah Jo know? Ginny’s heart pounded. Oh no. She couldn’t even bear to think about that. No. She wouldn’t jump to conclusions.
    Just then, the front door of Max’s house swung open and a miniature version of Tommy bounded out, calling over his shoulder, “Later, dude.”
    She stared at her son. The son that Tommy had suggested they name after Grizz. Now she knew why. Grizz was actually Jason’s grandfather. Her head started spinning. This is not happening.
    Something nagged at her as she watched Jason approach the car. When they made eye contact, he broke into a wide grin. Her heart swelled with love for him. He looked just like his father. She had a déjà vu moment of a memory she couldn’t place. She’d had it before, but could never conjure up a specific incident. Was it something she remembered about Tommy at this age? No. It couldn’t have been. She didn’t know Tommy when he was this young.
    It was something else, but for the life of her, she couldn’t remember what it was.
    “Hi, Mom!” Jason tossed his bag into the back seat and