Under the Viaduct, H. Anderson [top young adult novels .TXT] 📗

He nodded. “So, she doesn’t have my Social Security Card? It must have been in my wallet that got stolen my second night on the streets.” Although he didn’t comment on her description of his mom’s reaction, the hurt and hope mixed in his eyes told her he cared.

“She said she thought you had taken it with you.”

“Are we going to be able to get one with just my birth certificate?”

For no reason other than her skin itched to touch him again, she laid her hand on his arm. “That depends. Does your new job supply you an employee I.D.? With a picture?”

His head jerked up, and he beamed at her, the dimple in his left cheek teasing her. “Yes! In fact, we did that today so I can get onto the site in the morning.” He pulled a laminated I.D. with a metal clip out of his pocket and showed it to her.

She squeezed his arm and smiled back at him. “Will you need a ride in the morning?”

His smile faded. “You’ve done so much for me already. Maybe for this first day, it would be a good idea to get a ride, just so I can time the walk back to the encampment. I don’t want to be late.” He looked at her and bit at his bottom lip, shaking his head. “And, I have one more favor to ask.”

Kaylee nodded encouragement.

“Can we go somewhere where I can charge my media player after we find some boots? I’m going to need to use it as an alarm clock.”

“No problem. Besides, this calls for a celebration, anyway. My treat—as long as we go cheap.” She remembered their conversation about her finances and winced. “The McDonald’s over by the college has chargers at some of the tables.”

“Okay,” he looked down at the employee badge in his hand. “But this is the last time you treat. Next time we eat together—I’m buying.” He reached up and pushed a stray lock of hair out of her face, his fingers leaving tendrils of prickling heat on her skin where they brushed against it.

“It’s a deal.”

Blayne worked through the New Year holiday, excited to be getting holiday pay for New Year’s Day. He’d refused to let her drive him to or from work after the first day and it had been a few days since she’d seen him. Kaylee threw on some sweats and hurried down to the apartment’s mail slot—his birth certificate should be there today.

She inserted her key into the slot and released the breath she’d been holding—it was there. She couldn’t even fool herself into thinking she was excited because it meant Blayne could get his Social Security Card. It was really because that meant she would get to see him.

Since his boss had told him she’d give him a little time to go get his card replaced as soon as the birth certificate got there, Kaylee hurried to get ready and headed to the work site on campus. Having no idea how to find him, she parked next to the construction trailer, got out, and knocked on the door.

“Can I help you?” A woman wearing a hardhat, brown hair with gray streaks hanging to just past her chin beneath it, answered the door.

“Um, yes. My name is Kaylee.”

The woman smiled. “Ahh. You’re Blayne’s friend. He said you might be stopping by within the next day or two. My name is Kelly.” She reached out, and they shook hands. She had a strong grip. “I’ll go get him, I wouldn’t want your pretty hair to get messed up wearing one of these.” She tapped on her hardhat. “I haven’t had a good hair day in twenty years.”

Kaylee laughed as Kelly stepped out of the trailer. She laughed again as she heard her yell, “Hey, new guy! You have a visitor!”

Blayne skipped most of the stairs as he rushed into the trailer. His nose was red from the cold and a few days’ worth of stubble gave him a rugged, handsome look. He pulled his hardhat off and smiled. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Kaylee replied. “Your birth certificate came today.”

“That’s what I figured.”

Kelly stood behind him in the open door. “Take an early lunch and go get your Social Security Card so I can pay you on Friday.”

Blayne turned to her. “Thank you, Kelly. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“I don’t expect it to be too soon,” she said. “It’s January second which means the Social Security office will probably be packed.”

“Well,” Blayne looked down. “I really appreciate you giving me time to go. I know we’re running behind here.”

“Not as far behind as we were before you came along. You’re a hard worker and I appreciate that.”

The back of his neck flushed pink. “Thank you. And thank you for giving me a chance.”

“See you when you get back.” Kelly stepped away from the door so they could leave.

Blayne set his hardhat and tool belt in Kaylee’s back seat before sitting himself in the passenger seat.

“Sounds like things are going well.” Kaylee buckled her seatbelt and waited for Blayne to do the same before starting the car.

“Yes. Kelly is enthusiastic about me learning how to do new things on the site. It’s been invigorating to work hard.”

“I’m so glad it worked out.” She reached into the backseat and grabbed some papers to hand him. “I printed these off the internet. I thought you could start filling them out while we drive. Hopefully it’ll save us some time when we get there.”

It didn’t end up saving much time, they still had to wait in a long line. But once they got to the front, it didn’t take long at all. The man at the window took Blayne’s papers, his birth certificate, and his work I.D., typed it all into the computer, and said, “The actual card will be mailed to you and should arrive within ten business days. Do you need me to print off a