Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
"He's a teen and still in high school too."
Mom's hand covers mine as she leans back in her chair. "Does he have tattoos?" Whoa, how did she get that one?
"Don't most people these days?" I say, trying to dance around it.
"We don't." Right.
"Why are you asking that?" She has to know something.
"One of the bills at the hospital was paid. I thought it was a mistake, but I asked a couple of the nurses and was informed that a boy with tattoos had pushed to pay it, but it was strange because said person didn't know much about me, but it was me they were trying to pay the bill for."
"He paid one of your hospital bills?"
"Who else would it have been? I thought maybe Rico, but he's an asshole." Mom rolls her eyes. She's not wrong.
He is a freaking asshole. One that has no problem making sure the girls at the club have all the drugs they can afford, at least. He wants you high, but he also wants you paying for it. Rico makes sure whatever money the girls make circles back to his pocket.
“It might have been him.”
“Andy.”
“Okay, it was probably him.” I know without a doubt it was Niki. This generous act screams his name. The part I love the most about it is that it was genuine. He didn’t do it for recognition like most people would. He did it because he cares about me. I don’t know what I did in this life to deserve him, but I’ll never take him for granted.
“How can a kid in high school pay that kind of bill?”
“He’s not in my high school.” I really am dodging these questions the best I can.
“So he comes from money?” Mom’s expression is still skeptical as hell.
“How about you meet him one day? When you get out.”
"When I get out." She nods.
"Don't worry about me. I'm good. Focus on getting better."
"Rent is almost due."
"I'll handle it." I'm going to see about pulling a few doubles at the diner this weekend. I’ve been slacking on shifts. Hopefully, the extra shifts will provide me with enough money to cover the expenses.
"Rico owes me a paycheck, and there is cash in my locker."
"All right, I'll see about getting it."
"Maybe this boyfriend of yours can go with you. I don't love the idea of you going there alone."
"Okay." I nod, although I don't fully agree. Niki has done enough for me already. He also has a life of his own.
One that he doesn't seem to want to mix with mine. I get it. He's protective of his sister and mom. While mine works at a strip club and is addicted to drugs. I get why he doesn't want to introduce me to them.
A knock sounds from the open doorway, a nurse standing there. "Are you ready?" she asks, giving us a warm smile.
"As much as I'll ever be." We both stand. Mom wraps me in a tight hug. I hug her just as hard back.
"I love you," I tell her.
"I love you too, sweetheart." She kisses me on the cheek.
I watch the nurse lead her out of the room. I drop back down into the chair when she’s gone and let a few tears slip free before I make myself pull my shit together.
I grab my phone out of my bag and order a Lyft. This place is on the edge of the city in a nicer area. If there are gangs here, they aren't evident, and I’d have to jump buses to get back to my part of town.
Plus, if I have a car, I can have them drop me at the club. I can make my way back home from there. I plug in the address and don’t miss the look the driver gives me when I get in. I'm sure he suspects me of being a stripper, but I don't care.
I pull up a study guide for one of my upcoming tests on my phone and scroll through it. I can’t wait to be out of high school. It's really going through the motions at this point. I’ve gotten a few grants and small scholarships already. They could cover community college, which would be a nice step in the direction I want to go, but there is still time to try and get more.
What I need is to get us out of the area we are living in to help my mom stay sober when she gets out. That’s the goal, but I know it’s a long path before I get to that.
"You working tonight?" the driver asks when he pulls up in front of the building. He turns around to get a better look at me.
"No" is all I say, getting out and slamming the door behind me. I don't know how my mom deals with that shit all the time.