Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 68538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
If only I’d known that shit would hit the fan in more ways than one, I might’ve given her my number and said to hell with work.
But I didn’t and I would pay for it the hard way.
I’m not even a hot mess anymore. I’m just a room-temp mess.
—Maven to Athena
MAVEN
He never made it over.
But to be completely truthful, it was a good thing.
Because had he pushed and asked me why I’d needed the ride to the lawyer, he would’ve figured out that I didn’t drive because I was under the influence.
As in, taking pain medication to keep the pain from my PCOS and endometriosis under control.
When I’d turned fourteen and had gotten my first period, I’d thought I was going to die.
It’d been Vickie who got me to the specialist, and we’d found out that I had issues and would forever have issues.
Ever since then, we’d found ways to manage it… mostly.
But sometimes, like this current period, I had to take a bit more medication to keep myself going.
Hence the reason I couldn’t drive.
But now, hours later, the pain meds were wearing off.
Plus, I was angry from the visit with the lawyer.
I would not have been good company tonight, that was for sure.
“I’m curious. What else did the lawyer have to say?” Dorsey asked. “Does she think you have a case?”
“She thinks I could have one if Dad wasn’t who he is.” I sighed. “She said that we could definitely try to bring a case, and it’s a strong one, but since Dad knows everyone in the city and surrounding areas, it might be impossible to find a judge willing to try the case because they want to keep Dad in their good graces.”
“Oh, that’s just fantastic,” Dorsey said. “So pretty much he’s going to get away with it?”
I rubbed at my cheeks. “Maybe I’ll just move locations.”
“You signed a three-year lease last month,” Dorsey said.
Dorsey was right, of course.
I had.
I shouldn’t have, though.
I’d been more than aware of the issues I’d been having when it came to Dad, and the city.
Sure, I could’ve moved.
But I was close as fuck to all the popular downtown retailers, and my rent was amazing.
I hadn’t wanted to leave.
But now I may not have a choice…
“I know,” I admitted. “Let’s just say I have no idea what I’m going to do.”
“I freakin’ hate him,” she said. “I hate him so much.”
“You and me both, sis,” I said. “How’s work going?”
Dorsey was a third-grade teacher for Dallas ISD. She’d been working there for four years now and loved it.
“The classroom is ready, but I’m not,” she admitted. “I love summer so much.”
I snickered. “You’ve just had two months off.”
“I know, and it wasn’t enough. I enjoyed the heck out of my vacation.”
“I think that’s fairly normal to love being off.” I giggled. “What’s your plan? Do you still want me to come help hang up the posters with you?”
“About that,” she said. “I had an unexpected visitor. Remember Mr. Freely?”
Mr. Freely used to be her switch teacher. When he’d moved away last year for a year abroad, Dorsey had been devastated.
“I do,” I answered.
Secretly, I thought Dorsey had a crush on the older man.
Not that she’d ever get the nerve to pursue anything with him.
Dad and Scott hadn’t focused their sights on just me, after all.
Dorsey had gotten just as much as I had, unfortunately.
“Well, he’s back!” she chirped. “And is back to being my switch teacher. I’m so freakin’ excited! He helped me hang up all the posters today. And get this! He asked me out for coffee!”
I grinned into my pillow, trying to be excited for her but becoming sidetracked when a wave of pain in my belly hit me.
“I gotta go,” I admitted. “I’m about to throw up.”
Dorsey said her goodbye, unsurprised by my abrupt departure.
I’d done enough bailing on her over the years because of my PCOS that she was used to it.
Heading to the bathroom at a run-shuffle, I bent down over the toilet and lost my lunch.
Or dinner.
At this point, it was so late into the day, that I wouldn’t be eating anything for dinner. And the last thing I’d had to eat was lunch.
I closed my eyes and let my head rest on the toilet seat.
I might be grossed out about it tomorrow. But for tonight, I was just trying to survive.
It was long moments later when I finally made my way back to the bed and collapsed into it.
I gave a weak clap, and the lamp at my bedside turned off.
I opened my phone and turned on the alarm, then was about to shut it down when my Google Home alerted me to movement seen on my cameras.
I switched apps to the camera that was pointed at my street and was unsurprised to find Scott there at my door.