Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
With a sigh, I reply.
Me: We’re fine. Get off my nuts, rat.
The dots move and stop. Move and stop. I smile, wondering what sort of flustered look he has on his face right now.
Rat: Do you need a ride to school tomorrow?
Fuck no. The whole reason I had him drop us off was so he didn’t get his car jacked by some thug. You can’t ride around in a car like his in my neighborhood. It’s a good way to put a target on your back. And if the fuckers who live at this apartment complex with us thought we had money, they might not let Roux and I just walk on by.
Me: I said back the fuck off. You’re not my girlfriend, though you do have dick sucking lips.
I’m being a mean bastard, but I don’t care. He needs to leave me the fuck alone. We’re not friends. Just because Ms. Frazier and I have our deal, it doesn’t mean he gets to saunter into my life and be a part of it.
Rat: Okay.
I’d expected fire back from him. More angry words. Maybe even no response at all. Anything other than okay. Such a defeated answer. I hate how guilt settles all around me like the smoke from the apartment—choking and tainting me.
The moment I hear the sirens, I tuck my phone away and let relief flood through me. Maybe they can clear us to go inside and then I can finally relax. It’s been a helluva long day.
Minutes later, three firemen show up. Mike, tall and burly, walks over to us. The other two firemen head into the apartment while he squats in front of where we’re sitting.
“Hey, kiddos. How’s it going?” He smiles at Roux. “Where’s your mom?”
I scoff at his question. “Who the fuck knows.”
His lips thin out and he glances down the hallway. “She at Popper’s?”
Popper’s. The topless bar down the street. Fucking gross.
“If she was, Alejandro would be home. They’re both out.” When Mom’s not flashing her tits for money, she’s laid up in bed with Alejandro. If they’re both gone, that means they’re off getting drugs together.
“I should call this in to CPS.”
I shoot him a nasty glare. “I’m eighteen, Mike. I’m looking after Roux. For fuck’s sake, don’t do that to me.”
He softens and sighs. “Yeah, yeah, I know. I just want to know who looks out for you, Roan. Sure as hell not your momma.” When I don’t respond, he stands. “I’ll check it out. I think you should be fine to stay, though I wish you wouldn’t.”
“If we can’t stay, I’ll call Cal’s dad,” I assure him, but it’s a lie. I only call Cal’s dad when I’ve called everyone else—Ms. Frazier, Jordy, Cal, and Terrence.
He stares at me long enough to make me fidget, and then he walks into the apartment.
“I’m tired,” Roux says. “When can we go to bed?”
“Won’t be long,” I assure her, hugging her to my side. “What movie are we watching tonight? The Goonies sounds good.”
“Not that one again!” she says, giggling. “We should watch To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.”
“Dude,” I playfully grumble. “We’ve watched that one like seventeen times this month alone. Nope. Not happening.” We both know it’s happening. I can recite that damn movie by heart now.
“Maybe Hollis can watch The Goonies with you and Charlotte can watch To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before with me at our slumber party.”
I freeze at her words. There’s no way in hell I’m sleeping over at Hollis’s house. But would I really let Roux go without me? I take her everywhere. Even to Campfire Chaos. Thank fuck Cal’s mom loves her like a granddaughter and looks after her on Friday nights. It gives me one night of social freedom.
“We’ll see.”
“That wasn’t a no.”
“It wasn’t a yes either, twerp.”
Our playful banter is cut short when Mike and his guys step back into the hallway.
“All’s clear, but leave the windows open until bed,” Mike instructs. “I want an update later. Text me.”
He hugs us both and then the three of them leave. Mike was like the dad we should have had. Instead of the one who left us eight years ago in the back of a squad car and never came back. Too bad Mom couldn’t get her shit together to keep him.
“Ew,” Roux complains. “It stinks.”
“Nah, you stink worse,” I tease. “Grab a shower and we’ll watch the movie.”
As she scampers off, I set to cleaning up the mess Alejandro and Mom left. There are clothes all over the living room floor, which is fucking disgusting. Underwear. A bra. Condom wrapper. I don’t want Roux seeing that shit, so with mounting frustration, I clean it all up. When I find a burnt-up spoon barely kicked under the old ratty sofa, I lose it.
What the fuck?