Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 103356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“Right. We definitely need to talk.” Opal sat on the coffee table, giving her a serious look. “You’re being a shithead.”
Lilac’s mouth opened in shock. “What?”
“You’re being a shithead.”
“How? Why? Because I left you alone with Kye for so long? I’m so sorry, but I’m not working again until Tuesday evening so I can look after him the entire time. It’s just that we need the money—”
“Shut up, Shithead.”
“Opal,” she groaned. “Stop calling me that.”
“I call it as I see it. You want to know why you’re being a shithead? Well, it’s got nothing to do with Kye and everything to do with you. Damn it, Lilac. Why won’t you let me help you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You won’t let me help. You never do. I get why you shelter Ryleigh. She’s more fragile. She has a young baby. And we both know that she’s far too trusting and positive to deal with everything. But, Shithead, I’m not like that. Out of all of us, I grew up on the streets, fighting for my fucking life. I’m the one who knows how shitty life can get and how to survive it. So why won’t you let me help?”
“There’s nothing you can do.”
“Of course, there fucking is, but you won’t let me.”
“What do you want to do, then?” she asked, bewildered.
“I want to help contribute to the finances.”
“Oh.”
“Oh, she said.” Opal threw up her hands. “Like she doesn’t think I can get a job? No, she’s got to work two jobs, wear herself into the ground taking care of everyone else, and then look at me like I’ve grown two heads just for suggesting that I could get a job so she could maybe get some rest. Perhaps even have some fun.”
“How can I have any fun when I’ve got to . . .”
“What? Protect us? Take care of us? Do everything?” Leaning forward, Opal flicked her forehead.
“Oww. That was mean.”
Opal shrugged. “That’s what shitheads get.”
“Stop calling me that! I’m not a shithead for trying to look after you.”
“You’re gonna run yourself into the ground, and then what will we do without you? Lilac, I know that asshole taught you that everything is your fault. Because that’s what a dickhead does.”
“Not a shithead?” she asked dryly, feeling herself tear up.
“Nope. Dickheads and shitheads are very different things. You are not responsible for us, babe. We’re all in this together. You have to let me help.”
Lilac wiped at her cheeks. Stupid tears. “Right.”
“But first, you have to tell me how bad things are. What’s the repair bill for Sugar?”
Lilac found the bill in her suitcase and handed it over. Opal blanched. “Jesus, that’s almost as much as we paid for the old girl.”
“I know, but I don’t know what else to do. We can’t stay here forever. That’s not what Linc agreed to, and I get the feeling he doesn’t like me much.”
“He was being a total asshole yesterday and you shouldn’t pay any attention to him. You know it’s not your fault that Ryleigh got ill. Don’t be a shithead.”
“I thought I already was?” she asked with a smile.
“You’ve move up to being just a little shit.”
“Ahh, there’s a scale. Good to know.”
“You already knew that. Right, well, I’ve got good news. I got a job at the local clothing store here.”
“Really? Opal, that’s amazing! Wait, are they all right with paying you cash?” she asked.
“Surprisingly, yes. The owner, Laken, just gave me this odd look but said that was fine. People in this town are weird.”
They kind of were.
“This will mean we can get Sugar fixed quicker,” Lilac said.
“Or it could mean you just work one job.”
She shook her head. “Once Sugar is fixed and we can get out of here, then I’ll think about it. But not yet.”
Opal sighed. “What if you get sick? Then what will we do?”
She wanted to brush off that concern as preposterous, but she had to admit feeling dizzy and weak lately.
“I’ll just see how I go. I guess we’ll have to be careful with our schedules so one of us is always with Kye while Ryleigh is still ill.”
“You know that’s going to be tough,” Opal said.
“I know.”
“There is another solution . . .”
“We can’t. Not yet.”
“I don’t fucking see why not.”
“Because Ryleigh has to make that decision, Opal,” she told her friend gently.
Opal could be a bulldozer when she thought she knew what was best for someone.
The sound of someone yelling had them both standing up. Suddenly, the glass door to the guest house opened and Ryleigh walked in. She was dressed in a long T-shirt that definitely wasn’t hers. Her hair was a mess, and she looked a bit pale and tired.
But she also looked a lot better than the last time she’d seen her. Relief flooded her. God, she’d been worried about her.