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)
Roan
I glower at Hollis through the window of the fire station as he slowly walks back to his car. His shoulders are hunched, utterly defeated. It’s bullshit. I’m the one suffering here because of his family, and he’s the one feeling sorry for himself.
His head turns, looking my way, but he can’t see me from his vantage point. He fumbles for his keys in his coat pocket. They fall to the snowy asphalt at his feet. His knees buckle and he grabs the side of his car before bending to get them. I’m still staring after him, even after he drives off, when a hand clamps down on my shoulder.
“Carol’s not going to separate you two. You know that, right?” Mike asks, his voice filled with fatherly authority.
I almost believe his tone.
Believe him.
But I’m not stupid.
Nothing ever goes right for me and Roux.
“She said that? In those exact words?” I challenge, shaking off his hand to turn and look at him.
Mike’s lips thin out and he nods. “Pretty much. I told her I have the garage apartment.”
“She’s letting Roux stay with you because you’re stable and can provide,” I grit out. “This has nothing to do with me. I’m only getting to stay because you like me. If it weren’t for you, we’d be split.”
He shrugs. “Maybe. But that’s not the circumstance. You do have me and you’re not getting split up.”
For now.
He doesn’t have to say the words because I feel them. I know them as truth.
“Come on,” he says. “Carol is leaving. It’s probably best I get you two settled in and back to the station while we have coverage.”
Ten minutes later, we pile into Mike’s big redneck truck. The drive is quiet, each of us trapped in our heads. I’m sure Mike is wondering how in the hell he managed to suddenly get himself two kids. Roux is scared. I’m just angry at the injustice of it all. He pulls into a familiar neighborhood.
Oh, Jesus.
Seriously?
“There’s Charlotte’s house,” Roux says, pointing at a house as we drive.
My body tenses when I notice a purple Mustang parked out front. Mike drives to the end of the street and hangs a left. His house is at a dead end with a green belt behind it. The house is modest in size but boasts a big garage—probably for his monster truck—and the apartment sits on top.
We climb out and Mike helps Roux with her bags. He shows us up to the garage apartment. Once inside, I take in the small space.
“This kitchen is outdated, but everything works. I just had everything serviced up here because I was considering renting the place out,” he says as he walks over to the fridge and opens it. “I’ll get some food for you guys. Until then, just help yourself to whatever’s in the house.”
Guilt niggles at me. He obviously needed the money if he was going to rent it out, and now here we are freeloading. I’m going to have to find a job and fast.
“The television works, as does the DVD player, but if you want cable, we’ll have to get a box added—”
“We don’t need it,” I blurt out. “We’ll be fine.”
He gives me a knowing nod and then shows us down a hallway. “Here’s the bathroom. The sink sometimes is slow to drain so just watch that.” He opens another door once in the hallway. “This was a laundry room at some point, but the plumber said it’d cost a shit ton of money to fix the pipes. We capped it off and I converted it to a small bedroom.”
Roux steps inside and points out the small window. “Look! You can see the ducks in that little pond!”
Hearing her excitement does something to me. It melts a glacier-sized hunk of ice on my heart. I’ll have to work my ass off to pay for this somehow, but I’ve never wanted anything more than to give Roux a safe place to stay. Someplace happy and homey.
“And the other bedroom is back here. It doesn’t have the duck view, but you have a fabulous view of the street,” Mike jokes.
Though I want to give Roux the bigger room, I like that I can see what’s coming for us with this view.
“I get the duck room,” Roux tells me. “Sorry, bro.”
“You wound me,” I tease.
“I’ll round up some stuff from the house and bring it back so you guys can get your beds made up and shower. If you need anything, you have my cell. Take today to get settled, but tomorrow I want you back at school.” He gives me a firm look. “Both of you.”
So much for dropping out and job hunting.
“Thanks, Mike.”
“No problem, kid.”
He leaves and my tension hitches a ride with him. Just Roux and me feels more like normal. They can’t fucking take her from me. I won’t be able to cope.