AllFreeNovel
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But that’s the bare minimum required by law. And here I am, stuck in the same cycle—living the exact same life that she did. A carbon copy, a replica.
‘Not quite,’ the voice in my head reminds me. ‘You’ll never be alone.’
I don’t think I’ll ever have children. Not unless I’m absolutely certain I can offer them more than this never-ending cycle of poverty and desperation. I didn’t fucking ask to be here.
Today, I do actually slip on some more comfortable shoes—a pair of white sneakers. I already knew about Emma’s slumber party and had planned on meeting up with Ty and some of our friends at a local pub after work, so I toss a change of clothes into my bag before I go. When I pass through the first floor again, no one is there.
I start up the hill to the café. Our small downtown is a twenty-five minute walk from the house. The early afternoon sun is hot against my skin. I wipe my brow with the back of my hand, suddenly regretting the time I took to apply makeup.
Once I clock in and tie on my apron, I notice Grant posted up at the back corner table again. He points at me and curls his finger, gesturing for me to come to him. Cringing, I retreat back into the kitchen.
“Hey, Marcus…”
“Yeah?” he answers. He’s a good guy—a year younger than me in school. He started waiting tables here over the summer.
“Can you do me a favor? Can you take that back corner table for me? At least until that guy leaves?”
He peers through the serving window. “Is that guy bothering you?” he asks. “Do you want me to get rid of him? Spit in his food or some shit? What did he do?”
I shake my head. “Aaron won’t like that. He’s trying to do some kind of business with him. But, yeah, he’s bothering me. A lot.”
“No problem. I’ve got you,” he says.
I wait until he’s made his way over to Grant’s table before I return to work. Marcus reports that he was asking for me and was visibly upset when he told him I wasn’t available. He asked for a manager, but fortunately, he isn’t in today. I spend the entire shift careful not to make eye contact and standing so that my back is to him while I work. He calls my name several times, but I refuse to turn around.
After a couple of hours of this game, he finally leaves, shoulder-checking me on his way out the door.
After work, I change into a white spaghetti-strap dress and walk just a couple of blocks to meet Ty and some friends. The sun has just barely set, and the streets are beginning to fill with both tourists looking for somewhere to eat after a long day on the lake and locals ready to fuck shit up. I pass crowded patios and a few places with lines out the door before I get to The Red Fox Tavern.
I push open the doors and step into a cloud of smoke.
“…Can’t believe they still allow smoking indoors here,” some woman, a tourist, grumbles as she and her husband backtrack through the double doors, using her shirt to cover her nose.
I snicker to myself as she passes. I don’t really mind the smell, though. It helps keep the place pure.
And maybe no one will notice that I smell like fried chicken—an added bonus.
Passing the host stand and others waiting to be seated, I walk to a booth on the bar side where Ty and Lisa sit with Heather, Russell, and Derek. I climb over Lisa and sit down in Ty’s lap.
“Hey, Princess,” he says before kissing me on the mouth. His tongue pushes past my lips, and I taste liquor on him—bourbon, to be specific. Its distinct, oaky flavor lingers in my mouth.
I push back his hair; his golden brown eyes look glossy when they meet mine. He’s drunk. Very drunk, judging from the looks of it.
“You okay, baby?” I ask, stroking the side of his face.
He nods. “I had a bad day.”
I don’t need to ask what happened—I know. He had to take his dad to an appointment this afternoon; it must not have gone well.
“He’s fucking wasted,” Russell laughs.
I pat him on the cheek. “It’s okay.”
He nuzzles his face against my throat and kisses me; his stubble tickles my neck, and I jerk away.
“Sorry…I’ll shave tomorrow,” he slurs.
“It’s okay,” I tell him. “I like it.” I pick up the beer in front of him and drain its contents in one go.
