AllFreeNovel
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I knew how hard it was sometimes to provide for his family. After all, we were in almost the same shoes. Maybe not almost. He had a small carpentry business, but that was barely enough to sustain his family.
The point is he had something. Me? I had nothing.
My family was just as broke as I was. Father didn't have money. He never did, but he still managed to give his three kids an education before he died suddenly.
Now, I was a fresh graduate and expected to be a man. I was trying. The majority of the money that sustained me was from freelancing. Doing this and that for whoever needed my software development skills or cared to listen to me.
But it wasn't enough. My efforts weren't enough. I was still stuck in this treacherous cycle of living from hand to mouth. I hated it. I hated this life.
“Now, I know it's easier said than done.” His voice brought my attention back to him. “Trying not to be frustrated in the search for daily bread. Trust me, I know how hard it is, but we must never give up. There's surely light at the end of the tunnel.”
Right.
I nodded when my eyes caught sight of the time. It was 10 p.m. “This is 10 p.m.,” I frowned, knowing he didn't like to stay out late.
“I'm aware.” His voice was calm.
“You love to be in with your wife. You never stay out until past seven.”
He arched a brow. “I'm aware, Ethan.”
“Then you shouldn't still be here?”
Somewhere around 6 p.m., we’d been texting, but he came over when he sensed my frustration. He’d intentionally stayed, talking to me up till now. I didn't even realize it was this late.
I was suddenly angry at myself for keeping him out.
“You should go home.”
“What about you? Are you fine now?” He rose from his chair.
I shrugged. “I guess.”
“I know what that shrug means. It means you're not entirely fine, and you're still beating yourself up, thinking everything that's happening is your fault.”
I pressed my lips into a thin line. “You know me too well.”
“That's not the state I want you to be in.”
I brought my hands to cover my face, sadness sinking in my heart.
“You... can't really do anything, James.”
He chuckled. “I'm not asking what I can do. The question is, what do you want to do tonight.”
Pausing slightly, I removed my hands from my face. It couldn't possibly be what I was thinking. James detested clubs...parties.
“James? What are you saying?” I held his gaze, unsure.
“Uhmmm… You like to party. You like the clubs, and I know that's one way you escape your problems.”
“Don't even—”
“I’ll go with you tonight. Ensure you have maximum fun.”
My mouth opened and closed like a fish’s until I could finally get words out. “There's no way I'm letting you do that. Plus, I don't even have money for that.”
“I didn't say anything about money, did I?” He raised a brow.
