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“Very,” Belle answered the woman who’d seemed friendly the few times they’d worked together.
“You should come out with the girls from first shift and me. You’ve earned a drink after this hellish week. I know I did.” Katy pulled her hair down from the tight ponytail.
When was the last time Belle had let loose? Had a drink with girlfriends? She’d been stuck in survival mode for so long. Maybe it was time she took a moment to let out the breath she’d been holding since childhood. TJ was old enough to look after himself, and wasn’t he always bugging her to go out or find a hobby?
“Text me the details. I think I can make that happen.” Belle stood and opened her locker, quickly switching out her lanyard for her keys.
“Woo-hoo! ’Bout damn time we show you this town. Maybe even get you some.” Katy smiled and winked.
“That won’t be necessary.” Belle cringed. She had no want of a man. She could fulfill her own needs—she always had. Life had taught her some valuable lessons the hard way. Men only wanted one thing from a woman, and the second they got it, they were gone. Instead of stuffing down the anger that boiled up inside her, she inhaled long and deep through her nose before exhaling out her mouth. In with light and love, out with the negative.
Katy patted her shoulder before reaching for the door. “You say that, but you haven’t seen all that this little seacoast town has to offer. Unless I read you wrong and you’re looking for some female company?” Katy asked.
“No. I just like being single. Relationships . . . complicate things.” It was a canned response that got most well-meaning friends off her back.
“No one said anything about a relationship, girl.” Katy giggled and led the way into the long hallway of the hospital.
Belle wasn’t that type of girl either. Not that she judged women who were able to separate feelings from sex. God, she wished she could. She just wasn’t built like that.
The automatic double doors to the emergency entrance opened and summer’s floral fragrance enveloped her, wiping away the sterile hospital scent that always burned her nose.
“See you tonight,” Katy called out as Belle opened the door of her car. She took one more pull of clean air before climbing inside and buckling up. Her old Ford rattled to life and a silent ping of gratitude flitted through her. One more thing to be grateful for today. Her car had started. TJ was safe. She had a job that she enjoyed. And now, a potential night on the town with a friend.
***
Belle walked in the house and hung her keys on the notch. “TJ?”
“In here,” he called from the kitchen. Several books lay open in front of him and he held a pencil in his hand. Upbeat music bled into the room from his earbuds.
She smiled. He had grown up so much, survived hell and still come out such an amazing human being. She loved him more like a son than a brother. It was only fitting because she’d raised him since birth, when she was only seven. Sure, her mother had been “there,” but never emotionally, and sometimes she was even physically absent for days at a time.
She reached and plucked one of the white pods from his ear and listened in. “American Funeral” by Alex Da Kid and Joseph Angel blasted through the tiny speaker.
“Studying hard?” she asked, taking a seat across from him at the small table and handing him back his earbud.
“Aren’t I always?” He gave a cheeky grin.
“Have you heard anything about the early graduation?”
His grin widened. “It’s all set for December before Christmas break. I’ll be in college by January.”
She flicked the cap off his head. He was cocky, but it was well-deserved.
“Hey!” He picked up the hat and adjusted it a little to the side.
Pride and love welled inside her chest. “That’s amazing. What about the scholarships?” Even if he didn’t get them, she’d work two full-time jobs if it meant her brother could get through medical school and achieve his dreams.
“Working on finalizing the submissions with the guidance counselor.”
She patted his arm, now bigger than hers. She studied her brother’s face. The dark purple bruise under his eye made her stomach dip. Concern furrowed her brow. If only he could survive just a few more months in high school, then his life could start as he pursued his own dreams.
Light black scruff shadowed his chin and cheeks in spots, while others were left bare. TJ was somewhere in the middle of the transition from a boy to a man. More gratitude welled inside her, warm and bright. She thanked the universe every day that they had survived.
“How about pizza for dinner? I’m too tired to cook,” she suggested.
“I’ll never complain about pizza. Pirate’s Pizzeria?” He pulled out his phone and punched the contact.
“Get two large and we’ll have leftovers.” She stood before heading towards the stairs. Worry cinched her chest. “Money is in my purse. Oh, I was gonna go out for a few hours tonight. Stay inside, okay? You can have someone over, but—”
