“You do that, Jensen. She’s exactly the sort of girl Ronnie wanted you to stay away from.”
Chapter Seven
Lauren
A heaviness settled in my heart after Jensen and I parted ways, but I tried not to let it get me down for too long. One night I was sleeping on the streets and eating out of a Dumpster, and the next I was enjoying a great meal courtesy of the hottest guy I’d ever met. If that wasn’t the sign I needed that things were finally beginning to go my way, I don’t know what was.
“You did a great job today. Have you done any waitressing before?” Jill asked, and I felt my cheeks pink up with pride. I’d worked my fingers to the bone from the minute I’d clocked in that morning. Even when the place was empty, which wasn’t often given the pretty continuous stream of Christmas shoppers, I’d busied myself wiping down tables or polishing cutlery.
“Thanks. I’ve done a little bit in various towns we’ve lived in, but we moved around a lot, so I never got to stay in the same place for long,” I explained. Much to my chagrin, it was the reason why I couldn’t give my new boss any references.
I truly wanted to believe that this was it though. That my move to Friendship was permanent. That I’d finally be able to put down roots in the town where one day I might have my own family. But life rarely hands you a win without first throwing you a curve ball. And I couldn’t help but feel as though my curve ball was coming.
I was fourteen the last time we’d lived in a real house. My last memory of the place was of a tirade of abuse directed at me from our angry next-door neighbor, an unwitting victim of one of Dad’s scams. Of course, Dad never called them scams, referring to each and every one instead as a series of bad investments, from which he and he alone seemed to profit.
Dad tried for years to include me in his machinations, but I held out, determined to live a better life than the one he offered me. Eventually though, life and my father wore me down. Despite my best efforts to be a good girl, anyone who knew my father looked at me with suspicion and mistrust. Without my help, he would have been in prison sooner rather than later, and I would’ve ended up in foster care. Most people thought I was a criminal anyway, so I did what he wanted.
When Dad told me where we were moving, I thought he was crazy. The cities were big and easy to get lost in, but small towns meant that someone was always watching. Now that we were actually here, I was even more worried. He was drinking like money grew on trees, so he must be assured of getting it from somewhere, and I guessed that he had something big in the pipeline. It didn’t bode well for the future I had planned here, but no matter what happened, I was done running. My life was mine and mine alone, and I was going to make the most of it, whether Dad liked it or not.
“Well, you keep working like you did today, and you’ll have more shifts than you know what to do with,” she said.
“Sounds good to me,” I replied, sharing her smile.
“Listen, I couldn’t tempt you into taking some of the leftovers home, could I? We get a fresh batch of cakes and cookies in from the bakery every morning, so we split up the leftovers at the end of the day,” she said.
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“As long as you’re sure, that would be great, thank you. Everything smelled so delicious today. I would love to try some when I get home,” I said, trying so hard not to let a note of desperation seep into my voice.
“Believe me, there’s plenty to go around, honey. I’ll leave a bag for you in the kitchen. Just pick it up on your way out.”
“Thanks, Jill,” I replied, checking over all of my tables before I clocked out.
As I left, I grabbed the paper bag marked with my name and practically skipped out of work as I glimpsed at the contents. Cupcakes, brownies, chips, sandwiches, sub rolls. It was a veritable feast, and that night Gabe definitely wasn’t going hungry.
Snowflakes danced through the chilly evening air, and I wrapped my coat a little tighter around myself, more than a little worried about Gabe sleeping rough in this weather. When I finally reached the fast food joint, I hurried around to the back to the Dumpsters, finding nothing but disappointment. The boxes and blankets had all gone, and an extra Dumpster stood in the place that had been our shelter. I hoped the restaurant hadn’t made him move on, because I had no idea where else to look for him.
Just then I heard my name being called. Looking up, I saw Gabe across the street. His frame was huddled against the cold, but he lifted a hand to wave at me anyway, a smile of acknowledgment spread across his face. I was so excited to see him, so keen to share my bounty, that I ran across the road without thinking. The ugly screech of brakes being slammed warned me of my stupidity, but it was too late to take any action other than to wince and brace for the hit. By the time I opened my eyes, the driver was already out of his vehicle and in front of me.
“You know we have to stop meeting like this,” Jensen said, his husky British accent making my pulse race.
“I’m beginning to think you’re stalking me, you know,” I replied, smiling with happiness.
“Lauren, if there’s anyone in this town worth stalking, I promise it’s you.”
“I’m not sure whether to be flattered or worried,” I replied.
“Where were you going in such an all-fire hurry anyway?” he asked.
“I was trying to catch up with …” I turned to look for Gabe but realized as I spoke that he was gone. My gaze darted back and forth between the buildings and along the street, teeming with people walking toward the center of town.
“Who?” Jensen asked.
“His name is Gabe. He’s a homeless guy I met a couple of days ago, but I think you scared him off. I was bringing him something to eat,” I explained.
“Maybe he’ll come back when the crowds have thinned out a little.”
“Why is it so busy anyway?” I asked in confusion.