a

working a morning shift at the mall in one of the clothing departments, fol

late shifts, three or four days a week. My feet were

.... And then, my father had nearl

job I had in my opinion. Although it required maximum effort, it was the be

opped me that morning when I headed

re, but I had texted Mabel last night to take on any extra hours that I could

h to even let me leave the mansion, but I couldn't

if it meant I had to test the waters and se

? In what way? What did HE mean when he said that, b

et at

eded every cent I could get if I was going to have eve

to see you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed," laughed Ma

r with streaks of gray and warm brown eyes. She also made th

your company too much," I swoon

fresh pot of coffee and make some rounds? We're not t

ot it,

en days a week. We cleaned in the odd hours and

tle joint and the own

mostly burgers and fries, I was busy, barely having any time

s recently had been stressful. A bit of mind-numbing work

, letting me kick my feet up as Ben, one of the

rawberry milkshake... it was probably a heart attack or f

meal? What happened?" asked

ue eyes, a hard worker who did this a

ent, but he was good to her and encouraged her. She was only

it was a depression meal," I corrected

's still young. You coul

line cooks as he slid Lauren's meal

and I still stand by the fact Mab

ing drunk, so I drank my sorrows away with milkshakes. This was

always," Lauren compliment

me take a shift as h

boy!" boomed a voic

l lau

o all the prep work and he can't angrily chop anything," he whi

rk. Now chop chop, you're stil

com

are in a good mood,"

king how you are," Lauren said, t

ere always willing to lend me a hand or an ear. Everyone in Mabel's was really great, and their families were 'clean'... no debts, no bad backgrounds, no ill

family friend now owed me and controlled my life because

. Besides, there wasn't anything they could do. There wa

at must suck," Laure

but don't worry, I'm

give me any advice or whatnot,

st shift. It would slow down at around 9:00, but

rking at the bar tonight o

d be working overtime. Could I press my luck? Could I see how muc

e plenty of opportunities to test

ay, but the tips had been good tonight. We'd each

left, meaning it was going to be heading into the n

t made it mandatory for me to go home at some point during

agreed to do so. But then, I often worked a shift at

s I stood outside with Lauren and another cowo

olite enough to stand downwind. I never liked the smell, but I was here more for moral sup

epression meal tod

just coming at me t

every day you indulge li

nice was happenin

h onion rings and a double chocolate milkshake, and w

wouldn't mind helping you out,"

, but I got it; always d

opening up soon, and it might be nice to go

led?" Ben asked curiou

lly good so I-" a car horn honked, cutting her off, but she turned, waving to the driv

Lau

was so close, too. We waved them o

ve any plans,

though I've taken a few

h, really? Maybe we'll see

o with her if you have the time." I tried. Lauren was a pretty girl; honestl

ring if you had the ti

d his eyes on

erf*

ice the subtle attempts to ask me out. When in doubt, play dumb. "What a sham

ouldn't help but lean away, the burning nicot

greed and desperation, and he'd smell exactly

long time, and we're good friends,

the interruption until a sexy black car pulled up to the side of

k me up personally... and h

wkward confession or dealing with the sexual

all of them were f

ing, Jaxon had speed-walked o

ou think you'r

efore Ben could try to play hero

set on playing nice for anything, the g

n I'd never said anything about anyone who has even a hint of underworld dealings. "He's a

lied to so often. Maybe I did inherit some

to the car while I just smiled and waved goodbye like no

el's, though, I flipped a switch.

idn't get anything. Instead,

nerves, and we were both si

though, it was