“There is always a choice before you betray a friend. A best friend!”
“Clare, we are out of choices. I don’t have the money to cover extra rent.” Drew sighs.
I don’t sit and listen to any more of his excuses. The stairs rattle as I run up them. This poor old house hasn’t seen this much action in the last hundred years. On the second floor without hesitation I walk across the open space and throw open the door to the third bedroom.
The room is basically as empty as it was before I left on Friday. A small desk under the large window and a twin size bed the rental came with are in the same spots along one wall. There are boxes in a corner stacked on top of one another. Already a few suits hang in the closet.
Grant isn’t in the room unpacking as I expected, but there’s a lump on the bed under the covers. In two steps I clear the space and rip the covers back. Grant sits up, his eyes blinking in confusion. I stand by the bed my heart thumping, my hands on my hips and wait for him to stick up for himself.
“Oh, you’re home. I’m glad you made it back safely, Clare.”
He pulls the blanket back over his bare chest. I refuse to be upset by missing the view.
“What are you doing?”
At that moment Drew steps in between me and the bed, his hands outstretched, one toward each of us. I can’t decide if he’s protecting me or Grant.
Grant, if he’s smart.
Grant peeks around Drew’s chest. “I moved in to help out with the rent problem.”
“We don’t have a rent problem,” I lie.
Drew’s head flicks toward mine. “Yes, we do.”
“I’m trying to help you out.” Grant pushes Drew to the side and stands up next to the bed.
“Yeah, you’re good at helping people. You helped the people at Del Fray for sure.” Grant flinches at the insults. “We don’t need your help.”
“Clare, his money is good, and he paid six months in advance.”
I scowl and rip my attention from Grant to Drew. “So once again he gets to use his money to get whatever he wants?”
“No…”
I don’t give him time to finish the sentence. “And I’m the poor girl he gets to tromp over to get his way. No one cares about my feelings, right?”
“Clare, you know it’s not like that.” Drew puts both his hands on my shoulders and lines our faces up refusing to look away. “I would never do anything to hurt you, but besides selling a kidney we are out of other options. Even if we broke the lease and went someplace smaller, we’re still liable for the missing rent.”
“There was no one else?” I ask crossing my fingers. Jesse would probably be okay… maybe.
Grant clears his throat. “I’m right here.”
“Not if I can help it.” I walk to the doorway, but stop before leaving. “You want to live here so badly? Fine. Pay your rent on time and don’t talk to me. Ever.”
I stew all the way back to my room but considering it’s the one right next to Grant’s I don’t have long to deal with my emotions. I decide to slam my door as part of my big exit but Drew catches it on a hand and gently closes it behind him.
“I don’t want to talk to you either.” I point a finger at him.
Drew sighs, and the crumpled expression on his face shows he isn’t taking the situation as lightly as I assumed. “I knew you’d be upset, but there was no other option. I understand if you’re pissed. Feel free to take it out on me as long as you need to.”
I sit on the edge my bed the springs squeaking. “Why him, Drew?”
“Clare,” he answers, stressed. “He’s like the only guy in this city who can come up with a thousand dollars in a day’s notice.” Drew actually chuckles until I flash him another annoyed face. “I know you don’t like him and you’re pissed off, but the two of you used to get along. And honestly, Grant’s not that bad of a guy.”
“I disagree.”
Drew flops on the bed and wraps an arm around my shoulder. “We’ve all made stupid decisions, Clare. If you judged me on the ones I made this month, you’d be disappointed.”
