Reaching into my purse, I extract my phone to send my asshole of a dad a message. When I press the Home button, a message appears on the screen:No longer in service.
“Fuck!” My voice is so loud, I draw some attention from a few people in the parking lot, but I don’t care. My eyes burn, which means there are tears making their way forward. I close my eyes in an attempt to focus because I refuse to cry. Not over this.
“It’s okay,” I say softly. “You’ve got this.” And thanks to Ames having one of the best city bus services in the country, I’ll just hop on CyRide to get where I’m going. “No problem.”
Once I’m on the bus, my mind is numb. All I can think of is how desperate my father has become. Well, that’s not all I can think about. No, I’m also pondering how I’m going to show him, once and for all, that I don’t need him.
At my stop, I look down at the worthless phone I’m still clutching. I decide, in that moment, to leave it behind, in the seat. There’s nothing personal on it; I was always careful about that. No, it’s better to let someone who doesn’t have the latest device use it.
In the store, I gather the things I need like shampoo, toothpaste, and a toothbrush, which reminds me that I need a hairbrush. Along with that I find deodorant, some panties, a sweatshirt, a pair of jeans, leggings, a couple of tees, and a few tops. Once it’s all rung up, the cashier gives me my total. Opening my wallet, I stare at the debit card my father gave me a few years ago, the one that goes with our joint account, and I just know. I know before I even try to use it that it’s not going to work. Still, I run it through the card reader and wait.
“Oh,” the cashier says, looking embarrassed—embarrassed for me. “It says declined.”
“Mmhmm.” Of course it does. Slipping that card back into my wallet, I take out my other one. The one I’ve been holding onto until it was time. “Let’s try this one.” I do my best to smile, but it’s not real.
“Oh, good,” she says with a relieved giggle. “That one worked.”
Reaching out, I take the card and put it back in its spot.
With my bags in hand, I wait at the CyRide stop right outside the door. It doesn’t take long, and luckily the bus is fairly empty right now. I move to the back of the bus and slide into a seat next to the window, leaning against it. The coolness of the glass feels good against my forehead.
This day has sucked.
The walk back to my apartment from the bus stop is slow thanks to the fact that I’m carrying six Target bags, a bag that holds a sub from a local sandwich shop, plus my purse. I trudge up the apartment steps, thinking about the shower I’m about to take. “Then I can eat,” I mutter.
Setting everything down, I reach into my purse to find my keys. I remember throwing them back in when I discovered my car was gone. Locating my apartment key, I line it up with the lock and push, but it won’t budge.
“No.” I stare down at the key. Holding it up in front of my eyes, I make sure I’ve got the right one. Maybe I had it upside down. Placing the key in the lock, I try again.
“God. Fucking. Damn it.” I say it loud enough for anyone on my floor to hear. Growling to myself, I hiss, “You just overplayed your hand, motherfucker.”
“Daisy.”
The voice catches me so off guard, I scream, jump back, and drop my keys. “What the hell? Gage?”
“Sorry.” He moves closer, holding his hand out like he’s trying to keep me from falling over. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Well, you did.” I look over at him and see Kara’s door is open. “Were you in Kara’s apartment?”
“Yeah.” He nods. “I was waiting for you.”
Another spy. God, I’m so sick of this crap. “Stalking me?” I spit.
He throws his head back like he’s shocked at my words. “Absolutely not. I was worried about you.”
Scoffing, I bend to retrieve my keys along with my bags. Turning, I start the walk back down the steps.
“Daisy.”
I pause, turning my head to look at him. My lord, he’s pretty in his blue jeans and blue Henley shirt. “What?” I’m not in the mood for this. “If you need to ask me more questions, it’ll have to wait.” Because now I need to find a new place to live faster than I’d anticipated.
“Where are you going?”
“Away.”
“Away? Why?”
“He changed the locks.” I nod at my door.
