CHAPTER FOUR
–QUINN –
“Come on, girl.He wouldn’t have wanted you to hide underneath the blankets for the rest of your life.You’re neglecting yourself and everything around you.”
I release a sigh and touch the small tattoo on my wrist.The same day I heard about my brother’s death I wandered into a tattoo shop.Micah’s initial surrounded by a swirly heart is an everlasting reminder of his loss.He’s dead.My brother is dead.
I throw the blankets off to stare at my best friend.
“It’s hard,” I croak on a whisper.
Bri kicks off her slippers and gets into the bed beside me.“I know, babe.Life is unfair, and he was too damn young.Then there’s the fucked-up circumstances.Still, you know time doesn’t stop, right?”
“Don’t start to tell me he’d want me to live,” I grumble.
Nothing feels right ever since I went to see my father.Here I thought he’d wanted me to come home and marry some guy because he didn’t believe in me, or an education.Boy, was I wrong.He straight up told me my brother died a few nights before, and how he won’t be paying my tuition fee.
He didn’t even call me when it happened to tell me my brother died.Nope.There won’t even be a funeral, because there’s no official death.Why?My brother died during an illegal underground fighting event my father organized.It’s bad for business to have someone die during such an occasion, let alone call an ambulance, or get the police involved.
My father explained to me how one of his contacts, Jovan Cillian, handled the body.So, officially my brother is missing...all while we know he’s dead.I didn’t even know he died until days after it happened.No chance to say goodbye, no funeral, no grave, no nothing.I feel empty inside and have no clue what to do.My life has turned upside down over the past few weeks.
I don’t have any family left, because what father would do such a thing?He’s always treated me like shit and the only reason he was bearable to be around was because of my brother.He’s gone now.My education is on shaky ground with no way to pay for it.So, I’m drowning in misery under the blankets.
“We have to be in class in an hour, and you’re going to come with me,” Bri announces with a firm voice.“I won’t let you throw away your dream.Screw the money.I’m sure we’ll come up with something.One day at a time, Quinn.Hell, one minute after the next.This minute you’re going to use to drag your ass out of bed...or I’ll push you, your choice.The next minute you’re going to take a shower because, girl?I love you and all...but you freaking stink.”
The corner of my mouth twitches in half a smile, and I might choke on a sob.Staying in bed hasn’t helped one bit, and I do stink.
“Fine,” I croak.“No need to push me, I can move by myself.”
“Oh, thank fuck,” Bri mutters.“Your ass is too heavy anyway.”
I’m standing next to the bed when I whirl around and snap, “Rude.”
Bri smacks her own ass.“Oh, shut it.My curves trumps yours.Which by the way are a hot demand.”
“What?”I wonder.
Bri smirks.“Ah, now you want all the dirty details?”
My shoulders sag and I do regret ignoring my friend whenever she knocked on my bedroom door.“Sorry.I didn’t mean to ignore you.”
She snorts.“You didn’t ignore me; you ignored the world.There’s a difference.Anyway, remember the guy I’m tutoring?”
“Tate?”I ask and take a step in her direction, intrigued to hear where this is going.
Bri grins.“Tate.He offered to go down on me.”
I can feel my eyes widen.“Go down on...as in oral?”
“Yeah.”She shakes her head and throws her hands up, and adds with a load of disbelief, “When I declined, he offered me money.Can you believe it?”
My jaw almost hits the floor.“Noooooo.”
“Right?”Bri chuckles but stops abruptly.“I should have asked how much money.”
“Noooo.”My tone is way different this time.“Don’t even think about it.That’s wrong.”
Bri starts to sputter, but I hold my hand up.“Sex is a personal matter.Pleasure is definitely not about money.Now, I’m going to have a shower, and then we have to get to class.”
