I was loath to wash his scent off of me, but he’d left me a new sweatshirt, so after showering, I pulled on some leggings, a tank, and his newest sweatshirt. It smelledallof him.
I ran through what I needed to do today.
I had a paper due next week. There were a couple quizzes coming up. I needed to figure out what I was going to do for money. Time was even more precious with my added hours at the foster center, but I needed to get another job. I had a nest egg that I could rely on. I’d been able to build that up slowly through high school, summers, and the rest of college, but the move to New York had depleted a lot of that nest egg. It was only there because of Creighton’s help, to be honest. He always made sure I had what I needed for food, school supplies, and some extra spending money. I tried refusing a couple times, but he’d show up, stock my room with whatever I needed anyways, and stalk out. After I left Miss Marcie’s house, Creighton started to make sure the other foster homes were too scared of him to be anything other than polite to me. There’d been a patch of time before he started doing that, though.
Eventually, the last of my foster homes allowed me to do what I wanted.
New York was the first time I let myself think I could maybe have something normal. I was to the point now where did I dare let myself believe I could have both? Creightonandfriends?
I couldn’t change Creighton. I knew that. Would always know that. I needed to accept his limitations, too, but he said he would compromise. He said he would meet me halfway.
A flicker of hope was in my chest. A small one, but it was there.
Creighton wasn’t going anywhere. I wasn’t going anywhere. We could do this. And my friends weren’t ... Actually, I went over to Palma’s room and tapped lightly on the door before opening it. She wasn’t there. That was weird. Had they come home before leaving for breakfast?
I went upstairs to check the boys’ room, and same thing. No one was there. The beds were a mess, so I couldn’t tell if they’d been slept in or not.
Going back to my room, I checked my phone for any text messages.
Palma: Heeyyyy!! Where are you??
Palma: Your foster brother is so hot. Can I just say he’s your brother? I know he’s not by blood, but does it matter?
Palma: Where’d you go?
Palma: Oh! Your brother said you went back with your man.
Palma: Marsh is coming. Is that okay? You took off so I’m assuming it’ll be fine.
Palma: Levi said it’s all cool.
Palma: Get some tonight! I know you probably are. Have fun. I might get some with your brother. Gawwwd, he’s so hot. Okay, okay. Ttyl xoxoxoxxoxoxox
Palma: I’m so drunk. Tonight isFun
Heath: Heads up, Marsh is coming but your boy said you took off.
Marshall: I’m sorry for being a dickhead. Can we talk later? I don’t like your man, but I’m getting that he and the boulder brother aren’t going anywhere. I know I’ve been a dick lately. I don’t really know why, but I’m sorry. Palma’s really into yourboulder brother so if he’s just going to play with her, could you warn him off? I don’t want her or you to get hurt. That’s all.
Heath: Do you know where Palma is?
Unknown: This is Spence. Can you call me when you see this? Your friends were at my club last night and I just heard the lot of them were arrested. One of the guys got into a fight with some other customers. I don’t know why all of them were taken in, but I’m sure we can figure it out. If we go down to the station together, as Octavia’s manager, I’ll see if the charges can be dropped. I’m reluctant to ask, but could we leave Lane out of this? His presence might tip the scale in a direction that might not be the best for your friends.
Holy shit.
Holy shit!
I had to reread his text because what the hell had happened last night?
There was no message from Levi, but there wouldn’t be. He’d know I was with Creighton. Was this why Creighton got called away? My old boss’s text was sent this morning at 7:23. The last text before that was from Heath, just before two, when the bar would’ve closed. All the other texts were around the same time, with Marshall and Heath’s a few minutes apart.
I called Spence.
He picked up almost immediately, sounding frazzled. “Hey. I was hoping to hear from you by now. I’m heading your way. Are you around? I want to head in and see if we can figure this out before the club opens today.”
“Uh. Yeah. I can be ready. I am ready, I mean. They were really arrested?”
“Yeah.” He still sounded distracted. There were other noises in the background. Sounds from the street. “I made a call to a guy I know, and he said when they arrested the one guy, the others started protesting so much so they all were taken in. They were drunk. Shit happens. This happened in Octavia, so I’m sure I can get everything cleared away. It’d help if you come with me since they’re your friends and you used to be an employee.”
