CHAPTER1
Sunny
I thought I lived alone,but I discovered in a will-forever-haunt-my-nightmares way that I did not when I woke up to the distant bellowing of an old-timey car horn and the feel of someone pulling on my hand. Wait, not someone—something.
I popped open my eyes to find a huge gray rat. Its clawed feet pressed into my stomach, and its beady black eyes gleamed with determination as it tugged at the half-eaten protein bar in my hand.
My first thought was,Oh no, I must've been so tired after my graveyard shift at the Tourmaline Vegas that I fell asleep before I even got the chance to finish my protein bar.
My second thought came out as a scream followed by an, "Ew! Ew! Ew! Just take it!"
As soon as I released the protein bar, the rat lifted it in the air with a triumphant squeak, and I could have sworn it smirked at me before it scrambled away with the last half of my pitiful dinner.
Utterly disturbed, I sat up on the couch I used as a bed.Cinderellawas my favorite animated movie growing up, but I’d just found out the completely alarming way that me and rodents do not get along.
Speaking of alarms, mine blared from the coffee table no one had put a bid on yet when I posted it online for sale.
My heart stopped for the second time that morning when I picked up the phone.
Dangit, I thought I was so smart when I asked Jake, my best friend’s teen brother, to make it so the phone would have to be turned off manually instead of only going for the duration of its two-minute factory setting. But apparently, all that did was prove I could sleep through anything—except rat theft.
I’d set the alarm to go off at 9:30. It was now still blaring at 10:00 a.m. Which meant I’d have to haul ass if I wanted to catch my bus and make it on time to today’s scheduled Benton Girls rehearsal at 10:30 a.m.
As much as I longed for the longest, scalding-hottest shower to wash away the feeling of that rat scrabbling across my body, I settled for barely two minutes of lukewarm scrubbing before pulling on a pair of dance leggings and throwing on a cropped, off-the-shoulder, neon-red Benton Girls sweatshirt over my tank top.
I managed to get showered and dressed in less than ten minutes.Yes! Yes! Yes!
I congratulated myself as I pulled on a pair of sneakers and grabbed my fanny pack off the floor, where I’d dropped it last night after my cocktail waitress shift. If I left now, I’d probably be able to make the 10:15 bus?—
All my hopes and dreams for saving the morning wilted when I opened the door to find Vinny, my building's super-shady landlord, practically oozing sleaze from every pore.
“Oh, hi, Vinny. I’m actually in a rush to get to work.”
“Yeah, I’m in a rush, too.” As usual, Vinny spoke directly to my chest, as if nothing else existed above my neckline. "Rent was due yesterday, toots. Maybe you forgot."
My stomach sank.Crap, is it already the first Friday in February?
“I only have, like, half,” I admitted, lacing my voice with apology, despite his lewd stare. “But today is payday, so I can drop off the rest tomorrow. For now, though…”
I fished all the money I’d made in cash tips this week working at the Tourmaline out of my fanny pack and offered him the stack of various bills. “Here's everything I have on me.”
Vinny snatched the money out of my hand and counted. But as soon as he was done, his open-mouthed stare came right back to my chest. “You know, 12B’s got a bit of a nose candy problem, and sometimes she can’t make the full rent either. But she’s got a sweet way of helping me forget about the inconvenience she’s causing her poor landlord.Real sweet.”
He gave me a leering smile, revealing a mouthful of coffee-stained dentures. “And you're younger.Juicier.” He licked his thin lips. "If your hand's as sweet as 12B's, I can forgive the rest of the rent.”
I only just managed not to draw back and squeal, "Ew! Ew! Ew!" for the second time that morning.
My teeth itched with the effort it took not to say,Maybe instead of grossing out female tenants half your age, you should be laying down some rat traps to help them keep their stash of protein bars safe from audacious rodent crooks.
But the thing was, a renter who hadn't been able to pay her full rent wasn’t in the best position to complain about unwanted pests in her apartment. Also, I spotted the 10:15 bus in the distance, rounding the corner to pull up to the stop in front of our building.
“Sorry, Vinny. I have to go.” I pushed past him and closed the door behind me before dashing toward the concrete stairwell.
“I promise I'll have the rest for you by tomorrow!” I called out over my shoulder.
“The rest better come with an extra fifty dollars for every day you’re late!” Vinny yelled after me.
Ugh.I’d better be sure I slid the rent envelope underneath his door today.
