I’d like to say we tried to make things work but not really. We just sort of fell apart while I wasn’t paying attention. I guess we weren’t as solid and in love as I’d believed.
Brock moving out had been another reason I’d agreed to move back to San Diablo. I didn’t want to run into him at any of our favorite places with other women. He’d quickly moved on and I didn’t want to be in San Francisco to see it. We ran in the same circle. Knew the same people. No thank you.
Two and a half years of my life were gone. All that time wasted with that jerk.
Why was I thinking about Brock now? It wasn’t like I missed him or was lonely.
Well, I missed dick, no question. An orgasm would help me relax. That had to be it. I missed sex, not Brock.
Our first year was good, but looking back it was far from amazing. The second year, my parents had died and Kevin moved in with us. That year had been a fever dream. I couldn’treally remember much about it. The final six months were brutal and fresh in my mind.
Yeah, I was glad I had moved away. Just wished it had been to somewhere a little more…
I scrunched my nose and sniffed. My apartment still had a funky smell. No matter what I did, I couldn’t get the stink out. It had to be the old carpet. I didn’t want to imagine something stuck in the walls slowly decomposing.
God, I didn’t like living here.
But it was all I could afford so Kevin and I could have our own bedrooms. The financial weight of paying for everything on my own was getting to be too much. My parents didn’t have life insurance. Their funerals drained my savings. I had no cushion and picking up extra shifts wasn’t in the best interest of my brother.
Eventually, I’d have to make him get a job to contribute. Maybe after school started. Of course, he didn’t care if our place was a dump. All he’d ever wanted was to be in San Diablo and to have our parents back.
I wanted the latter more than anything, too.
My phone buzzed in my hand and relief washed over me, then it disappeared. It wasn’t my brother calling…
“Hello?” I answered with hesitation in my voice.Please, please, please don’t be the authorities calling to tell me that something happened to my little brother.Sure, they usually turned up at your door, but in the case of my parents’ fatal car accident, I’d received a call.
“Kelly, it’s Hector.”
“Oh. Hey.” I exhaled, not realizing I’d been holding my breath.Hector. I knew him but how did he get my number?
The guy was an EMT. Nice guy. A little flirty. Very chatty.
Even though Hector was charming and attractive, and most women would jump at the chance to be with him, he was alittle toonormalfor my taste. In any case, I wasn’t interested in dating anyone. My life was a mess. I had no time to nurture a new relationship.
“Don’t sound so weirded out. We’ve been talking for weeks.”
“Yes, and I’ve never given my number to you. How did you get it?” I sat at the table and took out a burger. I was starving and wouldn’t wait for my brother to get home so we could eat together like we used to with our parents.
“Dana gave it to me when I called the hospital looking for you.”
Great. Thanks, Dana.
“Listen, Hector. You’re a nice guy but—”
“Let me stop you there. This isn’t a social call.”
“It’s not?” I twisted my lips. Had I gotten it wrong? I thought Hector was for sure interested in me. “Then why are you calling me?”
“I need a favor.”
“What kind of favor?”
“Friends of mine need a nurse to care for a woman who’s been drugged. Just until she wakes up. They’ll be very generous. Figured you could use the extra money.” He sounded genuine, which was typical Hector. Helpful. Kind. Respectful. His momma had raised him well.
“I appreciate you thinking of me. But I just got home and I’m exhausted after working all day. And my brother isn’t home. The little brat is testing my patience.” As the words left my lips, the front door opened and Kevin entered with a blank stare on his face, and his arm in a sling.
“Before you overreact, I’m fine.” Kevin shut the door, eyeing me.
