“Where are you going?” she frets, raspy.
Cute.
I lean over the bed and kiss her forehead. “I gotta drive back. Work’s at eight.”
“Aww. You stayed even though you had to get up this early?”
I snort. “You didn’t make it easy.”
She blushes.
After kissing her once more, I step back.
For a moment, I hesitate.
Don’t say it. Don’t do it. Go.
“I’ll buy you a burner phone and leave it at the front desk.”
Fuck. I said it. You idiot.
Her face lights up. “Oh, yeah. Yeah! Do that!”
I move to leave and she adds, “Shut the door quietly, please.”
“I will,” I reply coolly.
But I give the door a heavy jerk shut. It rattles down the walls, and I smirk.
I don’t give a fuck if her handlers know I was here. It’s screwed up, but being Morgan’s dirty secret pisses me off. Someone else will get to fuck her, and he won’t have to hide in the shadows.
That thought enrages me. I swallow it down.
Walk on.
Be grateful, Jack.
“Get your ass up and ready for school.” I check my watch. “Hurry.”
Noel groans and rolls over. “I stayed up too late. I’ll miss first block, but I’ll go to second.”
“This isn’t a negotiation. I’m tired, too. Up.”
I pull him out of the bed. “You wanna go to school with your hair fucked up, fine with me. Otherwise, get in the shower.”
He grunts but walks into the bathroom.
I pay the sitter, who is helping Tommy get ready. I’d shower — I need one — but that would steal Noel’s hot water. I settle for a change of clothes and put on new deodorant. My reflection is ragged.
Caffeine.
After cracking open a soda, I grab Noel’s backpack and throw it at him as he walks out of the door. Tommy follows even though he isn’t riding the bus. He’s riding with me.
I wrangle Tommy into the car instead and start it... look over.
“Bud, where’s your glasses?”
“Broke ’em.”
