“You heading out?” Stevie asked as they walked past each other in the hallway.
“Yes, thankfully. My feet are killing me,” Dru replied with a warm smile. Her eyes were tired and throat dry from talking to customers literally all day. When she made it home, all she wanted to do was shower, drink a mug of tea, and be silent and unbothered until she went to sleep.
“Well don’t forget Mike wants to see you before you leave.”
Dru groaned quietly but nodded her agreement. If Mike was asking to see her, he wanted something. Dru prayed he wasn’t going to ask her to cover anyone’s shift. As much as she loved making money to provide for her sister, she needed a break. Tomorrow would be her only day off in three weeks, and she planned to take full advantage.
After grabbing her things from the employee lounge, Dru made her way to Mike’s office. While he wasn’t the owner of the lounge, he was the manager, and he ran the place like it was his shit. Like he couldn’t be replaced . . . Like he was Godandthe law, and everyone employed were implored to follow his rule. Dru figured it was because he didn’t have any other kind of authority or anything else going on in his life to be proud of, so she let him do his thing.
A few light taps made Mike aware of her presence. He told her to come in, and Dru slowly made her way inside of his office.
“You wanted to see me?” she confirmed, not even bothering to sit down, though her body was aching and begging for relief.
“Yeah. I need you to cover Rodney’s shift tomorrow night. He’s going out of town in the morning.”
Blowing out a slow exhale, Dru shook her head. “I can’t, Mike. Tomorrow is my first day off from both jobs in three weeks.”
“So that means you have nothing planned and you’re available.”
“No, it means I want to enjoy my day off.”
“Well, I need you, so unless you want to be off permanently, I’ll see you tomorrow night.” Her eyes rolled, but before she could decline, he said, “To entice you a little more, you can do the bar and work a few VIP tables too. I’m expecting a large crowd because some rapper is in town, and his promoter booked us for his appearance. You’re gonna make a hell of a lot of money off tips, Dru. I’m actually doing you a favor.”
Dru couldn’t deny the fact that she’d make more money, but she’d also be twice as busy working the bar and serving a few tables.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll just stick to the bar. I’m not taking any tables—VIP or not.”
“Fine.” He agreed quickly with a smile. “Just as long as you’re here, you can do whatever you want.”
Not even bothering to respond, Dru turned to leave. She was so tired she couldn’t even be mad about no longer having the day off. As she headed out, she reminded herself that an extra shift and extra tips meant extra money. Extra money meant being able to spoil her sister and maybe even herself. Dreya hadn’t asked to be born, and Dru refused to live in a world whereher sister didn’t have everything she needed and anything she wanted . . . swollen feet, tired body, and all.
Outside, Dru prayed her car wouldn’t give her any troubles. She’d had the Elantra since she was in high school, and saying it was on its last leg was an understatement. Instead of getting herself something new, she’d been saving for Dreya. Her homecoming dress, prom, graduation, a car for her eighteenth birthday, college and dorm necessities, and the list went on. Just thinking about it was mentally taxing.
When her car didn’t start, she leaned her head against the steering wheel. The last thing she needed was to pay money for a tow. True, the hood mechanic she’d taken her car to for an oil change told her what all she needed: tune-up and new spark plugs, crankshaft sensor, wheel alignment, but the girly part of her brain that knew nothing about cars figured if she only drove it to work and back that she could make it at least until the end of the year. Now, it seemed like that wouldn’t be the case.
“Come on, baby,” she urged, trying to start the car again. “Crank up for mama. I promise I’ll get you right soon.”
It seemed the encouragement worked, because by the third time she tried to start the car, it started. Dru thanked God and made her way home as quickly yet safely as she could.
For Dreya’s first year of high school, they moved out of the hood for the first time in Dru’s life. While Dru was grateful to be in a bigger house and safer neighborhood, that came with a higher rent. Instead of the sixteen hundred dollars she’d been helping her mother pay for their old home, their rent was now forty-five hundred a month. At the grocery store, Dru’s checks were around a thousand dollars a month. At the lounge, she could make anywhere from two to four thousand a month, depending on if they had parties or private events. Most of all of her money went toward the rent, and Tina handled the smaller bills when she felt like it. Dru did take care of their phone billsas well, because she never wanted her sister to not be able to call her when she needed her.
For a while, Dru sat in the car before getting out. She knew there was a chance that if her mom or sister were up, they’d want to talk as soon as she walked in. And for a moment, all Dru wanted was peace and quiet.
By the time she finally made it inside, their home was eerily quiet. So quiet something felt off. Dreya always slept with the TV on, regardless of how much Dru complained about the electricity bill. The voices comforted her and made it easier for her to fall asleep, so Dru would always cut the TV off when she made it home. Before she could put her hand on Dreya’s doorknob, it was twisting. Instead of seeing her sister’s face, she was met with a hairy chest as a shirt was pulled over it. Brows wrinkling, Dru’s eyes lifted to the man’s face.
Quenton.
He smiled as he stepped out of Dreya’s room. “Wassup, Dru? Ya mama asked for money for the light bill, so I was just dropping that off.”
“The fuck were you doing in my sister’s room?” she asked as he walked past her, buckling his belt in the same way her father used to after he came out of Tina’s room.
“I was just saying hi.”
Dru pushed the door open so hard and fast it hit the wall. Her eyes landed on Dreya, whose knees were pulled up to her chest as she rocked with tears streaming down her cheeks. Though it was clear she’d been violated to some capacity, Dru still asked, “He touched you?” Dreya’s eyes shifted toward her sister. “Did he rape you?” Dru asked, heart pounding so hard she was sure it would come out of her chest.
Dreya’s head shook as she wiped her face. It was sad to say, but this wouldn’t have been the first time a man Tina invited over had violated Dreya, or Dru for that matter.
“Mama made me—” Her hand wrapped around her throat as if it wouldn’t allow her to get the words out. “S-she made me s-suck his . . .”
