Page 11 of The Pain We Nurture

So, Olivia had to quit just two years into her program to help take care of him.

After he died, his will bequeathed his life insurance to be split amongst them both, and Olivia gave her share to Allison and Vanessa. Worried about the financial strain of the monthly expense of the drug that Allison needed. But shortly after that the money ran out, leaving Olivia no other option than to resort to nefarious antics to help get them by.

She worked at the diner because her rental needed proof of employment to afford the monthly payment. And unfortunately, all she could afford in Connecticut was a crappy one-bedroom basement apartment that couldn’t even hold a dining room table.

But she made it hold the remnants of the life she once wished for herself. Walking slowly to her worktable, she gazed down at the blueprint of the house she designed as a project in the last year she attended school. It was a beautiful mansion. One that she’d hoped she’d be able to build for herself. Once she’d became the head of the Architectural firm she’d dreamed about and planned on opening in Connecticut.

But that dream was shot dead before it could even really take root.

Her eyes stinging with tears, she walked slowly away from the table, and through the doors to head to work. To head to reality. She pushed the thought of mansions into the box of hurt that she kept secreted away in her brain. Only able to keep going at her back-breaking pace she’d been doing because she could compartmentalize and shut her emotions down.

Gypsy met her on her break at the diner, and they sat in Gypsy’s nice Range Rover.

“Here, Percocet, I hope it helps. Your arm has been fucked up for too long. Why haven't you gone to see a doctor yet?” her connect asked, giving her a bottle of pills.

Olivia opened it, frowning.

“There’s only eight pills here,” Olivia stated, ignoring her question. She looked over at her acquaintance and boss, annoyed that she didn’t give her enough to at least get through two weeks.

Gypsy raised a blonde eyebrow at her.

“Hey, don’t look at me like that! This is all that was available at the moment that I could trust was safe. I couldn’t risk getting you something laced with fentanyl. It’s killing a bunch of girls right now,” Gypsy said in her smooth voice, taking a long drink of water from her tumbler.

“Thanks for looking out, G,” Olivia said, tossing the pills back and swallowing them with some water of her own.

Olivia glanced over at the woman’s bouncy blonde curls. She decidedly still did not look like the head of the secret underground ring that Olivia circled, in order to make her extra money. You would never tell by looking at her that this woman was a big boss. Gypsy only dealt with the elite of society, government dignitaries, politicians, high-powered lawyers. Even a few members of royalty.

“No problem, I’ll get you some more when I source them safely. How’s the niece?” Gypsy asked, turning towards her in the car and smiling, her icy blue eyes showed nothing but kindness to her.

Olivia looked at Gypsy. Not crazy about the woman, but happy that she was considerate towards her. She didn’t trust many people, preferring to feed them with a long-handled spoon. The only friend she trusted inexplicitly was her friend Aliyah. And due to both their grueling schedules, she didn’t get to see her as often as she liked.

“She’s making it. Thank's for asking,” Olivia responded quietly, not wanting to get into it. Her hand smoothed down her hair absentmindedly tucking a wayward strand into her bun.

She’d still had an entire shift left before she had to make it to her part time bartending job. She only bartended on Friday nights, as it was the only day during the week that she had free, besides Sundays.

And she reserved Sundays for Allison.

Gypsy nodded before hugging her goodbye. Olivia bid her farewell, reminding her to get the lawyer’s information for Saturday. Heading back into the diner, she hurried to the back to put the pills in her bag in her locker. Coming back out to the front, she clocked back in at the register before looking up at the customer who’d just appeared in front of her. Her breath caught and her eyes widened as she took in the tall, broad chested figure in front of her.

Him.

“Well, well. Fancy meeting you here,” Colin stood in all his manly glory, smiling down at her.

Heat blossomed in her belly, and as she met his chocolate -eyes her heart rate sped up unexpectedly. Not able to help herself, she gave him a quick once over. He was in dark gray slacks, and a dark slate button up shirt that looked rather obviously expensive.

Eyes narrowing, she saw what might have been a hint of a tattoo just beneath the left half of the shirt that was slightly unbuttoned. His hair was manipulated in a tousled style, the strands seemingly untamed. His slight beard was meticulously groomed, the dark strands standing in deep contrast to his olive skin tone.

Fuck he’s sexy, she thought. Not quite able to take her eyes off his beard she swallowed thickly, managing to smile back.

“I see you survived the storm,” she winced, very adult like.

“Am I ever going to get a greeting or farewell from you?” Colin said with a chuckle, leaning a hip onto the counter as if he had all day. He crossed his arms, silently waiting for her reply.

She frowned slightly.

“What do you mean?” she replied, craning her neck to look behind him, there were three customers waiting to check out.

“When we met the other night, you didn’t say hello or goodbye. Every interaction you seem to have seems to be to move on to the next thing. Can you ring me up the peach pie please?” Colin replied softly, handing her his card.

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