Page 55 of Fighting the Odds

Maybe tomorrow I’ll feel differently, but tonight my pride won’t let me.

I walk into the dressing room and head straight to my vanity. Pulling out one of my face cloths, I clean the makeup off. Once I’m done, I change and pull my hair up in a ponytail, tucking it under my ball cap.

I open the door only to run into a brick wall—Cyrus.

“Hey, babe. I thought I’d catch you before you changed so I could watch you undress.” Fuck, his words ignite an inferno inside me.

“Well, you can when we get home.” I don’t know what’s come over me lately. I can’t seem to get enough of him since we’ve had sex. But the funny thing is, if I say sex around him, he corrects me. To him, it’s more, and it’s why I love him.

He takes my bag from me, slipping the strap on his shoulder before pulling me close to his body with his other arm. Protecting me from all the evil forces around me. At least that’s what I like to think.

We make our way through the club to the front doors. My skin prickles like someone is watching me, and I start to get nervous. I burrow my body deeper into Cyrus’s side, wrapping my arm around his waist while the other rests on his chest.

“You okay?” he asks and I just shake my head. “What—”

“Not here.” I interrupt him and he grips me tighter, leading us out of the building and straight to his jeep.

Only when we’re safely inside and he has the engine started does he ask me again.

“What’s wrong, Sierra? You were panicking back there. If dancing is causing you anxiety, then stop. I’ll make sure the bills are paid.”

What the fuck?

I turn in the seat and shoot him a glare. “What is it with everyone wanting to pay my bills? First Rico, then you. I’m perfectly capable of doing it myself. I’ve been doing just fine so far.”

“Sierra, we know you have been. We just want to help you. You’re not alone anymore.”

Shit, I know he’s right. They’re just trying to help me and I’m being a bitch.

“I’m sorry. It’s just so hard to let someone in and help. I need to apologize to Rico, too.” I sigh. He leans over the console and kisses my lips, softly at first, but deepening as he goes.

When he breaks free, both of us are panting heavily. “Now what happened as we were leaving?”

“I don’t know. I can’t really say other than it felt like someone was watching me. Could my aunt and her boyfriend be here? Fuck, I’m scared, Cyrus. What if she wants to punish me for CPS finding out about her not being there to care for us? What if she thinks I told them what happened to me?”

“I’d kill her. Fuck that, Rico would kill her and him before they laid a finger on you. I’ll die before I ever let anyone touch you again.”

“Okay,” I mumble, fighting back the tears that want to break free.

Cyrus reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Let’s go home.”

I love how he calls my apartment home now. “Only after we stop by the pharmacy. Don’t forget, we need condoms.” He chuckles as he puts the gear shift into reverse.

“Umm, I know this may be a touchy subject—” he starts as he backs out of the parking spot and heads toward the exit, looking both ways before pulling out on the main road. “But how do you feel about getting on birth control? I’ll still wear a condom if you want, but I’d love to feel you bare. I’ll even go with you and get an STD test done.”

“I’ve been thinking about that, too. I can check to see how much it is at the health department.” I fiddle with the edge of my purse, feeling my phone vibrating inside of it, but ignore it. “And thank you for offering to get the STD test.”

He reaches over and gives my knee a reassuring squeeze before taking my hand in his. With my free hand, I reach into my bag and pull out my phone, seeing I have a lot of text messages.

Today is Colton’s day to send Sam’s message. It hadn’t come in by the time I went to work and I really want to see it now. It’ll be late when we get home, but I need to send her one back.

My fingers hover over Colton’s name. I open his message thread and realize he’s messaged a few times. I scroll to the end, bypassing everything else. When I see the video clip, I quickly press play.

Sam’s sitting in the same room she’s in every time. I can tell by the pink comforter on the bed and the Disney princess picture on the wall. She looks so happy.

My heart aches knowing that Mr. Stevenson is able to give her all the things I couldn’t. Things she should have. A true childhood.

She tells me about school and the guys. How nice everyone is being to her and how she misses me. Sam’s even going to a sleepover next weekend. I don’t realize I’m crying until my tears drop on the screen of my phone.

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