Page 96 of Finish Line

“I’m not upset to see you, but what are you doing here, princess?” Mav asks.

“Dropping Nick off. I’m borrowing his truck today to look for a job,” I reply.

“Where at?” He raises his eyebrows.

I shrug. “I have no idea.”

They laugh at that.

When the bell rings, I turn to go into the school when I remember I don’t have to, anymore.

Nick hands me his truck keys, then steps away.

“I guess we better go. Good luck job hunting.” Mav kisses me.

They each then take turns kissing me.

Nick walks forward and hugs me. “Take it easy on the old girl.”

“Be safe,” Dom says, and I don’t take offense at his reminder.

After our conversation at the airport, I understand where it comes from.

“I will,” I say to both requests, then to Nick, “See you at home.”

I hop into the driver’s seat and head home to shower, hoping it will wake me up more before I even attempt to apply makeup. Parking the truck in the driveway, I hop out and walk into the house, finding Mom at the counter drinking coffee.

“Good morning, darling. Why aren’t you at school?” Mom’s eyebrows pinch.

“I quit.”

Before I can explain why, she slams down her coffee mug, and coffee splashes over the sides. “What? Why would you do that?”

“It was too much, Mom.” I stare at the counter and run my finger over the cold marble. “Roger had me for a month. Even if I could have focused, it was too much to catch up on. I couldn’t concentrate while I was dealing with everything else.”

Mom rubs her red eyes. “What are you going to do? Lie around here all day?”

She’s lost weight, and her eyes are sunken in with dark circles around them.

“No, I’m still going to take my GED, and I’m going to find a job.” I study her closer. “Are you feeling all right?”

She scratches her arm. “I’m fine.”

Peter walks into the kitchen. “You don’t have to find a job. You know that, right, Shelby?”

My heart lifts at how Peter wants to take care of me. “I know. Nick told me the same thing last night. And it’s not like I expect you to make me work to earn my keep, but I can’t sit here and do nothing. Cin and I discussed moving into an apartment once I turn eighteen. But it would be nice to have some money in the bank before we do that, so we don’t have to struggle to pay our way. It might take a little longer than we planned.”

Mom huffs, drawing our attention. “You did say you’ll only stay until you’re eighteen, so what’s stopping you?”

Peter’s mouth opens, but he chooses not to acknowledge her statement. “I think it’s admirable to know what you want and to go for it. If you’re considering going to college after receiving your GED, Patty and I will help you.”

My heart squeezes at his generous offer.

From where she stands behind Peter, my mom scowls at me.

I shake my head. “I don’t think college is for me.”

“Well, it’s not for everyone,” Peter says.

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