Page 4 of F*ck You

She exhaled a deep breath, and I bit my lip, expecting her to turn me down. Hell, I would’ve turned me down. If she did, then I would continue to drive down the coast until I found someone who wouldn’t judge a person by a little vomit on their shirt who pounded on their door at sunrise. There were worse things to wake up to.

“I’ll give you two months on this with utilities included. After that, I expect you to start paying for the rest. If you can get a job and prove you’re working, and at least trying, then I’ll see what we can work out in two months from now, and maybe I’ll extend it.” She took a few bills from the pile and handed them to me with a pitiful smile. “You’re going to need food. I wouldn’t suggest living off alcohol for two months. Please, grab a vegetable or at least a bottle of water or something. I’ll even leave you some food in the fridge. There isn’t much, but it’s at least something.”

The widest grin I never thought would be possible right now spread across my face, and I nodded in agreement. This was a much better deal than I could have hoped for. I didn’t even care if she only did it out of pity, I was going to take the kindness and do what I could to make up for it—after drinking off this hangover, of course, since that would be the next fucked up logical step. You know, to celebrate.

Despite the grin glowing on my face, I was still pissed off and a bit fucked up in the head.

“Thank you, ma’am. Can I grab my stuff and move in now?” I tucked the bills back into my bra. I’d find a better hiding spot for them later. If I could find a job, maybe I’d even go a little crazy and get a purse.

“Yes. It should only take me a few minutes to grab my things, I’m already mostly moved out. I’ll have the key for you when you return with your stuff.”

“Thank you, thank you so much.” With a squeal to startle even me, I turned around and strutted across the sand back to the parking lot. I screamed out in pain when hot asphalt threatened to blister the soles of my feet and dove back into the sand to put my boots on before continuing to the truck. I would possibly need to soak them later if they blistered badly.

Balancing the heavy as shit box of booze on one shoulder, and wheeling my large suitcase behind me, I cursed all the way back to the condo. I made a mental note to find another way there because rolling a suitcase through this long ass stretch of sand while also balancing an incredibly heavy box with one arm was damn near impossible. I gasped when the box tilted a little too far in one direction and saw my life flash before my eyes—which might have been a little dramatic, but fuck it—and then a pair of blue eyes deep enough to rival the ocean appeared on a man who practically saved my life as he held the box in his arms.

Well, actually, he saved my booze, but close enough.

“Whoa there, you alright?”

“I’m perfectly fine, thanks for saving me.”

His eyebrows twitched for a second, and I realized what I’d said. “I mean, thanks for saving the box, that would’ve sucked to have to clean up.”

“No problem. Mind if I carry something for you?” He looked down at my suitcase, the wheels buried in the sand and probably no longer able to spin. “Want me to get that? The box might be easier to carry.”

“Sure.” We swapped, and I was grateful to not have to drag the suitcase along anymore. If I managed to get my life together, I might have to buy another as a backup.

Not sure what to say and not being one for small talk, I began walking, intending to keep silence between us. The last thing I needed was to be distracted by another guy. That was what got me in this situation in the first place.

After lifting the suitcase onto his shoulder like it was nothing but a sack of flour, he kept pace beside me.

“I’m Chase.”

“Natalee—well, I go by Lee.”

“You new around here?”

“Yup. I live in that condo there.” I gestured with my head, unable to keep the smile from my face when looking at the condo that was now my new home. The smile faltered when a thought occurred to me. I just told a complete stranger where I lived. Not only that, but that I was also new here and just moving in. This whole doing it on my own thing wasn’t off to a great start. I fully expected to be murdered tonight, but hopefully I’d at least live long enough to enjoy this place for a day.

“Cool. I’ve lived here my whole life. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m usually somewhere around here.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Now that I was freaking myself out with the mental images of this stranger hacking away at my arms with an axe, I picked up my pace. Maybe I could change the locks. I didn’t know who else would have a spare key to this place.

We reached the steps, and he opened the door for me before I could set the box down to get it myself. I nodded in thanks and stepped inside with him following in behind me.

Dammit, Lee, you really need to stop freaking yourself out. You’re a strong, capable woman who’s able to take on any guy and any situation. Worst case scenario, drink your problems away later and complain about the advice you gave yourself.

As we both set the items down, I made a mental note to pick up a pocketknife next time I went shopping.

“Oh, you’re back, good timing.” The woman descended the stairs with a medium-sized suitcase in tow, now wearing jeans and a blue t-shirt. Her hair was still as much of a mess as before, apparently she didn’t think wasting time to brush it was necessary. She stopped in front of me. “Here’s the key, this is the only copy, so don’t lose it. I’ve written my phone number down along with some local emergency numbers in case you need anything, they’re on the magnetic notepad on the side of the fridge.” She rattled off the different phone numbers she left along with menus for takeout, and I nodded along. It wouldn’t do well to tell her I didn’t intend to use my phone much while I was here. I had no doubt it was blowing up with messages by now.

“And I see you’ve met Chase.” She handed me the key and smiled at the man by my side. “Be nice and keep her out of trouble. I don’t really know why, but I really like this one.” She tossed a glance at me before moving toward the door.

“Oh, uh, lady?”

“You can call me Miss Morris.”

“Miss Morris, I was just wondering…is this really the only key? Nobody else has one at all?”

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