Page 74 of Broken Romeo

“This is a disaster,” she mutters.

“It’s not a disaster,” I counter. Yet. “I’ll still get paid for the first few rehearsals I did attend and I’m going to apply at the pub tomorrow to be a bartender.”

Jill’s expression shifts, growing more concerned.

“You can’t do any shows if you work a night shift,” she says.

I’m pretty sure that ship has sailed, but I know saying that won’t help Jill’s souring mood. “But I’ll make a lot more in tips there than at the coffee shop.”

Jill crosses her arms while I grab a handful of potato chips from a communal bowl on the counter and eye the boxes of pizza that I hadn’t contributed any cash towards.

“Three thousand dollars more?” she asks.

Fuck it. I lunge for the pizza box closest to me, flip the lid open, and grab a slice. Ick. Meatlovers. Still, beggars can’t be choosers. And I’m starving. Free pizza is free pizza.

“Probably not,” I say, my voice getting louder so I can be heard over the music. “But maybe I can get close enough to get Gray Faced Greene off my back and avoid getting evicted.”

Just as I start that sentence, the song ends, and I’m shouting loud enough that just about everyone at the party hears that I’m going to be evicted.

I wince as all eyes in the room turn toward me.

But it’s Holden’s voice behind me that has me curling in on myself, as he asks, “Evicted?”

Of course. Why wouldn’t my ex-boyfriend-slash-ex-director follow me home after I bitch him out and quit?

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

I spin around to find Holden standing behind me, and I exhale a frustrated growl, throwing my non-pizza-bearing hand up. “Jesus Christ! Are you a ninja? How do you always sneak up on me?”

Holden blinks, ignoring my outburst, and as the next song comes on, the party resumes with no one caring in the slightest that my world is crumbling around me.

“How did you even get in here?” I ask.

“Literally every door to your building is propped open. Real smart, by the way.” He stops mid-eye roll, almost like he’s catching himself being the condescending prick he is. With a pause, he draws a deep, audible breath before asking me, “Are you really getting evicted?”

When I don’t answer, he looks to Jill. “How long do you have?”

Jill gulps before answering, “We have one week to get her three thousand dollars.”

“Jill!” I shriek. Traitor.

My best friend smacks her hands to the kitchen counter. “Well, it’s true, isn’t it? And we’re running out of options.”

“Kate,” Holden says, his voice achingly soft.

My skin heats with humiliation at the pity in his eyes.

“Don’t,” I snap, holding my palm between us. “I can’t do this with you—”

Jill interrupts me by grabbing us both by the arms and dragging us out the door. “You know what? It’s really rare that I let loose like this and you two are not going to ruin my party! Take this elsewhere!”

I stare in shock at her. Never in the years we’ve known each other has she ever kicked me out of our apartment. Literally, not once.

“Where the hell am I supposed to go?”

“It’s eight o’clock on a Friday. Figure it out!” With that, she slams the door shut and the deadbolt clicks from the other side.

I whirl around and step into Holden’s face. “See what you did? You got me kicked out of my own apartment!”

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