Page 6 of Falling in Reverse

Steroid pushin’ ass.

He swears he doesn’t, but I swear he does. No reason why he should be this big and stay that way with the nature of how he could eat half the McDonald’s menu by himself in one sitting.

“Email your advisor, counselor, whatever,” he commands. “And get back in.”

“How do you expect me to pass these classes and pick up money? To take care of Ellie and Mae? Dad is barely moving. He’s depressed as fuck after the stroke, and with Mom dead…”

I can’t bear to see him like this.

Clearing my throat, I clench my hands into fists, attempting to keep myself from having a panic attack. Never had one before until last week. They’re a bitch, and it was my body warning me that I needed to watch my stress level.

“He’s not taking all this well, Lev.”

My best friend is silent for a minute, mulling over my reality. “I know. We got the bills, don’t sweat it. Now that Roger is down, we’re out that income, but we’ll make sure everything gets handled. Got it? You and Nessa were doin’ the whole school thing, and when you get that degree, we’re out of here.”

“She’s dealin’ with her dad,” I retort, raking my fingers through my knotty hair. “She’s barely passing. This isn’t the time for school.”

“Your dad wants you there.”

I lift my shoulders dismissively, because I know he does. It’s a big deal to him that I get an education so that I have more options.

Nonetheless, it doesn’t stop the bills and taking care of my family by myself. Levi helps as much as he can and claims that we’re his responsibility, too. But I can’t rely on him all the time to assist in bailing us out.

“Bay…if it keeps him happy,” my best friend stresses with narrowed eyes. “You’re gonna do it.”

“Do you realize how long it’s going to take me to become an occupational therapist? Let’s just make this money and get the fuck out.”

“This town is home. This community has taken care of everyone.”

“And this place is the premier target for the Forsaken Crew and all their merry little men. We’re cut off, Lev. They literally surround us, and behind us is the fucking ocean. Hence they’re amazing decision making on taking the North half of the town so they could box us in.”

“Bay—”

“What are The Nameless even doing?” I press on. “Do they have a bomb-ass plan to make all this shit stop? Because I’m tired of living in a cage.”

Levi stares at me for a second before motioning with his head for me to come forward.

I do.

Fuck this man, but I’d follow him to the ends of the Earth and back barefoot.

There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him. Levi has been my everything for as long as I can remember.

I didn’t always listen, and that got me into a bunch of shit, but he’s never left me. I’m as much a part of him as he is me.

“I dunno,” he mutters into my hair after I’ve wrapped my arms around his waist in a hug and rest my cheek against his rock-hard chest. “Let’s ride this out. Get back into school. Don’t stress your old man out any more than he is.”

“I don’t like school.”

“Who the fuck does?”

I roll my eyes. “Fine. For Dad.”

“And.”

“For Dad.”

Levi squeezes me tighter, and I close my eyes, able to focus on the steadiness of my breathing and the cocoon of safety that I feel when he’s around.

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