Page 60 of Deceitful Vows

“As you should be.” I could leave it there, but that would make my life more boring than it has been the past two weeks. “I stopped turning tricks for coins months ago.”

“Z…” What should be a stubborn snap is more a whiny groan.

“I’m joking.”It’s more years than months.“But you can make up for your insult by doing me a favor.”

“Anything,” she immediately answers, announcing why she will always be my best friend.

“In the box you mentioned earlier is a bill with a phone number scribbled across it. Can you tell me what that number is?”

You shouldn’t be able to hear someone’s brain ticking over a million miles an hour. I can. But since Nikita will always be more inquisitive than she is stubborn. She doesn’t grill me about the extra cash in her cardboard box safe until after she’s flipped off its lid.

“Z, there has to be an extra three thousand dollars in here.” Ruffling sounds down the line before she asks, “Where did you get this money from?”

“It doesn’t matter?—”

“Itdoesmatter,” she interrupts, shouting. “I can’t accept it.”

I’m on the defense immediately. “You can and you will. It isn’t up for negotiation. Grampies is my grandfather too, so it isn’t solely your responsibility to look after him.”

She wants to argue, but since it would break my heart, she remains quiet.

“So can you please get me the number on one of the bills so I can make sure I can keep contributing?”

My voice is on the verge of cracking, and I’m not the only one noticing. Its husky wobble is the sole reason Nikita agrees to my demand with the faintest snivel.

After many rustles, she asks, “Do you have a pen?”

I nod like she can see me.

She must hear its whoosh, as she recites Mikhail’s number without additional prompting.

I read it back to her to make sure I have it correct before whispering, “Please don’t be mad at me.”

I won’t survive another rejection, especially not from her. She is using her studies to become something great. I can’t even get a job at McDonalds.

My heart stops being strangled when Nikita replies, “I’m not mad. I love you, Z.”

“I love you too, Keet.” With my voice holding too many emotions, I cut our chat short. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

She reminds me it is already tomorrow before advising me she will call me before her upcoming double shift. “Bye.”

“Bye.”

I wait for her to disconnect our call before lifting my eyes to my new building supervisor. He’s dressed and looking somewhat relieved—until I say, “Can I please make one more call? It’ll be quick.”

His eyes lower to the number I scribbled across my palm before he licks his lips. “Sure. That’s fine.” He nudges his head to the kitchen. “I’ll make some coffee.”

“I’m fine, thanks. I don’t drink caffeine this early.”

He mumbles something about it not being for me before he disappears into the poky kitchen.

I dial Mikhail’s number I need to memorize since my sweaty hands are already smudging the digits.

He answers not even two rings later.

“You better have good fucking news or I’ll?—”

“Slay me with your marshmallow heart?”

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