Page 16 of Say You're Mine

Julie and I ended up hanging out for a few hours before we call it a night. I think I had one too many glasses of wine, but she’d gotten a bottle. When I step outside, Royce is there leaning up against the SUV. The same as he had been this morning.

“You don’t work for Caleb, do you?”

“Nope.” He opens the back passenger door for me.

“I’ll catch the bus.” Eros isn’t getting any of his other employees private rides, let alone their own driver. Julie got an Uber.

“Lev,” he calls after me when I start walking down the sidewalk. It’s dark out now. I stop. “It’s my job. Will you let me do it?” I turn back around, not wanting him to get in trouble.

“Fine, but I’m sitting in the front.”

Royce smiles. “Got yourself a deal.” He opens the passenger door for me.

“Thanks.” I slip in. I check my phone again, clearing two more calls from my mom. What I'm really looking for is a text from Eros, but there's nothing there. I can’t help but be disappointed when I know I shouldn’t be.

“How was the first day?” Royce asks, pulling away from the curb.

We go back and forth as we make our way toward my place. I find out he’s worked for Eros for five years. He’s been married for almost thirty years, and his first grandchild is due anytime now.

“Thanks for the ride,” I tell him when we pull up to the front of my building.

“I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Seriously?”

“Those are my orders.”

“All right,” I agree. There is no point fighting with Royce, as he said he’s only doing his job. “Tomorrow.” I give him a wave before entering my building.

I could call Eros and bitch about it, but I know I’d only be calling because I want to talk to him. I take the stairs up to my place and grit my teeth when I put my key in the door and realize it’s already unlocked.

“The fuck?” I whisper when I push the door open and see the place is a mess. My mom comes flying out of her bedroom.

“Where have you been? Your father was arrested.”

“What?”

“He’s been arrested!” she screeches.

“For what?” Public drunkenness? That’s my first guess.

“I’m not sure, but I have to go bail him out.”

“Mom, don’t?—”

“Mitch is on his way already to post his bail.” Mom cuts me off. “I’m going to go meet them.”

“Mitch is paying his bond?” My mom pauses. “Mom.” I groan. “Don’t waste your money. It won’t hurt to let him sit there for a few days. Might sober him up.” I don’t know how many more times she has to go through this kind of stuff with my father until she learns he’s never going to change.

“He is your father,” she hisses at me. This is why I hate them together. My mother is so dramatic when it comes to him.

“You don’t have the money,” I remind her.

“That’s why I called you.”

“I’m not bailing him out.” I put my hands up and step back.

“I didn’t have a choice, Levy.” She steps toward me. My heart sinks. I turn, heading toward my bedroom; Mom follows after me. I freeze when I make it to my open bedroom door. My room has been ransacked. The box I keep hidden in the back of my closet is dumped out on my bed. Not a single dollar is left. I walk over and pick up the checkbook I’ve never used for my account and can see one has been ripped out. I turn around.

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