Page 1 of Autumn's Coming

Chapter One

Autumn

This wasn’t going to cut it.

I’d busted my ass at the pub last night, and then I’d only walked away with fifty bucks in tips.

It wasn’t my fault when people didn’t like their food, but they still took it out on me. Did they know they were affecting my ability to make rent?

Or did they just not give a shit?

Sitting on the floor with Jessie while she counted stacks of tens and twenties next to my crumpled-up ones and fives, was even more disheartening.

I sighed, watching Jessie arrange her bills into neat stacks.

It had to beat least five hundred.

She lifted her head, looking up at me with a tired smile.

I’d spent a lot of my life looking down on strippers, but now that I lived with Jessie, I understood—sex workers busted their asses, too, sometimes in less-than-ideal conditions. They deserved the money they earned, every cent of it.

Honestly, if I had the body for it, I would’ve turned to stripping, too. But I was too curvy, and probably too tall, and definitely not a good enough dancer to turn anybody on the way Jessie and her coworkers probably did.

She was so gorgeous, anyway—petite, with long brown hair and eyes that were almost black and a stunning tan complexion. And her face was cute. She drove men wild, and even though I wasn’t into girls, I could see why.

She sighed as she put her last bill in the stack.

I couldn’t help it—I was a glutton for punishment. “How’d you do?”

She nodded. “It was a pretty good night. Five hundred and twelve.”

God.

I looked at my own pile of money and sighed. “I made fifty-three.”

Jessie’s eyebrows shot up in concern. “Holy shit, Autumn, really?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I’m—fuck. I’m gonna have to ask my mom for help again.”

Jessie reached out and touched my hand gently. “Listen, if you need to borrow some money…”

“No.” I shook my head. “Thanks, but no. I’m already borrowing enough from my mom. I don’t want to be a leech off you, too.”

“You’re not a leech. You’re just having a rough time right now.”

I opened my mouth to reply, but my phone started to ring. I looked down at it.

My mom.

It’s like she knew I needed her.

I smiled weakly. “It’s Mom. I’ve gotta take this.”

Jessie nodded. “Yeah. Go for it. I’ll be here.”

I turned and went down the hall to my room before I answered. I flopped down on my bed with a sigh. “Hey, Mom! Morning.”

My mom sniffled on the other end of the line.

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