Page 122 of Life of the Party

“Please, Roger.” My voice seemed quiet and shaky after Charlie’s confidence. I cleared my throat and forced the words out. “What if we promised to be better? You know how well we work together, how good we can be. Most of the customers like us. Please? I can’t lose this job.”

Something about my plea sparked an idea in Roger’s mind. He sat, considering my words, his chair groaning as he leaned back. When he looked up again, there was a strange glint in his green eyes, like an evil thought had occurred there.

“You’re desperate to keep your job, then?”

“I’d like to, yes,” I admitted.

“Yes.” Charlie agreed.

“Okay, fine. You can both keep your jobs.”

A smile spread across Charlie’s face. She looked over at me with happy surprise.

“Oh, thanks, Roger. That’s great—”

“On one condition.” He continued, interrupting her. Charlie stopped mid-sentence and waited, glancing at me again, cautiously this time.

“What is that?”

Roger’s smile was sardonic. “Lock the door.” He ordered.

“What? Why?”

“I take care of you…” He shrugged. “…You take care of me.”

He jingled his belt buckle.

It took me a moment to realize what he meant by that. I actually gasped.

Charlie got it faster than I did. Her face froze in anger and disgust.

“Fuck you.” She spat. “Never.”

“It’s your job.” Roger turned to me repugnantly. “Mackenzie?”

I was at a loss. I needed my job; I needed it badly. What was I going to do without any money? The panic rose in my chest again as I realized we’d have to go without that night—no heroin, no cocaine, no weed even. No nothing.

I bit my lip. Maybe…maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe it would be quick. And besides, if I had the money, I could get the drugs, and if I had the drugs, I could forget about…it…later.

“Mackenzie!” Charlie glared at me in horror. “We are leaving. Now!” She grasped my arm and slammed the door open, pulling me from Roger’s office and out the back door. My cheeks flushed scarlet, the blood pounding in my head.

“What the fuck was that?” Charlie demanded angrily, wrapping her arms around herself as we stumbled to her car. “Were you actually considering it!?”

“No! No!” I lied, shaking my head—furious, desperate. I couldn’t believe what happened. I couldn’t believe I’d actually considered it, even for a moment. So much for being pure. By the time we reached her car, my tears were blinding me, I felt so ashamed.

“Fuck, Charlie!” I screamed. People on the street turned to stare at me, but I didn’t care. I slammed my fist into the hood of her car. “I can’t believe I just lost my job!”

She was wide-eyed, watching me. “It’s okay, Mac. You’ll get another one.”

My breath was frosty in the dimming light. “What do I do now? I need money now!”

Charlie shook her head. “Get in the car, Mackenzie.”

I obeyed, only because the cold was starting to numb my fingertips. It felt like it could snow any moment. I rubbed my hands together to warm them as Charlie started the car, and we sat in silence for a moment, letting the engine warm up. I reached for a cigarette, vexed when I realized my pack was almost empty.

I had no money for more.

“Fuck!” I exclaimed again.

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