Page 116 of Fierce-Hyde

But once the phone stopped ringing, she got a text.

“What does it say?” Hyde asked.

“Urgh. She said she bounced a bunch of checks and now can’t make her first month’s rent because of the fees and penalties.”

“What are you going to do?” he asked.

“What am I supposed to do?” she asked. “If it wasn’t the first month, I might just let it go, but it’s the first month, which means they might not let her move in if she doesn’t pay it on the twenty-seventh when she would get her keys.”

“If you pay it will she pay you back?” he asked.

“It’s not about the money,” she said. “And she doesn’t normally pay me back. This is about her wanting to move in with me. I almost think she is doing it on purpose.”

Her mother made some comments about Tori being able to live with her boyfriend if she had to.

She read between the lines that her mother would have no problem intruding on her daughter’s life knowing Tori wouldn’t kick her out.

“You have to figure it out,” he said.

“I know you’ve got an opinion,” she said. “Tell me.”

“Nope,” he said. “I’m keeping my lips sealed.”

“I’m not talking to her. I can’t. I refuse to let her ruin my holiday.”

She texted her mother she’d take care of it. She’d just pay it on her credit card directly so she didn’t have to worry about her mother not using the money transferred to her.

“Then don’t let it,” he said.

36

AS FAR AS HE WANTED

“You’re quiet,” he said a few hours later.

“No reason,” she said.

“Did you want more than just pizza for dinner?” he asked.

They’d ordered that with a salad and cheesecake for dessert. Simple in his mind, but it’s not like either one of them were fancy people.

“Nope,” she said. “This is more than I’ve done in years.”

Hyde didn’t like hearing that. Even when he didn’t come home for the holidays, he was with Shana or other friends.

“Do you wish you were alone?” he asked.

“No,” she said firmly. “And I’m sorry. I’m just frustrated with my mother’s call.”

He figured as much and hated that for her.

“You took care of it,” he said. “She won’t be on the streets.”

She snorted. “Not this month. I wonder if it will ever end. Probably not.”

“Some kids never grow up. Your mother could be one of those people. Sounds like she always had someone taking care of her. And still does. If you didn’t do this today, what do you thinkshe would have done? Do you think she would have packed up all her things and driven here? Or would she have found a way to store them or come up with the money?”

“You know, when you say it that way, I think she would have sold some things to get the money and if she still couldn’t then she’d borrow it from a friend or maybe even go stay at a friend’s place for a bit. She might even have put it on a credit card just piling up her debt.”

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