Page 8 of Protecting Tiffani

“I understand,” I say, trying to move slightly to the left a little more. I don’t like the vibes I feel rolling off him. It’s the same every time we are here alone together. His eyes rake over my body, and the smile on his face terrifies me.

“Are you going to be able to afford that? I mean your part of the electric and internet bill has almost tripled with how much you are using.” he smirks at me.

Fuck no, I can’t, but I won’t tell him that. “Yes, sir, I can,” I say as confidently as possible.

He moves closer to me but doesn’t stop this time. My back hits the wall behind me as I try to escape him. “You know my offer still stands. I’ll take some off rent if you let me take you out on a date.”

I suppress a gag. Bydate, he means if I fuck him. I’d rather sleep out on the street than ever let him fucking touch me. “I told you, Brad. I appreciate the offer, but I don’t date and can pay my bills myself.”

I hear his teeth grind as he tenses up, but he quickly relaxes and steps back. “I understand. I’m a patient man. But be warned I always get what I want.” He grabs the nightly deposit and turns to leave, but before he does, he looks over his shoulder, saying, “The register was short five dollars. I will deduct that from this week’s pay, and no more splitting rent up. I expect the full amount on the first of every month.” With his parting words making my stomach drop, he slams the door and leaves the building.

The fuck it was short, I think, as my legs turn to jello and I slide to the floor. Dropping my head, my eyes sting as tears flood them. “What am I going to do now?” Susan was an angel and let me split the rent into two payments. But ever since she let Brad take control last year, he has made my life hell. And with him constantly taking money from my paycheck, I will never be able to afford this month’s rent. There are only three weeks until rent is due again. I sit here and allow myself to feel sorry for myself for five minutes. Then I pull myself together and finish the cleaning. I have to get to the local grocery store and back to study some more before doing this all over again.

For a person who loves math so damn much, I sure fucked up somewhere with my calculations. “Ma’am. The total is correct. It’s seventeen dollars and twenty-three cents,” the young cashier repeats herself.

I look at the small amount of food sitting in front of me. How the hell did I miscalculate? My neck and face burn with a blush that I try very hard to keep at bay. The sound of a throat clearing behind me makes the heat ten times worse. This is so fucking embarrassing.Ground, please open up and swallow me right now,I beg, but the ground stays solid underneath my feet. My hands shake as they clamp around the small amount of money I have. What a perfect ending to an already shitty day.

“Come on, lady. Either pay for your shit or move out of the way so the rest of us who can afford our groceries can check out,” the individual standing behind me spits out like I’m not worth anything.

“I apologize. Can you suspend the transaction so I can go look in my car for a few extra dollars?” I whisper to the young girl. She doesn’t say anything to me. She just rolls her eyes and presses a few buttons. I snatch up my wallet, shove the bills back in, and walk quickly out the door. I don’t own a car and know I don’t have the extra three dollars and twenty-three cents. Another storm is coming into town, so the wind whips my hair around my face, and a long strand gets caught in my mouth. I pull it out and take the hair tie from around my wrist to pull it up in a ponytail. This just serves as a reminder that it’s past time for me to get it cut. I guess I’ll have to get the old scissors out and cut it myself.

The doors slide open, and the guy who was standing behind me walks out with a cart full of beer and junk food. When he spots me, a sick grin takes over his face. “Your car? Ha. I told her you wouldn’t be back. Don’t stand out here thinking someone will give you a handout. Why don’t you go find yourself a job.” He rolls his eyes and continues to a truck parked in the middle of the lot.

My eyes sting with tears at his ugly words. I want to yell and scream at him about how I have a job and ask him how he can look down on someone that is down on their luck, but I don’t. He obviously isn’t from around here, because he didn’t seem to recognize me like the others walking past me did. They just shake their heads and mumble about how I’m a disgrace to my family. How my parents were right in kicking me out. I’ve heard the rumors that they kicked me out because I was on drugs, stole from them, and many more lies. God forbid the fucking mayor of this town look like the bad guy in any situation.

I mentally go over what I tried to buy and decide that I can put the small container of peanut butter back. I didn’t need it. With my mind made up, I pull my shoulders back and walk back into the store. I don’t look around as I get back in line, but instead, I keep my eyes trained above everyone’s head, staring at the wall. Once the line moves and it’s my turn, I politely say, “I’m so sorry about that. It looks like I don’t have the money needed. Is it possible to take the peanut butter off? I believe I’ll have enough for the rest.” I don’t let the stares I feel bother me as I stare ahead.

Something to the left of me catches the cashier’s attention, but I don’t turn to see what it is. There is a small, sad smile when she turns her eyes back to me. “Don’t worry about it.” She bags all the food up, even the peanut butter, and holds out her hand for the money.

“Are you sure? I don’t want you to get in trouble.” My voice trembles as my emotions clog my throat at her kindness. Maybe there are some good people left in this fucked up world.

Her eyes cut to the left for a moment before she answers me. “I’m positive. Have a great day.”

Handing her the money, I grab my bag and leave the store behind. I send up a silent prayer that someone blesses her as she just did me. I make a promise to pay it forward if I ever have the chance to do it. Halfway home, it starts to rain and I get the feeling that someone is following me, but every time I turn around, no one is there. I write it off as my emotions going crazy. Once I get home, I savor the peanut butter toast I have for supper and a small smile forms at the thought of the lovely cashier. This day started shitty, but little things like that make me love this small town.

Chapter six

Levi

Beinginthemilitary,you hear all the stories of how hard it is to transition back into civilian life, but I never saw combat like most people in those stories did. My transition has been pretty smooth, besides the constant ache I have being back in this town and my worries about what will happen when he finds out I’m back. But I can’t let that stop me from fulfilling my promise to Dad. There is one other downside, but only slightly. I’m living with Mom. I love being there with her, but it’s hard to be back in the house I grew up in now that Dad’s gone. I see him everywhere and hear him as well. Mom doesn’t think I hear her cry as she sleeps in Emilee’s old room. She can’t stand to sleep in the room they shared for most of her life. My heart breaks for her, but I don’t know how to help.

After being in the house for a couple of weeks, Mom kicked me out. She told me I needed to stop hovering over her and go enjoy my freedom. I stayed a few weeks with Adam, Carley, and Adam Jr. I didn’t realize how much of his life I had missed. It blows my mind that he is almost three now. I love being an uncle and can’t wait for Emilee and Parker’s baby to get here. After leaving Adam’s, I found myself sleeping in Emilee’s spare room after she pouted, saying that I was her best friend and she felt unloved.

I had planned to stay with Emilee for a couple of weeks, but after only four days, she’s getting on my last nerve. While she is my best friend and older sister all wrapped up in one, she is also very fucking nosey and didn’t know how to take the hint that I didn’t want to talk about the past.

“Levi, why can’t we talk about it all? It’s not like Tiffani to just stop talking to me. I know you said you guys broke up, but I think there’s more to the story than you’re telling me. And we promised years ago to never keep secrets. You two were so in love, and then you tell us you guys broke up and you’re leaving for basic training. Levi, that wasn’t you. Bubba talk to me,” she says, pinning me with a glare I hate.

“Em, I don’t want to discuss her or what happened four years ago. I told you, I don’t know why she stopped talking to you. What she chose to do is beyond my control, Sissy. If I could change that for you, I would. Can’t you just understand that my feelings changed, and I had to do something for me? The Marines were always an option for me. I just never discussed it with you.” I sigh because I wish she would just let this go. I hate lying to her like I am, but she has to get off my back about this. “Are you excited about your ultrasound in a couple of days? I bet you’re having twins,” I say, trying to change the subject.

Call it natural instinct, but I duck my head just as the remote Emilee is holding flies through the air and hits the wall behind me. “Don’t you dare fucking jinks me, Levi Dane Hill. I swear to god, if they tell me there are two in here, I will murder you and bury your body. Better yet, I will force you to become my live-in nanny,” she says while cradling her stomach.

“And I’ll help her get away with it.” Parker’s laugh comes from the hallway. He rounds the corner and looks at the small hole that is now in their living room wall. He sighs, “Levi do you have to get my pregnant wife riled up? I’m going to have to figure out how to fix that now.” I look behind me and smile.

“No, but I do have to get my sister riled up, asshole. She was mine first, and I can fix that in less than five minutes if you have what I need. Which I doubt you do.” I laugh and roll my eyes because I know he doesn’t. He’s a damn good mechanic, but when it comes to construction, he’s shit.

“Mine,” he growls as he walks across the room and pulls my sister to his side after sitting down.

“Settle down, caveman. I know. For fuck’s sake, everyone knows she’s yours. You put the flashy ring on her and babies in her belly. Plus, you threaten anyone who looks at her, even old men. I heard about the heart attack you almost gave Mom’s new mailman when he said good morning to Emilee.”

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