Page 46 of Everest

Sighing, I plop down in a chair at the kitchen table. “Sorry, bad joke. The truth is, it scared the hell out of me, and I’m freaked out. I’m also scared for my friend who is missing.”

Catcher’s angry expression softens a little at my confession. “We all have our own ways of dealing with bad shit.”

“You say that like you’re speaking from experience.” As soon as I voice my observation, I see Catcher’s wall go up. The man is clearly dealing with his own demons. I’m smart enough to know not to push, so I change the subject. Standing, I take my cup with me. “I’m going to get some fresh air. If Promise wakes up and is looking for me, will you tell her where I’m at?”

“Sure.” Catcher nods. “Don’t wander too far.”

I smile. “I won’t.”

Once outside, I make my way over to the covered veranda and take a seat on the porch swing, tucking my feet under my butt. The sun is just rising over the river, painting the sky in a pretty shade of pink and the promise of a beautiful day. Moments like this remind me of all the mornings I’d wake up and find my mom sitting in our backyard with her cup of coffee as she watched the sunrise. I remember climbing into her lap as a little girl, sleepy-eyed and clueless about all the world's dangers. And not twenty-four hours ago, that danger touched me. I wasn’t lying to Catcher when I said it scared the hell out of me. I keep replaying what happened each time I think about the outcome if Tony had not been there.

Kallum was right.

I was reckless.

My recklessness and keeping secrets almost got me killed.

I’m drawn out of my racing thoughts when there is a shuffling sound behind me. I peer over my shoulder at Promise, still clad in her pajamas, and a bright-eyed Jaxon clung to her hip. Her son truly is his father made over. Jaxon has dark hair with a hint of mischief hidden behind his crooked smile. AsPromise passes in front of me, I grab Jaxson’s little foot. “Good morning, little man.”

Promise sets Jaxon at the small kiddie table beside the swing and hands him a sippy cup of milk and a sandwich bag full of dry cereal.

“You’re up early,” I remark.

“I had to call Zara and tell her I wouldn’t be in today. I asked her to reschedule our appointments and take the next few days off.”

“Thanks,” I mutter. “You know, over the years, I’ve kind of gotten used to club drama and the occasional lockdown. I just didn’t ever expect it would one day be because of me.” I try to joke.

Promise doesn’t respond. Instead, she remains silent. I take it as a bad sign.

When I can’t take the uncomfortable silence, I close my eyes and let the words I’ve held in for so long tumble out. “I’ve been stripping at the Pink Paradise for the past three months.”

“What?” Promise breathes.

I tip my head to the side to look at the disbelief on her face.

“What… why?” she asks.

“I had no choice,” I tell her softly. “Mom’s insurance wouldn’t cover the cost of her stay at Golden Hills, and there was no way I could let her live elsewhere. I tried to get a night job at a few other places, but it wasn’t enough,” I tell her. “I did what I had to do.”

Promise turns toward me. “London, why didn’t you come to me? You know I would have helped.”

It kills me to see how truly hurt Promise is that I didn’t come to her for help. “You go to your best friend when you need to borrow twenty bucks, Promise, not fifteen thousand. And that’s per month. Our firm does well, but not enough that I can keep up the cost every single month.”

“London—” Promise goes to argue, but I cut her off.

“I did what I had to do to take care of my mom, Promise. My mom means the world to me and has given me the world. So, if I have to show my tits and dance for the entire state of Louisiana to ensure she gets the best care there is, then that’s what I’m going to do.” A tear slides down my cheek as I look at my best friend. “My momma is everything to me, Promise.”

“Oh, Lon.” Promise wraps her arms around me. “I know what your mom means to you. I only wish you’d come to me. You’re more than my best friend, you’re like a sister. You shouldn’t be going through this alone.”

I break away from Promise and wipe my cheek with the back of my hand. “That’s not the kind of burden you pawn off on your best friend, Promise.”

“Pawn off?” Promise looks affronted. “London, is that how you see it? Let me ask you this. If the roles were reversed, would you want me to come to you, or would you want me to suffer alone in silence?”

“Of course, I’d want you to come to me,” I say. “But?—”

This time, Promise cuts me off. “But nothing. If you’re in trouble, the rules are to go to your best friend for help.”

“So, there are rules now?” I grin.

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