Page 17 of Loving Ladybug: Part One
As I played with Marty, I told himeverythingin Italian. It felt good to get it all out, and I knew he wouldn’t judge me.
“What do I even do?” I told him, sniffing. “Do I drop out with two semesters left? If I had an agent, I’d call them up and see about going free agent now, but I don’t even have that. I have nothing. Sure, I’ll talk to Coach and financial aid tomorrow, and there might be a place for me at the townhouse my friend rents at. Still, how do I make it on my own here?” I felt so hopeless.
Marty gave me more snuggles as if to sayif you give up, he wins.
“You’re right; we don’t let the assholes win. I’ll crunch the numbers and make a plan,” I agreed as we played with his favorite rope toy, Trixie watching us from the corner.
It’s not like I had anyplace else to go. I sure wasn’t going back to my dads. IlikedNew York. And my life. Yep. I’d rather starve than do that.
“Still, where did I go wrong, Marty? How could the person I’d loved for five years end up being like that?” Another sob wracked me.
Marty licked the tears off my face.
“Whatever happened, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t your fault,” Trixie said softly. “I get off at four. Do you need me to go with you to the police?”
I gave her a look, my heart skipping a beat, because I’d gottenverypersonal with Marty. “You speak Italian?”
“No. But I know what being hurt looks like. There’s help if you need it.” Her expression was kind.
“Thank you. Some people already talked to the police with me.” Nothing was going to happen, considering Austin was an upstanding young alpha athlete with no record. Not that I wanted to blow up his life. But answers would be nice.
She gave me a look. “Are you sure?”
“I… I’ll be okay. I just needed to talk through what to do next. It’s a little scary.” I nodded.
“It is,” she agreed. “Especially when you’re with someone for a long time and you suddenly realize that maybe you didn’t know them at all.”
I gulped. That’s exactly what happened. “It’s a lot to process.”
“It is. Fortunately,” she joined us and pet Marty, “this boy here is a good listener.”
“That he is.” I gave him extra pets.
“You can do this, Gwen. One step at a time.” She squeezed my hand.
“Thanks.” At least I had Marty.
She let me play with Marty for a long time. Finally, he had to go back. I gave her a hug.
My belly rumbled in hunger.
Austin also destroyed or had taken every bit of food in the house. While Dimitri had brought over some things, I’d need more than that. I’d eaten a lot of my meals at Tito’s–where I no longer had a job.
One step at a time.
Leaving the zoo, I made my way to a little hole-in-the-wall Italian deli. It had red-checked tablecloths, pictures on the wall of famous people who’d eaten there, and the best pastrami sandwiches I’d ever had.
The deli always gave me free food. Probably because they knew I was friends with Lenny-the-Fence. Too bad I had nothing to sell him, I could use the money.
Even though it was a Saturday, guys in suits talked business and ate sandwiches.
“Who hurt you?” the older Italian woman I only knew asZia,aunty, demanded from behind the counter.
“My ex,” I sighed.
She leaned in. “Do you need my sons to take care of it?”
“It’s fine. But thanks,” I told her as I ordered my usual–a pastrami sandwich with extra pickles, fries, and a black and white cookie.
