Page 11 of Ravaged and Ruined
It rings once, twice. After the third ring he answers.
“Lacey.” There’s a smug satisfaction in his voice. “I hoped I’d hear from you.”
“How did you know it was me?” My voice cracks over the lump forming in my throat.
“Lucky guess. What can I do for you?”
I swallow hard, clearing my throat before I lose my courage. “Is the offer still on the table?”
“Of course. When can we meet?”
“I can be there in an hour.” I tell him, my nerves steadying.
“Perfect. I’ll see you soon.”
The moment I hang up, a knock taps soft against my door.
“Lacey?” Emery’s voice filters through, “It’s me. Can I come in?”
“Come in,” I say, through the unshed tears I still refuse to let fall.
She slips inside and shuts the door behind her, giving me the kind of look only your best friend can give, the one that sees right through the front you’re putting on. “Are you Okay?”
“I don’t want to talk about Aero.” I snap harsher than I intend to.
She nods, stepping farther in. “You don’t have to. But I know that look. You’re up to something.”
She crosses the room and sits on the edge of my bed next to me.
I don’t answer, I just show her the card in my hand.
Her eyebrows raise. “Ricci?”
“I’m not running away with him,” I mutter, half-laughing. “He offered me a job.”
Emery’s brows knit closer. “Are you sure about this?”
“I need something of my own. Something that’s mine.” My voice shakes, and I hate how raw it sounds. “I need to get back to me. And this is a step in that direction.”
“You have something here,” she says, her voice soft. “You have me. You have all of us.”
“No, Emery. I have you. I’m your friend. That’s not the same as being one of you.”
She flinches like I slapped her. “You’re not just my friend. You’re my best friend. That makes you family. That makes you one of us.”
Her words slam into my chest, because they echo Aero’s from this morning.“You’re Emery’s friend.”That’s all I am to him. Not one of them. Not his Ol’ Lady. I’m Emery’s friend and way to pass the time. I’m done being less than.
I straighten my spine, shoving off the bed. “I appreciate everything this club has done. I do. I’m grateful for the roof, the safety. But I can’t be a charity case. I need to work. I need to stand on my own two feet.”
She studies me, her eyes brimming with worry.
“I get it, but working for him?” she asks. “Ricci? I don’t know anything about him but I know that name puts Aero on edge. He’s not going to like this.”
I shrug. “It’s just a job. What harm is there? Besides, he doesn't have to know. I don’t need his permission.”
Her expression says she’s not convinced. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I do.” I lie, “I’m good at taking care of myself. It’ll be fine.”
