Page 20 of Girl Going Nowhere

My shoulders go rigid. “Please tell me it’s not what I think it is.”

She stands quickly. “He’s different, baby.”

He.Anthony Ramirez. “How many times have you said that in the past thirty years? The man almost fucking killed you, Mom. Do you really want to go back to that? Because, one day, you’re not going to make it out alive.”

Her expression changes in a second, from sadness to somberness. “Don’t use that tone with me, Dante. I’m still your mother. We rarely even fight anymore. That old coon across the hall likes making a fuss out of nothing. Tony barely even raised his voice this time.”

I can’t wrap my head around this. “You have a restraining order out against him. Do you not remember that? I took you to the police to get it done so they could see what he did. Theyarrestedhim.”

Like always, she’s quick to jump on his defense. “He got out early for good behavior. They wouldn’t do that if he wasn’t a changed man.”

If the jail has limited space, they get rid of anybody who didn’t commit a heinous crime. I’ve heard about it on the news before when the community complained about crime rates going up.

“You called me crying because of him,” is my last valiant effort to get her to open her eyes.

She shakes her head. “No, no. It’s not like that. I got upset because I ran out of money. It’s my fault. I can’t finish the laundry or get back home because he needed to borrow the car.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I squeeze my eyes closed and take a deep breath before I say something I’ll regret.

“It’s just a couple hundred dollars,” I hear her say, feeling her hand brush mine. “You understand, don’t you? You’ve always been good about taking care of me. That’s how I know you’ll make such a good husband someday. Any girl will be so lucky to have you in their life.”

Her words are a punch to the gut that hits harder than my father ever could. “I don’t have a lot of spare money, Mom.”

When I open my eyes, I see her staring at me with those pleading dark hues focused on me. Why the fuck can’t I walk away from her? “Please? I won’t ask again. The gas station said they’d give me more hours starting next week. It’s just until my next paycheck. I promise.”

I promise.

Promises never seem to hold in our family.

I learned that from her.

Still, I get my wallet, pull out a handful of twenties, and stand stock-still as she wraps those frail arms around me.

“I love you, Dante,” she says into my chest.

Forcefully, I hug her back.

But it’s in complete silence.

Because, deep down, I know she doesn’t deserve to hear those three words back. Not when I don’t mean them.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Blake

It’s bad enoughthat Emily paid for my manicure and new hairstyle, featuring a shorter trim to get rid of all the split ends I’ve been ignoring and fresh highlights that soften the dark brown, but the dress is next level. I flatten my palms down the front of the tight plum number and frown when we walk up to the front entrance of L’Artusi.

“This place looks expensive, Em.”

My best friend waves me off. “Hector took care of it. This has the best Italian around. You can’t miss out on it while you’re here. And look how beautiful it is!”

Itisgorgeous. The second we step inside, the quiet yet somehow romantic atmosphere tells me this would be a perfect date spot. That is, if your bank account has more than a hundred dollars in it.

Which is exactly why it makes no sense why we’re here, of all places. New or not, this is something she and her husband should go to, not us. “I think I saw a pizza place over—”

“Blake.” My friend turns to me while the hostess speaks to an older couple dressed as nicely as we are. “Let me do this for you. I know you’re short on money. This trip was my idea, so I want to treat you. Hector does too. You know we both adore you.”

That’s the problem. “I feel bad. I can’t repay you—Don’t start with me. I know you’re not asking me to. But it’s difficult.”

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