Page 53 of Love on the Byline

“No, no, no,” Blake said, interrupting her. “I can’t. I’mbarely scraping by.”

To her credit, Enid seemed sympathetic. “I know, and same. I’llfind someone fast. In the meantime, though, we can split things fifty-fifty.It’s only an extra…six-fifty for each of us.”

“Jesus, I don’t have that kind of money laying around.”

“What about your emergency fund?”

She stared at her. “Emergency fund? I haven’t made enough tobuy bras that aren’t older than this building. You think I make enough to have arainy-day fund?”

Enid frowned. “No, but I hoped you did. I don’t have oneeither, unless you count the turkey jerky I keep in my underwear drawer.”

“You keep turkey jerky in your underwear drawer?” Blakeasked, incredulous.

“Hey, don’t balk. Jerky has saved me from starving many anight.” Enid sank lower in the chair as reality seemed to settle around her.“Shit. What are we going to do? Any chance you could get an advance from yourboss?”

“I’d be laughed out of a job I’m barely holding onto.” Hergaze landed on her bag, lying open on the chair next to her. She still had themoney Gid had advanced to her, and the credit card. She pulled the bag towardsher and dug for her wallet.

“Do you have a pot of gold in there somewhere?”

“No, but…” She carefully placed the cash on the table,fanning out the bills.

Enid shot forward in her seat. “What the what?”

“It’s petty cash for the assignment I’m on.”

Her roommate shot out a hand to grab it but stopped short.“Wait, what kind of assignment is this again?”

It was tempting, but she couldn’t betray Bran’s privacy. “Ican’t tell you.”

Enid narrowed her eyes. “You working as an escort?”

“Oh my God, no.”

“Not that there’s anything wrong with sex work, you justseem too…”

“Too, what?” she asked.

“I dunno. Chaste?”

“Chaste.”

“Not that there’s anything wrong with that either,” Enidrushed to say.

“Let me make sure I understand,” she replied, unable tocontain her laughter any longer. “Either I’m a sex worker or I’m a nun?”

Crossing her legs, her roommate huffed. “Well, I don’t know,do I? You’ve been out here for almost a year, and you haven’t dated anyone.”

“I’ve dated!”

Enid seemed surprised by that. “You have?”

“Sure.” Hadn’t she?

“You haven’t brought anyone here, and you’re here everynight.”

Blake pointed to her overnight bag. “I’m going away now.”

“For work.”

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