“Why not?” he asked.

“I still have thirty minutes of my shift,” she softly said. “I need to finish it.”

“You’ll still get paid for the thirty minutes,” he said. “It’s slow out there anyway. Monty and Lucy can handle the last thirty minutes.”

Her shoulders slumped. She didn’t like thinking about not working and still getting paid for that time.

“Please. I can see how exhausted you are,” he said. “Do you need a ride home?”

She shook her head. “I’ve got a neighbor that drives by who is coming to pick me up. She’s normally early so she should be here by now.”

Sofia’s gut clenched at the thought of lying to him again. She didn’t like it, but she didn’t want him to know where she lived just yet. She was trying to save up some more money, so she didn’t have to stay there.

She had walked to her apartment so many times that she knew it by heart. Nothing was going to happen to her and a little white lie wouldn’t hurt either.

“Okay,” he said. “She’s right out in front of the door?”

“She is,” she replied.

“I’ll walk with you.”

“You really don’t need to. She always picks me up right in front of the door. It’s very well lit, and the bouncer watches me the whole time.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

She crossed her fingers that were under her legs. “I’m sure! Pete always makes sure I get into the car safely.”

It was a total lie. Pete did watch her as she walked away, but she never got into a car. He had asked her if she was ever going to take a taxi or get a car, and she had replied with soon.

“I don’t like this, but just this one night I’ll let you go. After this, I’m walking with you. That’ll be one of your rules,” he said.

She let out a breath she was holding and nodded her head. Next time she’ll just have to remember to call a taxi before shegets off of work that night. And come up with an excuse why her mysterious neighbor couldn’t pick her up.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Remember, text me if you need anything and I mean anything,” he said. “Come to work earlier tomorrow so we can talk about rules and limits.”

“Okay,” she whispered and got up from her seat.

“Give Daddy a hug,” he said.

She wrapped her arms around him and melted into his embrace. She loved his hugs.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said. “Text me when you get home.”

“Bye,” she replied.

“Sofia.”

“I’ll text you when I get home.”

If she remembered. She had a hard time remembering things sometimes or they would just slip her mind until several hours later.

“Good girl,” he replied.

Sofia walked back towards the main room, quickly grabbed her purse from the employees’ room, and then to the front entrance.

“I’ll see you tomorrow!” Monty yelled.

“See you later,” she replied.