“I want….”
His hands find their way around to my lower back, squeezing gently. “What? What do you want, Sage? Tell me and it’s yours.”
For half a second, I let myself believe his words are coming from a place of love. A place of honest devotion. I let myself believe the heat behind his eyes.
Then I deliver my carefully thought-out demand. “I want nothing to do with you. I want to make it through the next few months without having to fight my way through school and life. You have all of these preconceived notions about who I am, but you’ve never even given me a chance to show you who I really am. That’s your loss, not mine. I won’t stop being friends with Tinsley, because she needs someone who can show her true loyalty. A friend who’ll always have her back and be on her side, unlike most of the bitches in this school—Victoria excluded, of course. As for Keaton, he’s a big boy. He can handle himself. If he wants to be my friend, I won’t tell him no. If he doesn’t, then there’s no harm. If you demanded him to stop talking to me, he would. So I’ll let you make that choice. You think I want money, dick, power? I only want to leave this place and never come back again. That’s what I want. So let’s agree to stay out of each other’s way, and when my time here is done, I’ll be out of your hair for good.”
I’m breathing heavily as the last words fall from my lips. I hadn’t moved an inch as I delivered my speech. Reed hadn’t either, save the tightening of his grip on me as his body tensed with each word.
We stare at each other in silence as he processes my rant.
“I can make that happen.” I let a sigh of relief, but his next words make me tense. “I can buy you a plane ticket anywhere in the world you want. I can buy your way into any school and set you up in an apartment with a monthly allowance to help you make it until you turn eighteen. You don’t need to be here for it.”
I laugh, backing out of his hold. He lets his arms fall to his side.
“You still don’t get it. I would never accept your money. I wouldn’t accept Alice’s either. The only reason I agreed to come here with her is because I had no other choice. I’d already gotten kicked out of five foster homes and two group homes. The next stop for me was juvie. My social worker forced Alice upon me. I haven’t touched a dime of the money she’s tried to give me since I came here. I could take that fancy credit card and pull out as much money as it would let me, then buy myself a ticket, but I’m not a thief or a gold digger. I have more pride than that. I have a job, and I’ll save up the money I need myself. Then I’ll leave here by myself and on my own terms with no help from anyone. So, while I appreciate your offer, you can kindly shove it straight up your ass.”
This time when I turn to leave, he doesn’t follow. I don’t look back either.
Let him think the worst of me. I’m done playing his games.
Chapter Eight
“Is there anything else I can get you, sir?” I ask the older gentleman who seems to be a regular.
As soon as he walked through the door, Rosie, another server here, greeted him warmly before sitting him in my section. I wondered why she didn’t take him herself, until I watched her slip out the back door for a smoke break.
“I better not have any more coffee. How about some more water to finish off my pie? And please call me Elijah.”
“Can do, Elijah. Coming right up.”
He’s a sweet older gentleman with sad eyes. Rosie told me he always comes in with a newspaper or some sort of papers to work on while eating. She said he never comes in with anyone else and that he tips well and is kind to her. He reminds me of a grandfather with his sweet, caring demeanor. He’s one of those old men you just want to hug and ask if they’ll adopt you.
He’s made me smile constantly tonight, which makes me wonder where the sadness comes from.
Shaking off my thoughts, I return to his table with his water.
“Here you go.”
He smiles warmly at me. “Why don’t you take a seat for a minute? Beth won’t mind.”
I hesitate. This is the first time anyone has asked me to sit with them. I wouldn’t normally do it, but we’re slow today, and it’s about time for my break anyway.
“Let me let Rosie know,” I tell him while pointing at her.
A few moments later, I slide into the booth across from him. He sets down the paper he’d been reading before turning his full attention toward me.
“What’s going on in the world today?” I glance at his paper.
He sighs. “Nothing good, I can assure you. It seems with each day that passes, the world falls further into turmoil. It’s a saddening thing.”
I’m surprised by his candor but match it with some of my own.
“With the selfishness of the people in today’s world, I would say there’s no hope left. I mean, look at Brighton Academy. Most of those kids couldn’t care less about the underprivileged kids their age just trying to get by. They would rather gossip about the latest celebrities or the newest Fendi bag coming out.”
He chuckles. “It seems you’ve met a few of these kids.”
I shrug. “I kind of go to school there. I’m surrounded by them.”
I thought he would be surprised, but it doesn’t seem to faze him.
“Must be tough. How do you like it there?”
“I think some of the courses are archaic and most of the students are self-centered, but the library is amazing, and I have met a couple of nice people.”
He smiles. “That’s good to hear. You enjoy reading?”
“I do. Something about getting lost in a story really brings my soul to life.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve lost myself in a good book. What are your favorites?”
“And Then There Are None by Agatha Christie would have to be my all-time favorite. I prefer mysteries and romance, but honestly, I’ll read just about anything.”
“I haven’t read that one. I like to read westerns and old detective novels.”
I grin at him. It’s hard to imagine this man reading anything but the newspaper or business briefs.
“Those sound riveting. Maybe I’ll check one of them out.”
Rosie passes by then. “Sorry to cut your break short, but dinner rush is here.”
“I’ll be right there,” I say as I stand from my seat. “Thank you for the chat, Elijah. Do you need anything else before I go?”
He smiles warmly. “I enjoyed our chat. Thank you for keeping this old man company. You can bring the check when you get a chance.”
“Of course. I’ll be back.”
I run his check back by before going to greet my next table. My breath catches when I realize who’s sitting there.
Them.
Ever since the night of the lacrosse game and the events after, Reed and his friends have given me a wide berth. The only two from the group who’ve made an effort to speak to me are Keaton and Tinsley. Neither seemed eager to talk about their older, brooding brother.
I sigh before walking up to their table, pasting on my customer service smile.
“Hello, welcome to Momma’s House. My name is Sage. It’s a pleasure to serve you today.”