I let out a snort. “No, I wouldn’t be,” I admit. “I don’t really have time to shop either.”
Hutton’s lips turn up into a wicked smile. “I have the key to Laurie’s. She has something, I know because she’s always trying to make me wear her dresses. Why don’t you meet me over at her place tomorrow evening and we’ll get you all set up?”
“Won’t she be upset, she’s not home, is she?”
Hutton shakes her head. “She won’t care, but I’ll text her anyway just to make sure. Tomorrow at five? We’ll go to dinner after.”
I can’t believe that this is my life. That I have actual girlfriends, friends that care about me and want to help me. I’ve spent so much of my life with Joey that friends weren’t really a priority.
Working is everything that I’ve known. A pang of guilt tugs at me. Charlie. I need to call her, because she’s my friend too and I haven’t heard from her in a while.
“I can do that.” I nod. “I have a meeting in the early afternoon, then I can just meet you there,” I explain.
“A meeting with the school?” Hutton guesses.
My cheeks heat at her question. I don’t know why I’m embarrassed. Maybe because I’m twenty-five and have only ever worked at a grocery store and a strip club. Maybe because Hutton is so accomplished.
“Yeah,” I breathe.
“You’ll be great, Tulip. Honestly, Laurie is desperate for the help. I’ve been coming in and helping, but I don’t really work there anymore, she’s in charge. She also doesn’t want just anyone renting a booth, so it worked out perfectly.”
Nodding my head, I sink my teeth into my bottom lip and start to busy myself, putting my clothes away again. My mind is filled with doubt, tons of self-doubt and my nerves are completely shot just thinking about this meeting.
Thankfully, the conversation is dropped and Hutton starts talking about Laurie and how things are progressing with her and Jesse. Which to me sounds a bit iffy. I hope that everything works out for the best, but it kind of sounds like Laurie may have pushed him too far.
Between me and Hutton, we make quick work of my clothes and I have yet another pile to be donated. Channing instructs me to put it in her car and offers up Rylan’s services to donate it on his way home from work tomorrow.
Thanking them, I give them both a huge hug and promise Hutton that I’ll meet with her tomorrow at Laurie’s right at five o’clock. Standing at the front door of the house, I wave to them as they climb into Channing’s car.
Since Hutton and Beaumont’s place isn’t far from Louis’, Channing picked her up on the way. They both give me a small wave and once the car has pulled far enough down the road that I can’t see the taillights anymore, I close and lock the front door.
Turning around, I press my back to the door and close my eyes with a deep inhale. I’m alone. Really alone, and I promised Louis that I would be okay. It’s only a few days. My flight is booked to see him for the fight and I have a ride to the airport.
I can do this. I will do this and I’ll show Louis that I’m capable. I’m stronger than Silas’ abuse. I’m stronger than any of it.
Opening my eyes, I nod and head into the kitchen to make myself something for dinner, but not before I turn on the television for background noise, because while I feel like I can do this, I know that I won’t be able to do it in silence.
LOUIS
Looking around my Vegas condo, I frown. It should feel like being home, like coming home, but it doesn’t. Not only is Tullie not here, but everything is wrong.
The city is loud, there’s too much concrete and there isn’t any open space to just run. Being here, in this moment, it solidifies my plan to sell the place.
Picking up my phone, I call my realtor. She assures me that she has had a few bites, but that it will take a little longer because of the price point. I thank her for her work and then walk over to the windows that look out over the Strip.
Cars and people are everywhere and it’s everything that Gallup isn’t. Shaking my head once, I look down at my phone and smile. There’s a picture of Tulip on my lock screen. She’s smiling at me, lying on her side.
It’s not pictured, but I know that she was completely naked when I snapped it. I’d just made her come a second time. She looked so gorgeous that I needed to remember the moment forever.
Licking my lips, I find her name in my phone. My thumb hovers over it, but I decide to wait until later tonight to check up on her.
There’s a knock on the door, and I curse, knowing exactly who it is. There are only a few people who know I’m in town.
My publicist and agent are busy setting shit up for this week and fine-tuning details. Aaron is settling into his own place today, along with Shawn. We have an early morning session planned already.
The only other person that it could be is my mother. We didn’t really leave things on the best of terms the last time that she called me. She was sad and I probably wasn’t compassionate enough. With a big inhale, I turn toward the door and tug it open without even looking through the peephole.
Tipping my chin down, I smile at the sight of my mom standing in front of me. She looks tired, her body a bit thinner than the last time that I saw her. Her hair is curled to perfection and I know that she must have just come from the beauty shop.
“Mama,” I murmur, stepping to the side to allow her in.
She takes a couple steps inside, then lifts her gaze to meet mine. “I won’t be moving to Texas with you. Irving and I are back together,” she announces.
I should have called her more. I should have moved her out immediately when she said she would come. I fucking hate that my stepfather has weaseled his way back to her and I hate even more that she’s allowed it.
“I thought that he was gone for good?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.
My mother shrugs and lifts her eyes to stare over my shoulder. She doesn’t want to look me in the eye. She knows that she’s wrong, that she shouldn’t take him back, but she’s doing it anyway, all so that she doesn’t feel alone. She doesn’t realize that she could find real true happiness if she wasn’t so goddamn scared.
“What?” she asks. “Why aren’t you talking?”
Shaking my head, I sigh as I turn my head to the side. Pressing my lips together, I shift my gaze back to her. “I just want you happy, Mama. If he’s what truly makes you happy, this is your life, not mine.”
“I don’t know if I’m happy, but this is where I belong, Louis. One day you’ll understand that. Marriages aren’t easy, you have to work at them.”
“Working on a marriage isn’t the same as being sucked completely dry, mind, body, money, and soul by someone.”
My mama nods her head once, she knows that Irving is a dick. She knows that he uses her, she knows that if he was a good man, she wouldn’t be working her fingers to the bone while he sits around on his fat ass, cheats on her, and treats her like shit.
“I met someone. I’m going to propose after this fight. If you want to meet her, she’ll be in town the day of the fight and then a few days afterward,” I say, changing the subject.