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A mess? Trouble? What was the difference when a person was describing their sister as a mess? It wasn’t reassuring. I should have told him to fuck off already. I normally would have, but something was stopping me. I couldn’t put a finger on the feeling. I couldn’t be curious. No way. Concerned? Maybe?Why would a guy I wasn’t exactly close with want his sister to stay at my place?
“And if I say no?” I asked.
“She’ll stay at a motel until Michael leaves.”
“I know Michael’s a prick, but is he so bad you want to keep your sister away from him?”
“Trust me. Genie doesn’t like him. She won’t stay while he’s here, and I don’t blame her.”
Fuck. Why wasn’t I saying no. “Just a week?”
“Michael’s apartment will be finished next week, so yeah, just until then.”
“She can stay until he’s gone.”
Why did I agree to that madness? I wasn’t what I’d call nice or helpful. I’d get nothing but the inconvenience of having a stranger in my home.
Edwin let out a breath before saying, “Thanks, man. I owe you.”
I ran my fingers through my hair. “I’m not home much, so your sister better not be a problem.”
“She’s not. She’s not.”
Why did I get the feeling he was lying? I should have said no.
SEVEN
Eugene
I was going to kill my brother. Stay with a friend of his? One I didn’t know, which would be the way of things, since he made all new ones when he moved to the opposite side of the state. Men, in general, sucked most of the time—plain and simple. I loved my brother, but I couldn’t stand most of his friends growing up. There were no innocent crushes, either. I’d been sneaking into my gran’s Harlequin romance books since I was eleven. When I read about those sexy and heroic men, then saw how teenage boys acted?Bleh.
But I was still a hormonal, curious teen who read things she shouldn’t, so I got sexual way too early because of it. If I could go back, I would have changed some horrible experiences, butyou live and you learn.
I thought of my ex, Jared, and my insides knotted. He was one lesson I wished I never had to experience.
I deserved more in life than I allowed myself when it came to the opposite sex. Since I was almost thirty and still doing absolutely nothing I wanted in life, fear had set in. I’d been obsessed with love when I was a teen because of all the romance books I read. I wasted a lot of time trying to make my partners happy. One guy wanted me to stay home while he worked. I did, and my soul was chipped away in the process. I spent a year with him before I had to leave. I’d been cheated on and lied to, enough that I was over it.
Before any man, family taught me how little I could depend on anyone. Anytime my parents popped in at Gran’s growing up, it was to ask for money or her vehicle. If Gran didn’t comply, my sperm donor would threaten to take Edwin and me from her. Anytime they mentioned us was the only moment I remembered my gran looking fearful. Our so-called family took advantage of her so much, and she allowed it. My two aunts were the same way about using Gran. The door was in constant use during my childhood. People were in and out of the trailer, asking something from Gran. For such a proud woman, she let her kids get away with everything. Aunt Cheryl had been a good soul, but she always chose men who abused and used her. In the end, she became no different than the men who hurt her.
Being in love must be a trick. I should have learned my lesson during my childhood. Regardless, I knew those days.Depend on yourself, Eugene.Don’t become like those who aggravated Gran.And for goodness’s sake, don’t trust a man again.
Love was better in books. I could turn on my Kindle and read whatever type of man I wanted at the time. It was convenient and satisfying, no matter what anyone said. Once I stopped dating two years ago and focused on me and my needs, I became happier.
The problem was that I’d made good money working for a lawyer. Between the pay and my cheap apartment, I had saved so much within two years, and that income was gone along with Danny.
I tried not to panic about the future, but my thoughts were swirling. I had no money coming in. If I didn’t find work soon, I would have to dip into my savings and find a permanent place to live.
I refused to stay at my brother’s house while Michael was there. My brother, being my brother, found me somewhere to stay, so I didn’t have to spend money on a hotel. Still, it would be awkward to stay with someone I didn’t know. But screw my awkwardness and pride when it came to saving money. Edwin said the man’s name was Hudson and gave me his address, which I put into my car’s GPS.
I hoped he wasn’t a pervert or something. Obnoxious behavior wasn’t worth it to save a dime. I’d give the first night a try, but if I didn’t feel safe, I’d give my brother the biggest smackdown of his life for putting me in that situation. I’d never allow myself to feel afraid of living with someone again. Jared was enough of a mistake.
“What’s this on the floor?” Jared’s voice drifted through my thoughts, and I shuddered. He would come home from work and yell over a speck of dirt on the floor I couldn’t even see.
Stop.I didn’t want to dwell on a mean ex, so I refocused my attention on driving.
I should have asked for a picture of Hudson or his place, at least. My odds with a GPS weren’t the best. To make matters worse, I’d wasted the day spending time with Holly while she worked. It had been nice to confide in her, but I regretted overstaying. I hated driving in the dark.
The interstate was a breeze. I’d only taken one wrong exit along the way, but it became more stressful when I reached Jefferson County—an area made up of small roads and dirt turnoffs. I gave myself another mental fist bump when I didn’t miss the tiny sign for Boogey Lane.
