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Then I dove in, pumping my arms and legs lazily beneath the water. Swimming was the only activity besides sparring that allowed the stress to fade away. It took longer, doing laps back and forth the length of the pool that was lit from within, to feel it: the burn in my muscles, the ache of my lungs when I hold my breath.
But tonight was different. My desperation to survive was clawing at me like a wild animal trapped in a corner. My car was dead. Yes, I could take the bus, but I hated having to adhere to a schedule. With my own vehicle, there was no waiting, no smelly passengers. I needed to talk to Romero.
My eyes closed as I shook my head, letting the rush of emotions I knew had been brewing finally rise to the surface. Though the manager of Jean’s Shoes and Repairs was a sweet guy, he didn’t have the hours I needed to be able to catch up. Not to mention my free time was drastically cut now that I was preparing to take on a full school schedule.
There’s no other way. Money isn’t going to rain from the sky. A bank wouldn’t give me a loan, but he would. But I wasn’t going to take Romero’s money. Not for free anyway.
With the sun dipping behind the trees and painting the sky with orange and pink streaks, I rose from the pool and hurried inside.
I tugged on the grey dress I wore to orientation just as the doorbell chimed below. The muffled sounds of masculine laughter echoed up to the second floor before fading away into the den.
I sighed, taking my phone out of my back pocket, and called the only person in the world that could provide advice and perspective.
Her cheery voice filled the speaker after the first ring, along with loud music.Great, I caught her at a party.“Hey, Jules! How goes it with your dad?”
I barked a harsh, grating laugh that gave away my discomfort. “He’s not my dad; I’ve only known him for five years. Everything’s fine and we’re getting along.” Frowning, I added, “Where are you?”
“Work. Yale isn’t going to pay for itself. It’s my last night before my flight tomorrow.”
My cheeks heated. “Oh, right. I’ll let you go—”
“Wait a second, missy! Why do you sound so glum?”
My friend Arie was beautiful and had far fewer scruples than I did when it came to certain things. For instance, she danced naked for money, flaunting every inch of her body while I sold shoes and made pennies by comparison. It was her way of rebelling against her wealthy family’s expectations. Arie had offered to get me a job where she worked, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. The first guy that had looked at me wrong would have gotten a fork in his eye.
“It’s nothing, my car just took its last breath this afternoon and you know, with my hospital bills…”
Arie audibly winced. “Girl, I told you that car was headed for an early grave. Can Romeo not fix it?”
I laughed. She’d been calling him that since she first saw him and decided he was a hot Latino version of Romeo. “No, I’m pretty sure not even Romero can fix it this time.” Iexhaled a long, exasperated breath. “I’ve really fucked myself over, Arie.”
The music grew quieter suddenly—guess Arie had found a quiet room to talk in. “Are you sure you don’t want me to get you an interview here? I’ve already made three hundred dollars and I’ve only been here for an hour.”
My eyes went wide. Arie never struggled to find food to eat, or sacrificed a night’s hotel stay in order to pay car insurance instead. And though she’d stashed a few hundred dollars in my car once or twice, I never let her outright pay for anything. “No, my answer hasn’t changed,” I said, though my voice lacked its usual conviction.
There was a beat of silence, and then, “You should talk to Daddy Romero. I bet he’d be willing to buy you a new car. Hell, if you wagged that firm ass of yours around him a bit, I imagine he’d pay all your bills.”
“Arie!” I scolded, but I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up. Her suggestion was ridiculous, and based entirely on the fact that she had the hots for him.
“Oh hush, he’s fine and you know it. Everyone in California knows it. Seriously though, he cared for your mom and even bought her a house. He’s letting you live there rent-free; what’s a little five-thousand-dollar car to get you to and from school?”
I bit my bottom lip, rolling it between my teeth. “I’m going to ask him to loan me the money for a car.” My firm tone was only partially for Arie’s benefit; mostly it was to convince myself it was a good idea. Getting to my feet, I checked my reflection in the mirror. My hair flowed in golden waves over my shoulders, reaching nearly the middle of my back. I slipped on a pair of hot-pink pumps. I hated the color, but Jean had given them to me, saying no one but myself would look good in them.
Taking my time, I freshened up my mascara and eyeliner, then swiped on a hint of lip gloss. In the mirror I pulled my shoulders back and steeled myself. This was it. I’d go downstairs and ask to talk to Romero in private.
He’d said I shouldn’t interrupt his card game, but this couldn’t wait until midnight or whenever he finished. There would be no sleep for me until I knew whether he could help. It was the way my brain was wired.
I started for the door before I could chicken out.
Chapter Five
JULIETTA
My footsteps were light as I moved through the living room, pausing at the door that led to Romero’s den. Faint laughter echoed from within. There had to be four or five guys down there with him.
Just the thought of prostrating myself in front of his friends made my face hot. However, dropping out of college before classes even began because I couldn’t afford a bus pass sounded worse.
I gripped the door handle and turned it. The door creaked slightly as I pushed it open, but the voices carrying up from the basement didn’t quiet, which told me they hadn’t heard. I started down the steps, my heart beating erratically.
