Chapter 1
Salene looked at her phone GPS for the fourth time and back at thelarge brick ranch-style house. Of course, this would be a time where Google didnot have a street view of the location. Double checking the address buried inher email, she wanted to make sure she did not miss anything. Amber, her bestfriend from college, had sent her the address a while ago when her and herhusband bought the place, that had been some months ago, though. Her andAmber's friendship was a little sporadic to say the least.
Since rooming together in college, they kept in touch about once amonth more so, on Salene's part, but that was just something to be expectedwith Amber. Parking her beat up Corolla near the curb, Salene looked out herrear view mirror to see the dingy U-Haul lettering staring back at her in thereflection. Sighing heavily she thought of how out of place her old blueCorolla pulling a mini U-Haul looked in the quiet upscale neighborhood.
Getting out of the car she clutched her purse strap for fortitude.For the past week, she has been trying to contact Amber about her diresituation, but Salene has not been able to get a hold of her. Reaching thebeautifully carved brown door, she rang the doorbell, hopefully Amber was home.Amber got lucky like she always seemed to, and found a guy almost immediatelyafter college and pretty much became a housewife, though she would never own upto the title. Amber claimed she uses the opportunity to work on her book—a bookthat no one has ever heard any details about.
Checking her watch Salene noted it was a little before noon. Thatwas good because that meant Amber had to be home, most likely asleep. Also goodbecause that would mean her dick of a husband should be at work as well. Thesound of the bolt clanking back into the door allowed Salene to let out a largesigh of relief. When the door pulled back and revealed the person holding it,however, Salene's stomach dropped.
Eye level with his neck Salene slowly and dreadfully brought hergaze to the familiar cold green eyes. Gabriel Breslin stood in the doorway in apair of sweats and a wrinkled looking gray shirt. His sandy-brown almost blondehair was tussled and in desperate need of a cut, along with his far past fiveo'clock shadow. Green eyes narrowed darkly as he met her gaze directly.
"Hi Gabriel," she tried to ignore the sudden tension inthe air between them. Salene had only met Gabriel three or four times since hisand Amber's whirlwind romance followed by an elopement style marriage and eachtime they hit it off like oil and water. "Is Amber here?"
Gabriel's gaze darkened as he crossed his arms and stepped furtherthrough the threshold, crowding her slightly. "Are you serious?" Hisvoice rumbled out like waves.
Taking a small step backward Salene frowned at his question. Shedid not have time for his games.
"Look, I am sorry I woke you up or something," shegestured towards him and his obvious bed tumbled state of dishevelment. "Ireally need to speak to Amber and I have been trying to reach her all weekbut…"
"She is gone," he mumbled darkly while glancing over hershoulder towards her vehicle and unsightly U-Haul trailer.
Self-conscious she clutched her purse strap tighter as shefidgeted from one foot to the other.
"What do you mean she is gone? What time is she coming…"
At that, his bright green eyes snapped back at her.
"She is not coming back," he said evenly, not botheringto hide his growing anger. "Amber and I are through, she left."
Salene's heart plummeted, as he pretty much destroyed her lasthope with the news. Everything had been hinging on her best friend to pullthrough, and just like that Salene was truly out of options.
Giving her an impatient scowl he cocked his head to the side."So now you know, are we done?"
Numb from the rolling tide of worries and shock that hit her allat once she nodded silently. Immediately the door slammed shut in her face.Slowly Salene turned around following the sidewalk through the neatly trimmedyard back to her car.
Mindlessly almost in a trance, Salene drove out of the ritzyneighborhood. Not sure where to go or what to do next, pulling into the nearbyStarbucks she looked for a place to park. Thankfully it had a large parking lotwhich allowed her to park her car and trailer there without fuss. Turning offthe engine to conserve gas, Salene rolled down the windows. Though it was lateSeptember in Dallas, Texas, it was still really warm out.
Well that is good, Salene thought with a morose laugh as sheleaned her head back on the car seat, she would rather her first night as ahomeless person not be a cold one.
Chapter 2
Life is just notfair.
When she was incollege Salene had everything planned out. After graduating she would get agreat job at some big advertising firm, she would buy herself a cute startertownhouse, and live the bachelorette lifestyle for a few years. Once she hadher fill of that life, she would meet Mr. Right, rent out her townhouse, movein with him, have kids, and then die. That was it, not asking too much really.
In college,Salene worked really hard to keep up her grades for her scholarships and whatthey did not pay she took out small loans. After she had graduated Salene wasthrilled to be offered a job right out the gate with the city of Dallas attheir public information office. Sure it was not her dream job, but she waslucky to have a job in scope of her degree unlike a lot of other graduates. Butdespite all the hard work she had done, she found herself laid off after almosta year. It was like her whole world was turned upside down and shaken for itscontents. The little savings she did have was depleted after two months ofendless job searching and paying the fees to break her recently signedtwelve-month lease.
The small amountof furniture and things she just bought for her new home Salene was forced tosell. Now all her worldly possessions were crammed in her ancient Corolla andthe tiny U-Haul trailer she bought off craigslist. Her last hope was Amber, buttrue to form Amber did what she did best—let her down.
Watching twowomen sit and talk through the Starbucks window Salene tried to think why sheever became friends with Amber. By every right, they should not have beenfriends, much less be supposed best-friends.
Amber was hercomplete opposite. Amber was tall blonde and skinny while Salene was an averageheight, brown hair, and a size ten. Her weight was what her dad would call a"healthy" weight. Though her size D breasts made her look heavier.Amber was literally walking perfection. Nice normal size boobs, long blondehair, deep blue eyes, and the type of figure all clothes were made for.Unfortunately, her blessings did not seem to stop there. Where Salene had tohustle for money for school, Amber's was paid in full by her family. Even whenthey graduated, Amber immediately met supposed Mr. Right and ran off to a lifeof relaxed luxury. Though despite all that Salene did not care, she reallyenjoyed hanging out with Amber. There were so many fun memories they shared itwas easy to look past the continuous flakiness.
Sighing, Saleneclosed her eyes when she noticed the Starbucks sign light up due to thedarkening sky. No, she would not project her anger over her dire situation on Amber,this was not her fault. Though she had been trying for nearly two weeks to geta hold of her, Salene was positive there was some logical reason. Maybe it hadsomething to do with her leaving that asshole Gabriel.
A gust of coolwind prompted her to roll up her window. Eyeing her half tank of gas, shequickly turned the car off again. Now what? Every game plan she has made thusfar had blown up in her face. With only a couple hundred dollars to her nameand all of her possessions padlocked in a trailer attached to her car, she didnot have much in the way of options. Despite living in Dallas for nearly ayear, Amber was the only other person she knew well enough to call in a timelike this.
An employeecarrying out trash to the dumpster eyed her suspiciously before going backinside. Looking around the now closing coffee shop, she wondered how long shecould stay here before being ran off by the police or something. It was a niceneighborhood, and she was sure her eyesore of a vehicle and trailer raisedsuspicion. Taking out her phone she began Googling less ritzy neighborhoodsthat might be safe enough for her to park in.
