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Because I’d certainly move with her.
That much I knew. Well, almost. I stopped banking on things a while ago. Nothing in my life was guaranteed, so that’s how I saw everything now. Including this apartment, even though my stepmom wanted me to come with her. I would, too. If the offer still presented itself tomorrow.
But, if my life had taught me anything, it was the fact that twenty-four hours changed a hell of a lot.
Still, having a budget was good. So, for the first time in my life, I started jotting one down. I kept track of everything and rounded to the nearest dollar. I placed some calls. Like to the phone company my father used for our phone plan. Truth be told, now that he no longer had access to my bank account—and I no longer had my trust fund—the only thing connecting the two of us was the phone. I had no more bike. So no more insurance. Once I figured out how to separate myself and get my own phone bill, that was that.
No more strings to Daddy Dearest.
The phone call was long. Much longer than I had anticipated. And I was painfully honest with them. No use beating around the bush. I was moving out. Away from my father, and I wanted a new phone plan. One that didn’t have my phone under his name. There wasn’t much I could do other than open another phone plan under my name and have him eventually disconnect my line. Which I didn’t have an issue with at all. They rattled off their available phone plans and I circled the two in my budget. Then I thanked them for their time.
Seven o’clock came around quicker than I had anticipated. I packed my things up and waved at the girl behind the cash register, thanking them for letting me take up a space. Then I stood in front of the main window of Grady’s Groceries. I smiled as Rae came around the corner, purse in hand and fresh off of work. She rushed outside and laughed, throwing her arms around me.
It felt so good to hold her close.
“What are you still doing here?”
I snickered. “Can’t a guy wait for his girl to get off?”
She grinned. “Cheeky, cheeky.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “I see what’s on your mind, beautiful.”
“Are you going to whisk me home and help me decompress?”
“While that’s a tempting offer, I’m craving ice cream. Care to go get some with me?”
“Trying to make up for the lost milkshake date?”
“Depends. Want to split some fries with me, too?”
She smiled, and it gave me all the answer I needed. She slipped her hand into mine and we walked toward the main road as I tried flagging us a cab. It took a few waves. But eventually, someone pulled over. I opened the door for her and told the driver where I wanted to go. And six minutes later, he pulled into the parking lot of the very busy diner.
“Is that line out the door?” Rae asked.
I groaned. “Well, fuck.”
“Care to get a cone instead? We could walk home while eating them.”
“Are you up for walking home after working this afternoon?”
She shrugged. “If we go slow, sure.”
I grinned. “Slow and steady is my specialty.”
She shoved me playfully and I laughed as I paid the driver. We hopped out and pushed our way inside, then placed our to-go order for ice cream cones. Rae ordered a banana-mocha swirled cone dipped in hardened caramel coating. And that damn thing sounded so good I ordered myself one, too. I paid for the ice cream and we pushed our way back out of the diner, heading in the direction of school.
Keeping a languid pace as we cracked into the hardened caramel shell.
“Mmm, my God, this damn thing is always so good.”
I moaned. “I’ve never had the hardened shell before.”
Rae gasped. “Oh, you wound me, Clint. That hurt. Physically hurt.”
“I think you’ll have to introduce me to more of your favorite treats around this area.?
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