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The measures I’d gone to in order to keep my money out of the hands of my mother had become exponential. It almost made me want to cry. Almost, anyway. I walked over and pulled up the lower corner of my fitted sheet. I jammed my hand into the small slit I’d made in the mattress. Just big enough for my fingers to fit through. I grabbed the wads of cash, shoving them into the purse. One, after another, after another. Until all six of them were safely at my side.
If Mom was going to start sifting through my room, then I had to make sure she wouldn't find anything I intended to keep.
I put the expensive sunglasses I’d kept on top of my head. I packed away the few pieces of jewelry I’d convinced myself to keep. The two silken scarves I was saving for a rainy day. I folded up really tight the couple outfits I had yet to sell. Then I shoved the pair of heels I wore to prom down at the very bottom of that massive purse before zipping it up.
Thank fuck, the bag was huge.
“Wow, looks like you forgot a lot.”
I snickered, coming down the stairs. “Yeah, well. I’m glad you convinced me to come back.”
Mom grinned. “Sometimes I do know best.”
Yeah, maybe. “All right. I’m heading out. I’ll see--”
“Uh uh uh. You forgetting something?”
She held her arms out for me and I internally cringed. I walked over to her and hugged her, feeling her kiss my cheek. Over and over. As if she weren’t ever going to see me again. I hugged her neck one last time before pulling away, and tried my best to give her a reassuring smile.
“Oh, you got those questions?”
I nodded. “They’re in the box.”
“Let me know how it goes!”
“Will do, Mom!”
Then I was back out the door with my purse bursting at the seams with money.
I climbed into the SUV and music hit my ears. Classic rock. A station Clint had gotten Michael hooked on. They were all singing at the top of their lungs as I closed my door. I wasn’t in a singing mood, though. I clutched my purse tightly against my chest as I gazed out the window. Clint’s hand settled onto my knee as I saw my mother peeking her head through the curtains, watching us pull away. And as we got further away from the house, I felt myself growing less and less stressed.
Maybe college wouldn't be terrible after all.
Especially if it came with this kind of peace.
“This is going to be awesome,” Allison said.
Michael nodded. “Are you two okay with me and Allison rooming together?”
I paused. “What?”
Clint squeezed my knee. “Mike and Ally are wanting to bunk together. But don’t worry. The bedrooms have two beds each.”
Allison furrowed her brow. “Why would she be worried about something like that?”
I cleared my throat. “That sounds good. I could use some time with Clint anyway.”
He looked at me. “You could?”
I smiled softly at him. “Yeah, I really could.”
When he smiled back at me, a weight lifted off my shoulders. I slipped my hand on top of his as everyone started talking around me. Michael said something that made Clint laugh. Allison said something that made Michael roll his eyes. The music blared as we headed for the highway, pulling further away from my house. The only place I had called home for the past eighteen years. I had orientation tomorrow morning on campus. Then a tour of campus just after lunch. But, after that? The rest of the time was ours to do with what we wanted.
And as I let my eyes linger over Clint, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.
12
Clinton
