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I cross my arms over my chest. “Carly said I can stay. Until I’m sorted, not just for tonight. Nice try. Listen you guys, have you talked to my brother?”
“No,” Kevin says. “Not seen him since last night when he disappeared into the back bedroom with Trace.”
“Could you possibly do me a favor?” I ask Sedge.
“Sure, babe,” he says and he’s looking me over like he likes what he sees.
Not happening. A) he walks around with a giant spider on him that he calls Gramma and b) not happening anyway.
“Could you text me Tracey’s number so I can try to track Shane down?” I ask.
“Sure thing.” He lifts his phone out of his pocket.
I ramble off my number.
“Do it in the elevator on your way out,” Austin suggests and then he waves them out and slams the door in their faces. He locks it.
“Wow,” I stare at him. “Rude.”
Time to change tact. I have to see if he’ll give me that job. This is my last kick at that can.
I hate how timid I feel, but I do. Timid and desperate.
His phone rings again. He answers it. “Yeah?”
And his eyes flash with something I can’t decipher and then settle on me. “Oh, hey. How are you?” His voice has gone soft. “Oh, okay… Yeah… Oh. Here, I’ll pass you to her.” He hands me his phone and I see it says “Aiden” on the screen as I put it to my ear.
“Hello?”
“Hi Jada.”
“Hi Carly.” I feel my face go hot. A) because Austin is staring at me and B) because I’m suddenly so embarrassed about the texts, about the voicemails, about the fact that I’m here at all.
“Listen, I’m really sorry, Jada, but I have bad news. We just got off the phone with the NYPD and it looks like the guy who was arrested for using Aiden’s credit card is named Shane Miller.”
My heart plummets.
I grab the counter for stability and then see the glass bowl and for a second forget that the spider is gone, and I shriek, moving away and colliding with Austin, who catches me.
I look up at him and for a moment I’m frozen. For a moment, the sensation of big, strong arms around me, catching me – I want to just fall apart right there. But I know I can’t do that. Because he didn’t mean to catch me. He wouldn’t hold me through a breakdown and stroke my hair, whisper words that would make me believe things might be okay.
“Jada?” Carly inquires.
“Oh my God,” I whisper into the phone.
Austin lets go of me and backs up, a look like he wishes he didn’t even touch me slashing across his face.
“I know,” she says softly, “I’m so sorry. Listen… I know what you’re feeling. My sister is in jail, she… she had a severe drug problem. I know you said your brother is bi-polar, but it sounds like drugs are a factor, and… I can relate. I can so relate. Never in a million years did I think I’d have my wedding day and not have her there by my side. But…yeah, I feel you.”
“I’m sorry about your sister, Carly. Wha-what happened with Shane? Can you tell me everything they said?”
“He used the card to take a cab, used the tap feature and again to buy booze and stuff at a store a few blocks away, and then he was found beating up an ATM trying to make it give him cash with the card. The machine took the card because he kept entering the wrong PIN so he got caught beating it up.”
My eyes close and I bite my lip.
“And they found drug paraphernalia on him and something with drug residue. He’s also resisted arrest and punched a cop. He dropped Aiden’s name saying he had permission to use the card. Honey, I think you should… I mean, I have no right to give you advice, and Aiden won’t press charges himself, but the bank probably will and there’s the drugs and the cops’ll probably lay charges for the other stuff.”
“Yeah,” I whisper.
She continues, “But I know where you’re at right now, sort of, and I think you should let him stay in there. Maybe he’ll get the help he needs because he won’t have access to drugs and maybe they’ll get him on medication for his other issues.”
A sob tears from my throat.
A sob of despair braided with relief. I sink against the wall and slide on my socks to the floor. I curl into myself, Austin’s phone still against my ear.
“I’m so sorry, Jada. We’re happy for you to stay there. You can use the spare bedroom. I got your email address from Aiden and sent you an transfer of some money to tide you over. Austin’s a little resistant about the job idea but I’ll work on him. If that doesn’t work, I’ll see if we can use you in the New York office in an admin capacity or something, so you can get on your feet. Today, don’t worry, just… know you’ve got a place to stay and some cash to tide you over.”
