“Sure.”
“Now?”
He wasn’t even gonna ease me into it.
“Alright. With a few rules. Yeah, tough shit,” I said when he rolled his eyes. “You stay in Manhattan. No hopping boroughs. Not until you understand them more, at least.”
“Fine. What else?”
“No headphones. I want you aware of your surroundings.”
“Anything else?”
“Home for dinner.”
“What time is dinner?”
“Seven?”
“You think Char’s gonna wait until seven?” The smirk he shot me reminded me of why it was worth it to put up with all the moody bullshit. There were still moments where I saw the real personality beneath it all.
“Probably not without dragging me to get a ‘sweet treat’ this afternoon.”
“Pro tip,” he said, getting up and sliding his feet into his shoes, “find a sweet treat place close to a bookstore. Or she’s gonna drag you all over the city.”
“You’re not wrong,” I agreed. “Phone charged?” I asked as he picked it up.
“Eighty-seven.”
“Alright. Don’t go flashing this around,” I told him as I pulled a wad of cash out of my pocket.
There was a gut-punch sensation at handing it over.
The cash was dwindling down.
But I had money coming. It wouldn’t be the kind of money that came from working my own jobs, but it would be steady, something I could rely on while I got back on my feet. And once I started making connections again, I could get in on everyone else’s jobs, getting a slice of those profits.
If I hustled hard during school hours, I could be feeling a lot more comfortable in three months. By then, the money for the house would be in, too. Things would be easier. There was no reason to panic about the cash flowing out.
“I get you’re probably gonna buy some stupid shit, but get some clothes too.”
He nodded as he shoved the cash into his wallet.
“What’s for dinner?”
“You and your sister can fight it out. I don’t care. But I’m not cooking.”
“Haven’t tried the pizza yet.”
“Which is a fucking sin. That shit in our old town can barely be called pizza.”
“She’s gonna want chicken nuggets.”
“They’ll have them,” I said, following him out into the hall.
“Where are you going?” Charlotte asked when her brother went to the door alone.
“Shopping.”
