“I made progress.” I updated them on what I’d figured out.
“That is great. Grace buying the drug is good. And yeah, we cankeep you in your place for the semester, so you have a place. What’s your rent?” Carlos asked.
I added up rent and utilities and told him.
“That’s it? My beauty budget is more than that. We’ve got you, Hale,” Fiona assured.
“Why?” My chest shook.
“Because that’s what packs do. That’s what people who care about each other, who love each other, do,” she told me. “I love you, too.”
“I love you both.”
We talked for a few more minutes. Finally, Carlos ended the conversation with a promise to call us later.
“Come on.” Fiona slid off my lap and took my hand.
I followed her up to the second floor and into the pack bedroom. She pushed me into her nest. It was this small offset room, like a walk-in closet, without all the clothes bars and shelves, and shit, with a sliding door. Fiona filled it with pillows, blankets, beanbag chairs, and other shit. The inset floor held a mattress.
Fiona flopped on top of me and pulled a blanket over us. “I’ve got you. Personally, I think it’s a green flag when an alpha cries because their dad was shitty to them.”
“Thanks, Puddin’.” I wrapped my arms around her. “I’m not always a fuckup.”
“I know. And I can be more than a silly, rich omega that spends her dads’ money.” Her forehead touched mine. “I believe in you.”
“That means everything.” I held her tighter. How did I get all of this?
But I was grateful.
“Your dad stole your money?” Her brow furrowed.
“Mumsy. She mistakenly cleared and closed the account when they left the country.” I sighed. “It’s been a year and a half and she still hasn’t paid it back, even though she said she would.”
“Was it an education fund or a savings account with both yournames on it?” she asked.
I thought for a moment. “It was an education fund my grandparents originally set up for me. We each had one. There wasn’t a ton of it, but it would have helped.”
“Yeah, I don’t think they can do that.”
“They did.” I shrugged. “The parents are not good with money. They did shit like that to Verity, too. Like using her cow money to pay for medical shit, without telling her, then being mad at her, when years later she found out the farmers never got the cows, and asked about it.”
Fiona blinked. “What?”
“But she ended up getting him the cows. I mean she sent them to his office, but it’s all good. They’re mates now. The cows actually live on AJ’s sister’s farm,” I explained.
She nodded. “I’ll have your sister tell me that story at Carlos’ next home game. We can have a lawyer send a letter. Not sue them. Yet. Just a letter.”
I shook my head. “It’s fine.”
“It’s not. Also, think of it this way, you asked and set a deadline, this will reinforce it.”
“I don’t know.” I sighed. “Mercy doesn’t know they took hers. I never told anyone about either. Shit, I need to text Grace. I’m not sure Dad is safe. He said something that worried me.”
I texted Grace my concerns.
Fiona was studying me. “Why do you let yourself struggle when you have a rich sister willing to pay for everything?”
“Because they have a point about learning to take care of myself. I took enough to keep the struggle at a minimum, but not enough that I didn’t have to work. I need to learn how to budget, how to balance things, and how much things actually cost. My life is not that shitty. I like my job. Though things would be easier if I didn’t work there this semester, and I want to spend the most days here in New York with you,” I admitted.
