He huffs. “I’ll text you.”
His tone betrays his words.
Chapter 3
Cecilia
Trena is silent as she drives through Henry’s neighborhood. She’s never seen me worked up like this. I usually just move on when things go wrong. But Henry saying I’m not fun…
He’s such an ass.
I should have ended things a while back, but his money allowed us to do things—the only reason I didn’t leave him or this boring town sooner.
Does that mean I used him? I shake off the yuck. No one forced him to stay with me. It’s on him for not being honest. Telling me where his head was would have been far easier to hear than Trena telling me where his dick was.
Enough of that. I roll the window down and tilt my head out.
My mind moves on to more exciting things, like the dad bod. Could I hook up with someone older like that? There was something about him. Something confident. Something familiar. Something possessive. I bet he’d know how to take care of a treasure like me.
“Who was that guy?” Trena doesn’t need to clarify who she’s asking about.
“I should have introduced myself. Turn around.”
“Ewww… no. He’s so old. And—”
“Older, wiser, and I wish you could have seen the look in his eyes.”
She accelerates. “Cecilia, no! You broke up five seconds ago.”
“Broke up… as in, I’m single.”
“No rebound shenanigans. Let’s get cinnamon rolls and discuss that escape plan you mentioned.”
The tables are full when we get to the diner, so Trena and I take a seat at the counter, and as Bev passes, I say, “Two cinnamon rolls, please.”
I instantly hate myself for being the type of customer who thinks they’re the center of the universe, but Bev nods. “Got it.”
I type ‘fun places to live’ into my phone and cringe at the results. Minimum wage is going to be a problem. “What if we just pack up our shit and drive from town to town until something hits?”
Trena scrolls on her phone. “I’m not living out of my car.”
“What’s going on?” Bev slides the cinnamon rolls to us. “I didn’t realize how serious you were this morning.”
“I hate to leave you short-handed, Bev, but I’ve gotta get out of this town.”
“Do what ya gotta do. Just put it in writing and try to give me two week’s notice.” She pats my hand then pulls out her ordering pad, noting the cinnamon rolls. “Anything else? Sodas to fully ensure the carb coma?”
I wish I could be as kind as her, but I’m not wired that way. I reach for her pad and pen. She lets me have them.
Flipping to the first blank page, I tear it out and write:I’m outta here, ASAP. Cecilia
“Asslowlyas possible.” Bev winks at me. “Good, cause I’m gonna miss your enthusiasm kiddo.”
The giant cinnamon roll barely fits in my hand, and the icing makes me a sticky mess. I give up on my search for a fun place to live.
Trena uses a fork and is able to continue modifying the searches on her phone. “I found it.”
At least I think that’s what she said, but now she’s choking. I ball my sticky fingers and pound on her back with the clean edge of my fist. She throws an elbow my way, just skimming me.
