Page 47 of Razor

“I guess.” I shrug. “I just tried to have it out with him, but he doesn’t believe there’s a problem. He’s happy with how things are.”

“I bet he is.”

She rolls her eyes.

“So, you walked away. How did he take that?”

“He didn’t like it.”

She nods. “You did the right thing. A little distance may help. But what happens when he lumbers into the bar tonight and throws you that look they all have.”

“I’m weak; we already know the answer to that.”

Lou chuckles. “It’s easy to walk away and play hard to get. To create distance and make them work for it. That applies to real life, not life in The Rubicon because these guys could turn a nun inside one hot damned minute in their company.”

“You got that right.” I groan out loud. “What am I going to do, Lou?”

“Keep pressing on the wound, honey. One day it will change. He must come to terms with this in his own way first, and then if it’s meant to be, it will.”

“But how long do I give him?”

“As long as it takes, or until you decide this life is not for you and start again.”

“Start again?”

She smiles, but it’s a sad one.

“Many broken angels leave here mended, honey. Not everyone falls for a Reaper. They make their way into the world courtesy of the Reaper scholarship program and go on to live happy lives and meet their soul mate outside these walls. Perhaps you will be one of them. Tell me, what was your dream growing up?”

“To be an actress. Isn’t that every girl’s dream in Los Angeles?”

“Then what did you do about it?”

“Nothing. I worked at my father’s waffle house because I was all he had.”

“And now? Would you trade this life to follow a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?”

“No,” I smile. “My dream changed. I decided I would prefer to be on the other side of the camera; theatrical makeup, preferably.”

“So, you need college for that and contacts.”

“I do, but it wasn’t an option for me. My mom died when I was two years old, and my father had three young kids to raise and a mountain of debt in the business. College was a dream for our family, and we accepted we would never have the opportunity.”

“But if you had that now, would you follow it?”

“I suppose, but not in Los Angeles.”

I shiver; the memories of what still lurks there are too raw to dwell on.

“Somewhere else, then?”

“Perhaps.”

She grins. “There. You have a plan, at least. Think on it, and if you ever want to cash in on the Reaper scholarship fund to a college of your choice, come and find me. I’ll make it happen.”

Tears mist my eyes as Lou shifts the burden a little, and I whisper, “You were right. It appears that a problem sharedisa problem halved.”

“I’m always right, honey. Brewer will tell you that.”