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It was Clarice.
“Darling,” she purred, and I lost my footing for a moment because she sounded so…happy.
I hadn’t expected her to call. I’d expected a text firing me, or just never hearing about another gig at all.
I’d certainly not expected this…whatever this was.
“Hi Clarice,” I said carefully.
“You naughty girl. You didn’t tell me you were dating Lincoln Daniels. It’s absolutely delightful.”
“Well, we’re not—” I began.
“Nonsense. You two were the talk of the party. You mustn’t deny it, dear. I told everyone how it couldn’t have happened to a nicer girl.”
Shit. Of course she did. And I’m so sure that’s what she’d said. Insert sarcasm, of course. Clarice was a viper.
“Now, I know you’re probably caught in your little love bubble this week, but next week I’ve got some wonderful jobs lined up. Maybe we can even talk about moving you up from waitstaff.”
I felt sick to my stomach. Her words like hot oil on my skin. I wasn’t even dating the guy and already, people were trying to use me.
I was all for moving up in my jobs; I needed the money desperately…but not like this.
“We’ll talk later, tata,” she said, before abruptly hanging up without me saying a word.
I shook my head and walked outside, staring up at the sky that, while I’d been working, had gone from a perfect blue to a canvas of deep, swirling clouds, the kind that promised a storm was coming. There was a charged electricity in the air that prickled at my skin and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I walked quickly down the sidewalk, wanting to get back to my place before the storm broke. Just then, though, like the crack of a whip, the thunder rumbled overhead, making me jump.
I looked up, watching as the lightning sliced through the sky like a jagged knife, illuminating everything in stark relief. It was both beautiful and terrifying. I shivered, from the cold and the anticipation, as I walked.
I usually hated the rain, but there was something thrilling about this storm. Like it was a signal that something was coming…
* * *
It had indeed started raining on the walk back, and by the time I’d gotten home, I was a sodden, soaked mess. I’d had to walk the entire way since the bus was delayed because of the storm, so I’d gotten home with just enough time to grab my backpack. I didn’t even bother changing; I would be soaked on the way to my classes anyway. Next paycheck, I really needed to invest in an umbrella.
I rushed down the sidewalk, desperate not to be late since the professor of tonight’s class was a hard-ass. And the whole time, I kept thinking that Lincoln hadn’t called…or texted.
Regardless of who he’d turned out to be, I’d come to rely on the comfort that came from my phone stranger. At least once a day, he’d send something that would make me laugh.
I missed…smiling.
It was for the best, though. That was why I’d pushed him away to begin with.
A smile wouldn’t feed me. A smile wouldn’t ensure I didn’t end up like Mama.
I resembled a drowned rat as I stepped into class. Connor tried to get my attention, gesturing to the empty seat next to him, and I pretended not to see him as I went to the opposite side of the room and slunk into my seat. He’d somehow ended up with a black eye after our disastrous dinner, which he claimed was caused by an errant football. It had healed, for the most part, but unfortunately it hadn’t knocked any sense into him that I wasn’t interested.
Some girls giggled as I wrung out my hair, and a literal puddle of water fell to the floor. I laughed weakly and prayed class would pass quickly.
Professor Watkins strode in, appearing much more cheerful than usual. Giddy, in fact. There was a flush to her cheeks and some of her hair had fallen from its severe bun. I exchanged a smirk with the girl next to me.
“Class—” she clapped her hands and practically jumped in the air. “We have a surprise guest today, here to talk about his incredible career. A star in our midsts for sure.”
Sparks burst in my chest, caused by both anticipation and dread. I mean, surely…it couldn’t be.
“Please give a loud round of applause…for Lincoln Daniels!” She practically shrieked his name like a thirteen-year-old at a boy band concert.
And then there he was.
