AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She looks away as if the sight of me disgusts her and snarls at Trey. My anger heightens. I hate being looked at as if I’m beneath someone, but itreallypisses me off when that disdain is directed at someone I care about.
The three of us rush down the hall, and I don’t speak again until we’ve made it outside.
“What the hell were you thinking?” I yell at Trey as we head to my car. “You could’ve been arrested!”
Trey looks at me, his eyes flickering with regret and humiliation. “Gloria needed supplies for daycare and food. Mom wouldn’t give me the money, so I had to get them another way.”
I swallow hard. “Why didn’t you come to me?”
“I can’t always come to you. You bought us new clothesandpaid for my football equipment. It’s not fair to always ask you for money.” His attention goes to the ground, and he kicks at pebbles with his shoe. “It’s pathetic enough that Mom always begs you for it and then spends it on booze.”
“I would much rather give you the money than her, Trey. I give her money to help you and Gloria. Don’t ever feel ashamed about asking me for help. Do you hear me? If you or Gloria need something, you come tome.You don’t shoplift!”
Kyle clears his throat, and we both look at him. I forgot he was here.
He tips his head toward the corner of the parking lot and focuses on me. “Can I talk to you for a sec?”
“Of course.” I grab my keys from my purse and hand them to Trey. “I’ll meet you in the car in a minute.”
Trey grabs them and walks away. I scrub at my eyes before dragging my hands over my face and meet Kyle. We’re facing each other, and his hands settle on my shoulders before he takes a step back, as if he’s inspecting me.
“You okay?” he asks.
I nod. “Yes, just a little pissed off. I can’t believe Trey would shoplift. I’ve told him a million times, if he needs something, call me. Instead, he steals, proving to everyone that we’re all the same.”
He lowers his hands to run them over my arms. “Don’t you dare listen to that old bat, you hear me? Block out every fucking word she said to you.”
“What she said wasn’t a lie,” I mutter.
“The fuck it is. The mistakes and wrongdoings of your family don’t define you. Who they are is notyou. What I see when I look at you is a strong woman, a woman who fights for what she wants and takes on responsibilities that aren’t hers to make children’s lives better.”
I don’t want his words to make me feel better, but they do.
He’s giving me all the feels.
How is this asshole I thought I hated giving me all these good feels?
I inhale a deep breath, and when I move to open my purse, his hands drop, breaking our connection.
“How much do I owe you?”
He shakes his head. “Don’t worry about it.”
“I can pay for my family’s shit, Kyle.”
His eyes soften. “I never said you couldn’t. It’s already taken care of.” He whistles and tilts his head toward my car. “Get Trey out of here before Mrs. Garfield comes out with her shotgun.”
I frown and hitch my bag up my shoulder. “Fine, but we’re talking about this later.”
He smiles. “You’re always welcome in my home.”
10
Chloe
Age Fourteen
My sister is having a baby.
