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She’s like a sister to me, and I would never harm her or add to her already anxious mind.
“Busted,” I tease.
Pouting my bottom lip, I beg, “Just one drink, Brin? So you can see the club is much safer now that they added the new security.”
She closes one book then opens another. “I have studying to do.” Her eyes flick up to catch mine. “You should also be studying if you hope to pass your exam next week.”
Waving the comment away, I play it off that the exam is no big deal.
Really, it is. I’m barely passing my classes, but again, I don’t let her know.
“Piece of cake.”
“Yet I haven’t seen you crack a book once.”
The suspicious arch to her eyebrow is all she needs to say. If not for Brin, I wouldn’t still be in school. Not that I’m advancing all that quickly or have any hope of earning a bachelor’sdegree.
College is my brother’s dream for me because he doesn’t want me to turn out like our mother. While lying to him and Brinley that everything is okay, I already know the walls are slowly caving in.
Nothing about my life right now is easy.
Not work.
Not Granger.
Not my living situation.
And definitely not school.
If I don’t figure something out in the next couple weeks, I’ll have to admit to everybody that I’m an epic failure when it comes to just about everything.
Changing the subject, I offer, “You don’t have to drive me tonight. I can take an Uber.”
Not that I can afford it. But that’s not her problem.
“I’ll drive you,” she answers on a yawn. “It’ll be good for me to get away from this library for an hour or so.”
Her eyes flick up to mine.
“Will Granger be taking you home? Or do I need to pick you up when you get off?”
A deep sigh rolls over my lips. “Most likely Granger will take me home. So don’t worry about staying up.”
Brin yawns again then attempts a weak smile. “I don’t mind staying up. Gives me more time to study.”
Right.
And more time to worry.
My attempts have failed. And I know when to give up. Brin is not yet ready to venture out into the world again.
That fact is made even more apparent two hours later when she practically peels out of the Myth parking lot after dropping me off. I stare at her car as it turns onto the street then hauls ass away, dust flying up from the tires.
Sighing, I turn to look at the club.
Its run-down façade is in complete opposition to the sleek decor inside. Somehow it looks more rundown today with peeling paint and decaying wood in places I’m sure don’t threaten the structural integrity. Despite looking like it hasn’t been kept up since the feed business closed, I know that the building is sound.
The front door opens as I approach it. Patrick steps out, his big brown eyes assessing me.
