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“Bret, do what you can,” I nod to him and he nods back, to Lara I say, “Pick up what you need in town. Nick is waiting to take you. The maid comes on Thursdays. She didn’t bother with the other rooms because nobody’s been using them.”
“I bet she was still getting paid the same though.” Lara gives me the—You’re stupid—look again.
I don’t know whether to be happy that she’s here to shake things up…or to be angry that she’s testing me. I choose a middle ground and say, “Move your ass. Dinner is at 6:30pm.”
Chapter Six
Nick
Lara gets in the passenger side of the old Chrysler panel van…she looks glum. I suppose that’s to be expected.
I pat her on the thigh and give her a reassuring smile. She forces a polite half-smile back at me, then starts playing with the radio.
Once we’re on the road, she starts pushing the buttons like she’s looking for a station that doesn’t exist.
The drive into town isn’t the shortest one so we’re going to have to talk at some point.
There’s also only so many dry hills you can look.
I want to ask her about the kiss from earlier, but I don’t think now is the right time—instead I tap her on the thigh again, “Hey, you alright?”
She huffs and turns the radio off, “Just a little off balance, still processing.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Did you know that Dom has been sending me money every month?”
Huh?“No, I didn’t.”
“Yeah, well it looks like he’s been paying for my education, my living expenses, my fucking car…everything. I had no idea. Every piece of food I’ve eaten for years…basically…Dom paid for it. Luke told me not to ask when I started getting the money. After he was gone, I just assumed it was a life insurance policy or something.”
“People like us don’t get life insurance, Lara.”
“Yes, well…I’m acutely aware of that fact now.”
She gets a grumpy look on her face and I’m not sure what to say next. She’s obviously not thinking about the kiss. Why would she? A bomb just dropped in her lap.
She sighs, “I don’t like feeling beholden to anyone. It’s like I’m obligated to do this fucking three-month bullshit now. I mean, how can I not? If I insist on leaving, Dom will stop sending money. I’ll be fine because residency is a paid position and I’ve got enough to last me till I start but…”
“But?”
“I’d look like the most ungrateful bitch in the world.” She puts her hands over her face.
“Yeah, you would,” I agree with her. “I think you should stay and do this.” Personally, I just want to keep her around—selfish, I know,but it’s also the right thing to do.
She looks out the window for a full minute. She really has a very different impression of Dom than we do.
“Listen,” I squeeze her thigh…mostly because I want to touch her. “I don’t know what arrangement Dom had with Luke, but I know that he wouldn’t stop sending the money. He’d provide for you till you can provide for yourself. Dom’s a man of his word.”
She turns to me, chewing the inside of her cheek.
“Youcouldleave if you really, really wanted to, but the honorable thing to do is to stay.”
She nods and forces another half-smile, “Yeah, it won’t be so bad. You’re here, so are Cassidy and Bret. The VP room is better too. Do you know where we can buy some new sheets and stuff?”
“Yeah, we’re almost there.”
Whew.
