AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When I’m walking, even though it is safe, I still stay alert by listening intently for anything that could startle me. It’s probably my childhood that makes me always stay on edge. There is a fountain in the middle of downtown that makes a calming bubbling sound, but beyond that, there is the buzzing noise of motorcycles somewhere in the distance.
I’ve never actually seen the motorcycle club that is on the outskirts of town only heard of them, and heard the rumors about them. Dark Horse MC. Those are the kind of men who my mom would probably love, but I stay away from anyone and everyone who would be considered sketchy or bad in any way.
I bite my bottom lip as I continue toward my apartment and think about those rumors, about those men, and wonder if they could be true. Them being bad guys I would believe, but the rest of the gossip?
I doubt it.
No group of men could be that badass or that scary. Maybe individually, but a whole group? How could that many bad guys live in our little small town? It seems impossible for that many to live in one place.
I think about things like this when I walk home, mainly because I can only scroll social media so much before I want to cry. Seeing everyone’s best moments when I know that I have none just makes me sadder.
Everyone I went to high school with is married, has a fabulous career, is traveling or has babies. Meanwhile, I am on the brink of losing everything I have ever dreamed of having.
So I choose to think about stupid things, like how many bad guys could possibly live in one town and wonder why I’ve never seen any of them out in the wild. Then again, I’m not really one who goes out in the wild.
Ever.
In fact, I am the exact opposite of wild in any way.
And I doubt those guys make it to Brookshire’s to buy flour and eggs.
My phone buzzes in my hand with a new text notification. Finding the message app, I frown at the name that’s texted me. I haven’t even read the message, yet I already want to throw my phone across the street.
It’s from my mother. I don’t talk to her often. She’ll text me here and there, but for the most part, she’s happy to pretend that I don’t exist unless it benefits her in some way. This message is different, though.
I stop in my tracks and my stomach flips.
MOM: I need to borrow some money.
Mom?
MOM: Money. I need some.
Why?
My phone rings, and I suck in a breath, holding it for a moment before I slide my thumb across the screen and lift it to my ear. I know she’s going to be shouting at me. I don’t really want to hear it, but if I don’t answer, she’ll keep calling.
“It doesn’t matter why. I’m your mother, and I need money,” she shouts into my ear.
Her defensive words and tone tell me all I need to know.
This is for one of two things—drugs or a man.
In reality, it’s probably both.
My mother has been on prescription pills for as long as I can remember. Doesn’t matter what kind, she will take anything she can get her hands on. As for men, she has a new one every other week, and he’s always the love of her life and broke.
Not that she isn’t broke herself, obviously, since she’s asking me for money.
“I don’t have any,” I reply.
“You’re a liar. You and your fancy little store. You’re telling me that you have no money?” Her voice comes out sharp, and if I were a little kid, I would probably be crying about now.
Also, I’m not sure what she knows about my store since she’s never been there. But my mother always seems to make me cry. I can’t stand it if I think that someone is mad at me. It gives me anxiety like crazy. Then, I overthink it all and bend over backward to make sure that person isn’t upset.
“My store is the reason I have no money. It’s retail, Mom. I have nothing. I don’t even know if I’ll be able to pay my rent this month.”
There is a moment of silence before she snorts. “You’re fucking worthless, Shawn.”
