I tried to act like it was just any other day but whenthe owner, Mr. Peterson, peered into the backroom, I had been re-applying my makeup. I’d only met him a couple times, but he seemed like a nice guy.
“I’ve turned a blind eye to what happens between you girls and the customers back here, but please believe me, I didn’t know anyone was hurting you. I’m so sorry.” The apology fell short. “Kennedy. Go home. Take the week off, I’ll consider it vacation time. You’ll get your full pay. Don’t worry about Hannah and Yasmine; they’ll be okay without your support for a little while. When you come back, things will be different, I promise.”
Sweet, but he obviously didn’t understand how much money Hannah and I pulled in from our activities in the back room. There’s no way the owner would put up a couple thousand of his own dollars to cover my absence.
Slush splashed on my legs, bringing me back to reality. An engine revved as a vehicle sped past me; lost in thought, I hadn’t heard the truck approach. My ears perked up again as a vehicle without headlights slowed to a stop behind me.
I picked up my pace and ran. The car crept closer but didn’t pass. I turned to see what make or model it was but couldn’t see without any moonlight.Is it John? I hope to hell he’s not back for revenge.
Whoever it was, decided to stop and back into adriveway, then turn around. I didn’t slow my pace after they left; I ran the last half mile to my house. Sweat dampened my hairline and I became breathless.
I closed and locked the door behind me.What if John had come after me? What would I do to protect myself? I need a car.
I should have let Hannah drive me home. It wasn’t that far, so I figured it would be okay, just like any other night.
One day, though, I wouldn’t need to worry about who wanted to come after me. There would be no need to think about how much it would cost for my sibling’s clothes for school or groceries when my mom refused to go out.
Cody and I planned to have a little house somewhere in the lower forty-eight—somewhere warm—with black shutters and surrounded by a white picket fence.We’ll be happier than anyone on this earth.
IF I WANTED mychoice of cereal and lunch meat, mom forced me to go with her to Safeway. The local grocery store was the only place I could find Froot Loops. Emily liked it when I brought home treats for her. Nathan always asked for a toy car to add to his collection. Since I started working, I stopped asking Mom to buy things for me. Or for them.
Little did Cody know, I continued to work at the bar to make ends meet. If he knew, he’d probably kill me. The threat to leave me if he found out stuck with me and I prayed he would never know. It was a chance I had to take, though. As much as I loved him, Emily and Nathan being hungry wasn’t an option.
At least now it was just the younger kids I needed to worry about. Zach was safe with his dad and Megan moved to Los Angeles last year hoping to make a positive change in her life. Jealous as I was, I told her I was happy for her when she found a guy and got married. Her husband was in a rock band, and they were on their way to the big time.
Mr. Ripple winked at me as we entered the store. Embarrassed, I tucked my head and pretended not to see him. After his time on the couch, he always tipped at least a twenty for drinks. As reserved as he was in real life, it still surprised me every time he laid a hundred on the table.
Mom had noticed how much money I spent and asked where I had found a decent job in this shitty little town. I had lied and told her I worked with Mr. Ripple most evenings. Well, it wasn’t a total lie.
“Where’s the dill pickles?” Plastic wheels squeaked from the shopping cart my mom pushed.
“How should I know?” Cranky and hungover, I forgot about the white lie.
Lettuce and tomatoes filled crates all around us. “Well, don’t you work here?”
Shit.I grimaced. “They’re not in the produce section, that’s for sure.”
“You should know where everything is. Or are you that slow it takes six months to figure out which aisle the pickles are in?”
As we turned the corner, a pudgy man in a white shirt stopped short. Mom gasped and put her hand over her heart. “Excuse me, Mr. Ripple.” She moved her hand to her hip and tilted her head. “You startled me. I nearly ran you over. Please forgive me.” Her fake apology annoyed me.
He looked her up and down. “No, Mrs. Smith. I’m the one who should be sorry.” He licked his lips and glanced at me. “It’s so nice to see you both.”
“Likewise. I’ve been meaning to ask how you’ve enjoyed working with my Kennedy?”
“Oh.” Surprised, he lifted his eyebrows and stared at me. “Let me tell you, you’ve raised a fine young lady.”
“CODY!”He didcome back for me.He promised he would, but I didn’t know if he was serious or just trying to keep me from working.Our love must be real if he came back.I ran out the door of the diner into his openarms. Still shaken from the stalker incident, the warmth of my boyfriend’s embrace comforted me.
“Hey, Kennedy. I missed you so much, my princess.”
His kiss breathed a renewed energy into my lungs, and I held on for dear life. He leaned me against his truck and made it clear to everyone who could see us from inside the restaurant that I belonged to him.
“Baby, let’s get out of here,” he whispered in my ear, and I knew what he wanted. I didn’t even bother to tell Brittany where I was going; she’d figure it out.
I hadn’t paid attention to which direction he drove; I expected him to take me to his house so we could make up for lost time. Surprised when he pulled into my trailer park, I asked, “Why are we here? I thought …”
“Well, you thought wrong.” The truck jerked to a stop, and he jumped out, tapped on the hood as he rounded the front, then swung open my door. He had never been to my home before, so I wondered what he had up his sleeve.
