"Flannigan's. As a bartender."
"Really? He can't find anything better? What's his degree in?"
"Psychology."
I gave her a sympathetic look. "Not the best-paying field, from what I hear."
"Got that right," she said. "He's better off tending bar. With tips, anyway."
I could totally relate. It was the same dynamic that kept me waitressing. Probably Josie too. She had a bachelor's degree in something or other, for all the good it did her.
We said our goodnights, and I headed back to my locker. Twisting the combination, I thought of Keith tampering with my cell phone. Somehow that weasel had gotten into my locker, and I needed to find out how.
But in the meantime, I definitely needed a new lock, something with a key this time.
Pulling out my cell phone, I found a new voicemail from Erika. It was short and to the point. "Call me as soon as you get this. Or else."
I glanced at the clock. It was five in the morning. She didn't mean now, did she? I checked the time of her message. Three o'clock in the morning. Just two hours ago.
Well, she must've meant it, right? I gathered up the rest of my stuff and headed out to my car. While waiting for the engine to warm up, I gave her a call.
We were still talking by the time I pulled into the Parkers' driveway a half hour later.
Turns out, Erika's parents were cutting off her financial support, right after the current semester.
"Are you sure they won't reconsider?" I said.
"Not a chance." She gave a hollow-sounding laugh. "Guess I shouldn't have flunked that last history class, huh?"
Erika was on her fifth year at college, going into a sixth. She'd changed her major three times and was back to undecided.
"I'm really sorry," I said. "What are you gonna do?"
"I guess I'll have to find a job," she said.
"First time for everything, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess. So anyway, that's probably why I blew up at you. I’m really sorry."
"Nah, don't be sorry," I said. "I was a total crab-ass. I had it coming."
"That's for sure."
"Heeeey!"
Alright," she said. "Enough about me. What'd you decide about that man of yours?"
"Nothing yet," I said. "But we've got plans for Monday."
"What kind of plans?" she said.
"I don't know. He just said he had something to show me."
"I know what it is," she said.
"Don't say it," I warned.
"His massive cock."
