Because of Low Page 0,5

for that if nothing else.

My mother died of cancer when I was twelve leaving me and my sister alone in the world. Tawny had been eighteen and she'd taken custody of me and luckily the house was paid for thanks to Mom's frugal budgeting over the years.

The house had been left to Tawny along with the meager amount of money in the bank. She'd gotten her GED

instead of finishing her senior year and managed to get a job to pay the bills. Once I was old enough to work I got an after school job to help out. Then Larissa came along a little over a year ago and everything got harder. Tawny told me she couldn't support me any longer and I needed to get my own place. I couldn't afford my own place on a waitress's income. So, she decided that if I took care of Larissa for her while she worked she'd let me stay a night free of rent in return. Problem is she doesn't need me to keep Larissa every day and when I don't keep Larissa she doesn't let me stay the night.

Sounds harsh but the truth is I am more than positive Larissa's dad comes around those nights and she doesn't want me to know who he is. If it wasn't for her secret of who Larissa's daddy is, I am pretty sure she'd let me stay. But I get booted for a guy. At first I went to the Methodist church because they have a homeless shelter but when Cage found out I was going there because Tawny wasn't letting me stay at home anymore he flipped.

Now, I go to his place instead. I tried to fight him on it just because of his crazy notion we're going to get married but I need him. Even if he is possessive and insane at times, he takes care of me. No one else ever has. He likes knowing he has the ability to take care of someone.

When Cage's grandmother passed away she left him everything she had saved and tucked inside her mattress.

Cage had never even met the woman because his mom had run away from home when she was sixteen and never gone back. It had been a surprise when Cage received a check for over two hundred thousand dollars. The first thing Cage did with the money was buy his apartment. He figured it was a good investment and he wanted some security. The rest of the money he put in the bank and only draws the interest. He's been trying to get me to move in with him ever since.

"Lowlow out," Larissa demanded as she banged her small pudgy fist on the tray of her highchair. Lately she'd gone from calling me Mama to Lowlow. It infuriated Tawny when she called me Mama. I'd had to work on breaking her of that habit.

"Yes, I'll get you out but first let's wash the banana off your hands."

Marcus

"When did Low leave," Cage grumbled as he stepped out of the bedroom door an hour after Will ow had left. I could smell the whiskey on his breath from across the room.

How'd she sleep near that?

"About an hour ago."

He nodded and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. I tried to appear as if I was focused on the screen of my lap top instead of curious about what he was going to say to her.

"Hey baby, why'd you leave without waking me?"

"Aw come on. You know I'd wake up for you."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you."

"No, I shouldn't have. I thought you were sleeping."

"I want you to come back here tonight and please take the key. I keep leaving it out for you. I don't like you having to stay with her and God help me if I find out you're going back to that damn shelter."

"I'll come get you myself if you don't get your ass over here tonight."

"I got a game tonight. You want to come? I promise to leave with you after."

"Okay fine. But come here. If you need rest so badly before class tomorrow then get your sexy ass over here and go to bed. I promise not to stink tonight."

Cage chuckled and hung up the phone.

"That girl's gonna drive me nuts, I swear." I glanced up from my computer screen. Cage was pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"Did she get some coffee before she left?"

"Yeah, she did."

He nodded and leaned back against the counter.

"She look upset