her friend.
Since they worked the same hours and only a mile apart, they decided to carpool each day, so neither one had to drive home alone after work. Right now, with it staying lighter later in the day, it was okay if one of them had to make the drive alone. But by the end of the year, it got dark early and made them both nervous. It was better to use the buddy system.
She watched Chrischris throw an air tool across the garage. The music from outside filtered into the office. All the men were booked solid all day with vehicle repairs.
Needing something in her stomach to keep it from growling, she collected the coins from the bottom of her purse and walked out of the office. In the garage, she went straight to the vending machine on the far wall.
Not often had she resorted to eating junk food for lunch. Usually, she packed a bag with a few items or drove back to the apartment to make her a quick meal, but since the kidnapping, she'd made sure to stay around other people and be aware of not letting herself be alone.
But, that morning, she'd overslept after waiting up late into the night for Paco to return again.
He never came back to her apartment after the first time. Just like he never stopped in at work to see his friends. She was starting to think she'd dreamed the whole night, and he really was Thunder Bird.
That would be better than letting herself accept that he'd used her, and she was only a one-night stand.
Slipping the coins into the slot, she looked over the selection, knowing to leave the Snickers for the men. Every single one of them enjoyed that candy bar the best.
Buying a Pepsi, a pouch of peanut M&M's, and a bag of Doritos, she loaded everything up in the crook of her arm and headed back to the office.
"Hey, Josie. Slick's heading over to Dairy Queen in a few minutes. Do you want anything?" asked Banks.
She looked down at the snacks and then met Banks' gaze. "No, thank you."
He chuckled. "Suit yourself."
Returning to the office, she dumped the items on the desk. She sat down and popped the top on the can. Every time she had a pop, she missed the pull tabs that she remembered while growing up on the Rez. Somewhere in her childhood bedroom, there was a ten-foot chain of pull tabs she'd made from all the tops she'd found on the ground around the casino.
Like everything else she'd owned, someone probably dumped that too in the garbage. Once she left, and there was no one to live there, they would've sold the house to another family.
She was dead to her people.
Not everything the elders permitted to happen was right. Some of the laws worked against the people. The reservation was meant to be a temporary stepping stone. Those who remained were there to better others' lives, helping them achieve a sustainable living anywhere they wanted to go.
She had no other option but to leave her home after her father sold her to Askook and was murdered. She was never going back, even if the council sent her a personal invitation to return.
Opening up the M&M's, she picked out a red one. She popped the candy in her mouth.
It was strange that Paco never returned to the apartment. She would've thought he enjoyed himself.
But it was like he'd evaporated into thin air.
After having sex throughout the night, she'd fallen asleep in his arms. When she woke, he was gone. The only sign that he'd broken into her apartment and spent time with her was the used condoms in the wastebasket in her room.
They'd hardly said two sentences to each other, and yet because she'd enjoyed him sexually, she felt like she knew him better than when they started.
Drinking from the can, she checked the calendar spread out on the top of her desk. The shop would be closed after work until Tuesday. They had Saturday off to celebrate Memorial weekend. She'd have three days off.
A perfect time for Paco to visit. If that was his plan, and she hoped he'd come to the apartment again.
Unfamiliar with how men and women had relationships off the Rez, she found it odd he'd approach her at night in her apartment. He'd broken into her place, and she almost stabbed him with the knife she kept for self-defense.
It was frightening, especially after dealing with Askook holding her