Ignite (The Disciples #4) - Cassandra Robbins Page 0,17
truly alone, sinks in.
“I intended to keep sending my share, but that was before Heather did this. Please don’t be mad at me.” Her voice cracks, which usually makes me feel sorry for her, but today I’m freaking out.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “Bella. I need you to please pay rent. I… if you don’t, I’m not gonna lie. I’ll be beyond fucked.” I look around and glare at a woman walking her dog as she shakes her head at me.
“I’m sorry. But this is not my fault. I know you’re the one getting screwed, but I don’t have that kind of money!”
Silence fills the phone. I blink back tears and look at the palm trees as I walk toward our building.
“Well, perfect,” I croak. Grabbing my bag, I punch in the code and wait for the loud buzz before I open the glass door. “You know what? Don’t worry. It will work out at the end of the day.” I snort as I ignore the elevator that is so old it takes twice as long as the stairs.
“Toni, I feel awful. If I had any money, you know I would send it to you. But I don’t and my mom’s been calling asking for money for her and my dad…”
“I get it.”
“I can’t keep paying rent on a place that I probably won’t see for another six months.” She sighs. “We got fucked. That slut of a friend of ours did a numb—”
“Bella, stop.” I move the phone to my other ear and set down the dance bag to get my keys.
“It’s gonna be okay. I got a job. I’ll make the rent on my own. And when you get off tour, if you want to move back in, you can.”
“Wait. What job?” She sounds concerned and I couldn’t care less. All I want is to get off the phone.
“Just a job. I told you this earlier. Listen, I’ve got to go. Don’t worry about anything. Take care of you.”
“Toni, don’t hang up. I feel horrible.”
I almost say, Not that horrible, since you’re more than happy to leave me to deal with all this shit, but I don’t. I’m done. This day has been a roller coaster of emotions and I’m drained. I need to get inside and hide under the covers.
“Talk soon.” I don’t wait to hear what she says. Hanging up, I move to open the door.
“Hey, Toni.” I freeze for a split second and frantically put my key in the lock.
“Jesus Christ, can this day get worse?” I hiss as I swing the door open to dart inside. A thin white arm holds it open.
“I’ve been calling you. Did your dingbat friend inform you that you’re two months behind in rent?”
My slumlord stands in front of me. He’s not wearing his usual sweatpants today and is dressed in some tight skinny jeans that make his shape look even worse than in his stupid sweats.
“Hey, Ryan.” I smile and act as if I’m shocked and flustered with my bag and phone. Anything to get rid of him before he opens his mouth again. His garlic breath, which is already making me gag, fills the apartment.
“I just got off the phone with Bella.” I hold up my hand to stop him from talking. “And don’t worry. I’ll have the rent. But, you need to know that this is not our fault. Heather stole the money, so I need a little time to—”
He starts laughing and leans against the door, his black-rimmed glasses making him look like he tries too hard. I turn to face my apartment and try not to breathe.
“Listen, this is not my problem, Toni. I don’t run a charity here. You trusted Heather.” He crosses his arms, making his thin upper body accentuate his stomach, which is rolling over his tight pants and tight T-shirt.
“You know what that tells me? That you’re not too bright yourself. Get me my money by the first. In case you can’t remember, that’s in two days.” He looks at me like he means business and I have to fight my eye roll. Instead I smile.
“Will do.”
He’s such an arrogant dick and he has nothing, and I mean nothing to be arrogant about. Heather said he hates us because he’s gay. First, I don’t know if that’s true. Second, that wouldn’t make him hate us. Knowing her, she probably tried to pick him up and he turned her down, so that makes him “gay.”