The Revenge Pact (Kings of Football #1) - Ilsa Madden-Mills Page 0,31
Our maintenance man, he’s of medium height with brown hair and a short beard. A tool belt hangs around his waist and he hitches it up, then crosses his arms when he sees me. He frowns. “I saw you pull up and go back there. You gotta stop feeding her, Ana. She’ll just keep coming back.”
Unease curls around me. It’s more than just giving her food. I’m a person to her when I don’t think she has anyone. “Sam, come on. She doesn’t make a mess and cleans up after Oscar. No one sees her. It’s dark out there.”
His round face scrunches, and his hand goes to his jeans, his thumb hooking into his waistband. “Mr. Winston is a stickler for vagrants. You know how meticulous he is about this place. This can’t keep on. She’s been here for a month and I haven’t said a word—”
“How was the lasagna? How’s the new baby?”
He huffs. “Tiff loved the casserole, and the baby sleeps like a log. She said to tell you thanks for the food and the baby outfit.” He grimaces. “You’re too damn nice. June needs to get gone.”
He said her name, which means she’s a person to him to.
“Just let her be,” I say softly. I don’t ask Sam for much, even when the sink gets clogged or the lights go out. I buy Drano or dash to the basement and flip the breaker.
“She’s harmless,” I add. “I can guarantee another casserole. I’ll even babysit—for free. Wouldn’t you love a night out just you two?”
“Hmmm, yeah.” He rubs a hand through his beard. “June’s always gone in the mornings.”
“No one even sees her. She only sleeps here.”
“I should call Mr. Winston though. Right?” He blows out a gust of air, an uncertain look on his face.
“Not tonight. It’s late. Get some sleep and kiss the baby for me.” Please, Sam.
I hear him grumbling behind me as I walk up the stairs to my apartment.
I put my key in and open the door.
“Happy birthday!” comes from my two roomies, Lila and Colette, as I walk in the front door of our three-bedroom apartment.
Before I can even set down my bags and the mail, Lila jumps at me with a tight hug and Colette follows. We make a circle, squeal, and jump up and down.
Blonde and petite, Lila’s wearing booty shorts and a sleep shirt, while dark-haired Colette sports a PJ flannel set with yellow rubber ducks on it. They’re fraternal twins.
“Pajama party?” I say on a laugh.
Lila pumps the air as they yell in unison, “Hell yeah!”
They whoop and I join them, emotion tugging at me as I take in the mylar balloons in the den. Amongst the Happy Birthday! ones, a few say Get Well Soon, Happy Graduation, and Happy Mother’s Day.
“We wanted a festive look. Bought all the balloons they had,” Lila says with a giggle. Pink and purple streamers crisscross the den. It’s a mess, no rhyme or reason, and I smile broadly.
The three of us met last spring at The Truth Is Out There. Lila works there with me, and Colette is a regular. Still finding my footing at Braxton, I was renting a room in a drafty old boarding house. They had an extra bedroom and asked me to move in.
Lila tosses her blonde hair over her shoulder. “I’ve got the good stuff tonight.” She twirls around, grabs a box off the media center, and opens it. She preens as if it’s the Hope Diamond. “It’s your birthday, bitch. We’re getting high.”
Colette grabs a jar of peanut butter off the coffee table, picks up the spoon stuck inside the container, and sticks it in her mouth. Her eyebrows waggle. She talks around the spoon. “We smoked one already.”
I laugh. Of course they have.
On Lila’s birthday, a few months ago, we got high. It was my first time, and I ended up with a terrible case of paranoia. I convinced them the police were after us with K9 drug dogs. We hid in our basement with the washers and dryers.
“Please, join us,” Colette begs as she drags me into the kitchen. “Look, I made nachos for your birthday, your favorite, and I have cupcakes from the Busy Bakery!” She waves her hands in a flourish around purple cupcakes. Ana is written in white icing on the tops. My throat tightens, my stomach pitching at the emotion.