eyes. I’d talked to Mrs. Davenport a few times and she was a doll, and I had no doubt that what Ethan said was true. His family was old money, but he was incredibly down-to-earth.
“I already told you I would visit this summer if I could. Between you and your grandma badgering me about it, I’ll come for a week, maybe two if I can. I always help Chris and Agnes over the summer, and I think they really depend on my help. They’re not young anymore, and I don’t know how they still do it, but I own them so much, so if they need me to help watch the kids, I will.”
Ethan opened the door to our room, and after we dropped our bags on the tiny bistro-sized table, he turned and gave me a serious look.
“I understand you feel obligated to them. No, wait,” Ethan said as I started to defend my foster parents. “I do understand. I go home to Grandma every break for the same reasonings. But I work when I’m home, and you don’t get paid for what you do.”
I deflated, the argument that I had gone, because he was right. That was one of the reasons why I didn’t have a car yet. I’d been too busy studying and helping Chris and Agnes, grateful to be given a stable home that was safe.
“You’re right, but what do I say? I mean, I really need a summer job that pays.” I walked over to our futon and sat down. I looked at the coffee in my hand and leaned forward to place it on the tote we used as a coffee table.
“You’ll need to give them a call and let them know that you have something else lined up for summer, and they’ll have to look to one of their other kids to help out. I mean, it’s great you have all of this community service work on your resume, but you need a paying job too.” Ethan sat down beside me, and I looked over at him.
“You’re right. But how? They’ve given me so much.”
“They have and I’m not talking bad about them, but you’re twenty-two. They’ll understand that you need a car. Man, you’re going to need one to get a job.”
I already knew that. I was lucky that Ethan had one and was willing to let me tag along with him places. Because I hated the bus, but it was affordable.
I leaned my head back against the futon and stared up at the ceiling. Ethan was right and I knew it. I’d been thinking the same thing for a while, but Chris and Agnes had given me so damn much. So much more than was required of them.
My phone buzzing in my pocket reminded me that I needed to read through all of the messages that Anderson had sent. “Thanks for the coffee, man. I’m going to head to my room and work on some things.”
I absently got up, and after I picked up my coffee and grabbed my backpack, I went to my room and sat down on my bed. My coffee was finally cool enough to drink, so I took a sip while I toed off my shoes.
What in the hell had happened this morning? Anderson…he…yeah. Fuck it was hot, but I thought he had said we shouldn’t because we had to keep things professional. I set my coffee on the tiny nightstand and flopped back onto my bed. I figured instead of wondering, I’d simply ask. After all, he’d said to answer my damn phone. So I would.
6
Anderson
“Umm, Anderson?”
I sighed and looked up at the ceiling as I walked down the hallway of my building. I’d been ten minutes late to my second class, but it was worth it.
“Yeah, Dave?” I asked as I turned to my best friend. I already knew what he wanted when I watched him look me up and down.
“That’s not what you were wearing this morning when we had coffee,” Dave said as he ran a hand up and down, indicating my now gray slacks. I’d left the house in black slacks. Big difference.
“Not now,” I said as we walked through the hordes of other professors and students on our way out of the building. “Everything still going well with your divorce?” I asked quietly, hoping to change the subject.
“Fuck that, no. You know that even though the baby isn’t mine, I have to wait until it’s born to divorce that cheating bitch?”