Daisy flopped on her bed in the room they shared. “How was it?” Em placed her bookmark between the pages she was at and closed the book. “It was nice.” “That’s it? It was nice?” Em grinned. “It was very nice. Shouldn’t we be getting ready for dinner?” “I don’t feel like changing. Anything goes …
Noah scowled and arched his eyebrows. “Are you gonna make it?” She sucks in a breath. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll make it. I am really sorry for laughing, but know I wasn’t laughing at you.” “Well, you weren’t laughing with me because I wasn’t laughing.” “C’mon. There is humor in this. Maybe just a little?” His …
Evan gobbles down the additional pizza and sips the water. Wiping his hands on his jeans, the grease from the slices not visible with the other grime the fabric contained. “Thanks ma’am. Preach, I’ll try to be in the shelter before it closes tonight. Gotta run.” Em gasps and looks around. “He’s gone. Where did …
Looking over their shoulders, two men pound past the pizzeria. Following behind them, his fists clenched while pumping his arms for speed, is Ace. Em’s knuckles whiten as her hands grip the sides of the chair. Noah clears his throat, “Em.” Her eyes continue watching the three men run down the boards. The wail of …
Daisy stands up. “Well, since you’re here, I’m going to head inside.” She sticks her hand out. Noah grasps her hand. “You don’t have to leave on our account. All three of us could hang out.” Em bites her lower lip to stop laughing. Usually, by this time on past trips, you’d find Daisy in …
Em wipes her sweaty hands on the hand towel, staring into the mirror above the sink in the bathroom. “Do I look okay?” She completes a half turn so she can see a side view. Leaning against the doorjamb with her arms folded, Daisy says, “You look great. I’d just walk through another spritz of …
Em knows to be ready before nine so that Daisy doesn’t head into Atlantic City without her. She is showered, dressed, and packed, waiting outside beforehand. She hugs Hanna and Gabriel on their way out with Ruby to deliver Hanna to pre-school. Em’s heart doubles in size, watching her sister interact with her children, moving …
The next several weeks pass with Ruby attending counseling weekly and caring for her children. This change for Em provides her free time. Time that she hasn’t had in over a year and taking that into account, her first order of business is a salon appointment where she has everything done. She leaves after her …
Should she answer the call? Her heart pounds in her ears and her hands are sweating. Her mom would not be happy that she called a boy. Sorry. A man. Her mom would not be happy that she called a man. The ringing stops. She solved her own problem. He hung up before she decided …
Reaching her house, Em heads in on unsteady legs. The door flies open. Her brow wrinkled, Ruby asks, “Well?” Em walks in and collapses on the wooden step of the staircase that leads to the second floor, slumped against the railing. “A neighbor saw her and invited her in for tea. Mom is mad at …
