Page 69

“Right,” I say, walking over to the door. I pick up the vase of flowers and head to the kitchen. It’s a sweet gesture, and so soon after I saw him, but I wish Colter hadn’t done this. The bouquet is too much, a dozen red roses and plenty of filler, all sitting in a vase that doesn’t belong in my apartment.
But still, it’s sweet. It shouldn’t make me squirm like it does.
I search for a card but don’t find one.
“Mom, can I call Charlie?” Zeke appears in the kitchen, and I push the flowers to the side.
“What for?”
“To see if we can have a sleepover tonight.”
“Honey, you just had one last night.”
“But it’s spring break,” he whines. I sigh and when I walk to my bedroom, he follows. I open my dresser drawer and lift my pants where the envelope of cash is. The last of what we have. The landlord isn’t going to let us stay here much longer if I don’t give him something.
I swipe at each bill as I count.
“Mom.”
“I don’t know yet,” I say, remembering my spot. I finish counting and try not to let my disappointment show. I take one hundred, not even close to enough, and tuck it into the pair of sweats Colter let me borrow. Thankfully, Zeke hasn’t noticed they’re not mine. Pretty sure I could wear a Barney suit and he wouldn’t notice.
“But it’s spring break.”
I sigh and let my hands fall to my side. “Let’s head down to the office, and we can talk about it when we get back, okay?”
“Can I stay and watch cartoons?”
“No, bud, you need to come with me.”
“But why?”
“Because I don’t want you up here alone.”
Zeke stares at me like he’s debating whether or not he could get away with rolling his eyes. “Fine,” he finally says and hunches his shoulders as he leaves the room.
He pouts as we take the elevator down to the first floor, and I try not to worry about if I’ve spoiled him. Devin always used to say I did. Any ‘imperfection’ Zeke had, in Devin’s eyes, was because of me.
But he’s just a kid.
“If you go to Charlie’s tonight, I want you home tomorrow, understand? I don’t want any arguments about it. I’m going to have to find another job, and I don’t know how much I’ll get to see you when I do.”
“Can he come here?” Zeke asks, completely overlooking my somber tone.
I bite my lip and try to think up some excuse. Charlie is eight-years-old, just like Zeke. What are the odds of him judging where we live? His parents might faint if they drop him off here, but… who knows? Maybe I can be the cool mom two days in a row.
“Okay,” I say with a nod. “If that’s what you both want.”
“Thanks, Mom!”
We step onto the first floor and walk around the corner to Larry’s office.
I take my cell out of my pocket. “Here.” I hand it to him. “Call Charlie and see if it’s okay with his parents if he stays the night. If they don’t want him to, you need to be respectful and not try to get Charlie to argue. Not everyone is a pushover, you know.”
Zeke smiles mischievously and clutches the phone. “Wait on the bench, okay? I’ll be right back.”
Zeke nods, his fingers already tapping on my phone. I knock on the office door. Larry tells me to come in, and I open the door just enough for me to slide through, clicking it shut behind me.
“Hi,” I say, expecting angry threats to come hurling at me. It’s been his move in the past.