Page 19

Lando eyed each one of them before stepping toward the front door and pushing her way outside. The rain had let up, but it was still damp and cold. At least it was light enough she could see clearly. The door behind her opened and closed. They rode in silence to the hotel room.

Climbing onto the bed after changing, Lando closed her eyes and released as much tension as she possibly could. Violet was nowhere to be seen, thankfully, and she hoped they wouldn’t be going out again that day or even the next day. She could hear mumbling through the wall, but she tried to block out the words until she couldn’t.

A door slammed, and Diane and Violet yelled miserably at each other. Lando shuddered, wanting to fall asleep and let the pain in her arm come back full force. She’d been given a prescription for narcotics, but she refused to take them—not to mention she couldn’t afford them even if she wanted. The door slammed again and two seconds later the one to her room opened and shut.

Cringing, Lando stayed still and hoped Violet would think she was asleep already. Instead, Violet rounded the bed and turned on the lights as she went, making it incredibly bright inside. Lando tightened her jaw and glared at Violet, who stood two feet in front of her next to the bed with her hands on her hips and a pissed off look on her face.

“I’m sorry.”

Lando snorted but said nothing in response.

“I don’t even know why I’m apologizing,” Violet muttered, turning.

Sitting up sharply and using her good hand to do it, Lando shook her head. “You could try sounding like you’re actually sorry if you’re going to apologize. If not, save it for someone who gives a shit.”

Red tinged Violet’s cheeks, her gaze narrowing. “Diane told me to apologize. Said I was being a bitch.”

“Well…” Lando sighed. “She’s not wrong.”

Violet crossed her arms. “Excuse me?”

“You’ve been a bitch since we left Kansas.”

“You shouldn’t be here.” Violet bent down, getting into Lando’s face. “You should be home, attending your third quarter classes, having a normal job.”

“What’sthatsupposed to mean?” Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, Lando prepared for battle. She wasn’t going to let some teacher who knew next to nothing about her dictate what she could and couldn’t do. She hadn’t even allowed her grandmother to do that.

“It means you’re not ready for this kind of work.”

“I’m not a fucking kid,” Lando shot back. “And frankly, if you weren’t such a bitch lately, then maybe we could work together as a team. Diane has no problem with me. So what’s yours?”

Violet’s lips pressed together.

“You don’t even know, do you?” Scoffing, Lando moved to the fridge to grab some of the leftovers from the night before. When she spoke again, her voice was softer, imploring. “What happened, teach?”

Something in her tone must have hit a chord with Violet, because the angry look she seemed to always wear lately had a crack in it. “Nothing happened.”

“Sure it did.” Lando used her bad arm to hold the Styrofoam container close to her chest as she grabbed a fork and mixed up the leftover fajitas. They had no microwave, so she’d have to eat them cold, but she’d survive. “You’ve been a total bitch since we left. You know, I used to look up to you, thought you were the bee’s knees. Now? I think you’re just cold-hearted, lonely, and pathetic.”

Violet hissed. Lando kept her chin down as she eyed Violet carefully to see what kind of dent she’d made. Violet didn’t seem perturbed by the comment. Shrugging, Lando sat on the edge of the bed and put her food down to make it easier to eat.

The bed moving surprised her. Shifting, Lando looked up to find Violet next to her, a sorrowful look in her eyes. “I am sorry.”

“Are you?”

Violet nodded. “You scared me. You were easily within five feet of where it was touching down.”

Lando clenched her jaw. She’d known she was close, but she hadn’t thought it was that bad. “And still I missed the damn thing.”

Violet snorted lightly. “I sent Diane to pick up your pills.”

Lando’s lips parted. “Oh. I uh…I won’t take them.”

“You’ve got to be in pain.”

“Tylenol.”

“Not going to touch that, I’m sure.” Violet’s gaze softened even more. “You should take them.”