Page 147 of Burning Ember

“How many?”

“Hmmm . . .” I count in my head. “Somewhere around fourteen.”

“Fourteen?”

I nod. “Yeah. I was a waitress, maid, babysitter. I babysat for a couple of different families on and off. I worked as a hostess at two different restaurants. And I’ve also worked at a pet store.” I grin. “So Boop wasn’t the first spider I’ve had to handle.”

Mav visibly shudders and I laugh.

“What else?”

“Mmmm . . . retail at the mall, which I sucked at, and last summer I lifeguarded on the beach.”

The pan slips from his hands and clatters into the sink. He curses and fumbles as he grabs it. His eyes flicker over to me. “Are we talkin’ red bathing suit, runnin’ in the sand, and savin’ people?”

I pause and turn a little. “Well, technically, I only had to run to try to save someone once. The rest of the summer, I just sat or stood on the platform, watched the beach goers, and the water for sharks. But I liked it the best because I could bring Will with me and let her play in the sand.”

“Do you still have the swim suit?

I laugh. “It’s really not as sexy as people think.”

“Makes me hard just thinkin’ about it.” He smirks over at me. “Next time Nick has a pool party, remind me to pretend to drown so you’ll come save me.”

I shake my head. Through a laugh, I say, “Maybe I’ll let you drown.”

“Nah, you’d save me.”

My insides dance in agreement, but the grin he’s giving me is too knowing for my taste, so I shove the wet pan at him and he jerks back as I get him all wet.

He dries the last pan and asks, “What kind of job would you want if you could have your pick?”

The plans I used to have when I was younger come back to me. I had it all laid out. My grades were phenomenal. I had joined the math club and the swim team knowing I would have a better chance at a scholarship if I did. And a scholarship meant I could get myself out of the cruddy apartment and the life I was stuck in.

Shrugging, I reply, “I used to want to be a teacher. Elementary or junior high. I didn’t care. But to do that now, I need to get my GED and save money for college. So I don’t know. I guess I’d be happy with something that lets me work with kids.”

He considers me for a moment while he dries and then puts a pan down on the counter. “You sound like you’re already giving up. If you want to be a teacher then—”

“I’m not.”

“You can still do it. If that’s what you want to do.”

I nod and begin cleaning again. “I know. But it’s a ways off is all.”

Mav walks out of the kitchen as if we weren’t right in the middle of a conversation. To be honest I’m kind of offended. I know he thinks I should fight harder for what I want.

He comes back in carrying a manila folder on top of a pile of books.

Caught off guard and surprised I whisper, “Where did you get those?”

“I have a friend that teaches at the local high school. When you told me how you had to drop out, I called him this morning and asked what you’d need to study to take your GED.”

“Mav . . .”

“I told you I was gonna make up for some of the terrible shit I did to you, Doll. This is only the start of it.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to.” He taps the folder. “The papers in here will tell you what you need to know to be ready for the test. There’s some quizzes and pretests you can take too. I’ll get internet set up so you can study here if you want, or at Bethany’s, whatever you need.”