Page 100 of Cold Hard Cash

“Busy? We haven’t spoken in years, Anna. You run off to Raleigh for school, I don’t ever hear from you. Not a letter, not a postcard. After all of this time, you just come flouncing in here, concerned and caring and you act like nothing happened.”

“I’m sorry, Jimmy,” Anna said, her smile a little sad. “I really want to try being friends again.”

“Do you even remember the last time we talked?” Jimmy’s eyes began to slowly fill with tears. “Thanksgiving, I think? Like, six years? Five? When me and Augustus got into that big fight about my dad. Which, by the way, ha! Not once have you asked about how my dad is doing. Not once is he okay, how he’s holding up.”

“Well, Jimmy, he’s in prison,” Anna said softly. “What do you want me to say?”

“Maybe to actually give a shit?” Jimmy spat. “To maybe think for yourself for once and not parrot back everything that Augustus fuckin’ says?”

“Jimmy,” Anna scoffed, shocked by his tone and language.

“Come on, if Augustus told you the moon was made of ice cream, you would ask what flavor.”

“That’s not true, I do question him! Constantly!”

“Not about my dad,” Jimmy accused.

“Jimmy, I’m very sorry,” Anna said, her voice strained yet firm, “but your dad is exactly where he belongs. In prison.”

She might as well have slapped Jimmy right in the face. He swallowed back a few bitter tears, asking flatly, “Why are you really here, Anna?”

“Dad wanted me to try and talk some sense into you,” Anna said, crossing her arms over her chest. “See if it’s not too late to save you before you get yourself killed.”

“So you came to do Augustus’ dirty work?”

“I came here because I’m worried about an old friend,” Anna sighed, pressing forward and resting her hand on Jimmy’s leg. “We used to be so close, Jimmy. I still do care about you, believe it or not.”

Jimmy shook his head, but patted her hand as he said, “And I care about you. But... this is what my life is now. I’m finally getting shit straight. I know it doesn’t look like it, but I am. I have a new job that pays really well, I’ll be able to get my student loans under control in just a few months. I mean, crap, I actually will be able to go back to school eventually. I’ll be able to pay for it all myself. And I don’t care what you or Augustus or anybody says about Cold. You don’t know him like I do. There is so much good in him. The way he cares about the people close to him, how he tries to help them. He really believes in me; something you and Augustus never did.”

“Jimmy,” Anna pleaded, “you’re talking about a convicted murderer. A criminal who—”

“Who has done nothing but take care of me,” Jimmy said firmly. “Look, it was really good to see you, but I’m not going anywhere. I won’t leave him, and I definitely am not going to do anything to help Augustus.”

“You used to care about doing what was right,” Anna challenged, “and now, this... this place, your job, that suit. I don’t even know who you are.”

“Well,” Jimmy said with a sad smile, recalling Anna’s earlier comment about Rolexes and a swanky condo, “I’m starting to think you never did.”

“Jimmy, please. I want to help you. My dad wants to help you.”

“I’m good,” Jimmy said stubbornly. “Really.”

“You’re going to get yourself killed or end up in prison like your dad,” Anna warned. “I don’t want that for you. We can still get you out of this mess. You could come stay with me or Dad. I might be able to help find you a new job.”

“Your generosity is amazing,” Jimmy laughed bitterly. “I’m just, wow, blown away. You know I almost starved one time? And oh. There was that time I almost died because I couldn’t afford to go see a doctor. I was almost homeless more times than I can count. And where was your concern then? Where was Anna and Augustus wanting to save Jimmy then, huh?”

Anna was silent.

“Oh, but now! Now that I’m with Cold, all of a sudden you want to come save me,” Jimmy went on, too disgusted to even care how nasty he was being. “What freakin’ right do you have? You can’t just magically pop up and pretend all those years you weren’t there for me didn’t happen and decide that you and Augustus know what’s best for me!”

Jimmy was on his feet, prying Anna’s hand off his leg, his anger compromised by his aching heart. He had been in love with Anna once. It hurt deeply that she had only come here to do Augustus’ bidding.

“I think it’s time for you to go,” Jimmy said quietly.

Anna rose up slowly, winding her arms around Jimmy’s shoulders and pulling him into a gentle hug. She sounded broken when she said, “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t... I wasn’t always a good friend. I know that. I can’t take it back, and I’m sorry. If you ever change your mind—”

“I won’t,” Jimmy promised her, but couldn’t stop himself from hugging her back. “It... it really was good to see you.”

“You, too,” Anna sighed, still holding him close. “Maybe I’ll come and catch your show sometime?”