Page 61 of Easy Out

“I grew up in foster care.” Not what I expected her to say at all. I lean back in my seat. Wrong move. Mierda.

Lauren wraps her arms around herself. “It’s not a big deal. There are a lot of kids in the system. Most of the time you wouldn’t even know they were in foster care.”

“Hey,” I tip her chin up. “Mírame cariño” Her stubborn eyes glare at me. That’s the spirit. “You caught me by surprise. There is nothing wrong with growing up the way you did. Unless you weren’t in a good place. Were you?”

“Good enough.”

“Mierda. I’m sorry.“ I crowd her and wrap my arms around her, but she pushes me away.

“I don’t want your pity. I don’t want you to treat me differently.” Rolling my lips, I expel air out my nose.

“I do not pity you. Why would this change anything?”

“It always does. No one wants to be friends with the poor foster kid from the group home.”

“Group home? You weren’t with foster parents?”

“No.”

“Why?” She rolls her eyes. “You can tell me anything. This is for me. Not the assignment. Por favor, cariño.”

“No one wanted me.” I scoff. “I bounced around for years after my mom passed away.” She waits for me to speak but I don’t think she wants any more apologies.

“There was one couple that seemed interested in keeping me, but they changed their minds.”

“What do you mean, they changed their minds? Can they do that?” She shrugs.

“I don’t know but they did. My foster mom got pregnant with twins and my foster dad got a new job out of state. They were getting everything they wanted. They didn’t need me anymore.

“He took me out for ice cream at the diner my mom had worked at. I was so excited. It’d been a long time since I’d been treated to ice cream and the diner had the best.

“It was a setup. Instead of taking me back to his house, I was dropped off at the group home without even looking back.”

I sputter out a bunch of curses. I don't understand. “How can they do that to you? I never would have let you go.” Lauren stares at me like she can’t believe what I just said. Like wanting to have her around is the most ridiculous thing she’s ever heard.

“They had to do what was best for them. That didn’t involve me. They were starting the family they always wanted. They didn’t need the twelve-year-old stand-in anymore.”

“You were their family, Lauren!” How did this girl turn out so sweet? How did she get dealt with so much shit and still come out on the other side happy? I would be full of so much hate and anger if I were her.

I understand her on a whole new level. Her quiet nature and the need to be invisible makes a lot more sense.

It’s how she survived.

“Shhh… keep your voice down.”

“I don’t like that you went through all of this, cariño. I want to hurt anyone who had the nerve to hurt you.”

“There’s no point in being mad. I tried that.”

“I can be mad if I want to.”

“It doesn’t help anything. My mom was still dead. My dad still never showed his face. And I was still on my own. I made it here, Hart. I graduated. I got into a really good school. I’m making it. I’m not a statistic.”

“Yes, you did. You should be proud of yourself.”

“I am.” She picks at the hole in her jeans.

“I’m sorry you lost your mom,” I say softly.

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