Page 38 of Only for Love

“Sam—”

“Look, Sam. I was polite, but then you pushed. I said don’t touch, and you did. So now you get the full explanation that I tried to warn you about.” His mouth opens to say something, but I shake my head. “I work three jobs.Three. And only two pay. I’m busting my behind across campus to get to day care. To pick upmy daughter. Whose daddy justdied. I’m mourning him even though I haven’t seen him inyears. I’m the walking, talking, breathing definition of baggage.”

Sam’s jaw continues to hang. “Uh…”

“Thanks for the invite. But when a chick tells you to back off, it might be that she’s not playing coy. It’s that she wants you toback the hell off. Get me?”

“Shit. Sorry,” he mumbles.

Yeah, I bet.

“If you want…” But he trails off, and I’m walking away anyhow.

I don’t want anything from anyone. I can and do support myself and my baby, though it’s almost killing me. Taking help is hard. I have my pride, but I’m also mired in my own version of punishment. Carelessness isn’t an excuse to take from others. I flat-out refuse cash from my family, though I do accept their time and help. They watch Cally a few times a week, but only so I can earn a living. Not so I can go have drinks with hot guys who want to sneak me into bars.

My phone buzzes, caller ID reading Delightful Diner.

I hit the green circle to take the call. “Hello?”

“Hey, honey.” Jan, the lady who owns the place, only calls about shift changes. “Don’t need you in tonight. Things are too slow.”

Shoot… “You sure? I can work whatever hours you need.”

“I know, Emma. Sorry, honey. Don’t need any hours tonight.”

I chew the inside of my cheek. “No problem. Call me if that changes. I’ll be there.”

“Know you will, honey.”

My stomach sinks. I really needed that shift. My phone buzzes again, and I check the screen, hoping it’s Jan again. Nope. Just my brother.

“Hey, Ryan.”

“You’re moving.”

“Ha. No. I’m planning on moving soon.” But not when diner shifts keep getting canceled. “I just have to—”

“Look, Emma, I had another call out to your complex today. Dad and I were talking—”

I love Ryan, but that brand-new, shiny rookie badge is going to drive me insane. “My apartment is safe. You know that.”

“It’s your neighbors who are sketch. A couple years ago, it was fine. Now? Shit changes.”

“Not telling me anything I don’t already know,” I mumble and push open the door for day care, waving at the girl at the desk. “I have to go. Cally and I are running behind.”

“Dad put first and last month’s down for you. You can afford everything in between. Sign the paperwork. You can move in immediately.”

“What!” I spin away from the receptionist, ready to tear into him then call my dad to do the same. But I can’t. God, I’m grateful. I hate needing them, but I’m drowning. I pull in a breath and drop my head.

“Emma, you need a break. Take it, okay?”

“Ryan, I don’t…”

“You’re month-to-month now, right? Almost the same rent, so you have no reason not to.”

It would be so nice to leave that apartment, and I’ve been saving so one day I could. “I want to do it myself.”

“Emma, look… I owe you.”

---