Page 88 of Sweet Shots

He does have time; he’s just making excuses for himself. His family is his priority, and that’s okay. It’s not the sex that’s getting to him; I can read between the lines. It’s that he’s there with his family, with no future of his own life in sight. I wasn’t evenlooking for this life-changing event with Dominic, but now I have it. Everything with us is moving fast. My feelings are… a little out of control for only having been together for a month and a half, but I’m learning from him and going with it.

If he can change his lifestyle for me, no longer being the guy who sleeps around, I can certainly make changes for him. Like taking a risk to be with him. Living instead of just surviving for once.

“Mariah has only a few years left in high school, right?” I ask.

“She’s not even a freshman yet, Mikah. She just started eighth.”

“Damn. Why did I think she was older? Still, she’s old enough, Zach. You can break free a little. Go on a date. You aren’t the only sibling able to care for them.”

“The only responsible one.”

“I’m just saying it won’t kill you to go on a date. The kids are fine when you work.”

“I can justify going to work—”

“And you can justify wanting to be happy,” I add in before he can argue further.

“Maybe you and your boyfriend should come visit me.”

“I am not having a threesome with you, Zach.”

“Now that is rude, Mikah. I’m your best friend. You did it with that stranger.”

“No,” is all I say.

“Rude,” he mutters, and I can’t help but laugh. Truthfully, I’m not opposed to having a threesome with Zach and Dominicbecause I trust them both. But I am not going to visit Zach just for that. I cannot handle going back to the trailer park yet. Maybe in a few years.

I give myself one last look in the mirror, then grab my jacket and shrug it on.

“Okay, I’m done. I gotta go.”

“Do not forget to send me a picture!”

“I won’t.” I grab the phone. “Bye, Zach.”

I end the call and snap a photo of myself in the bathroom mirror and send it to Zach.

Then I send a text to Dominic.

Me: Ready or not, here I come.

I head downstairs, dropping some food into the bowl for CP, and heading out the door.

“Be back later,” I call to him before locking up and going down the stairs. My phone dings so I pull it from my pocket.

Zach: Holy fuck, my dick is hard!

I roll my eyes and pocket my phone.

“Oh, Mikah. How are you?” the mail lady asks. “You look fancy. Hot date?”

I grin. “Yeah, something like that.”

She hands me my mail that I flip through as she moves on to Dominic’s house, putting his in his mailbox. I get to a letter that’s from the social security office. My heart does a flip. I’ve been waiting for them to get back to me. Apparently, it’s a long process to be approved for a new social security number. I get it. If they were easy with it, many people would do it and useit as an excuse. Steal their own identities just to get a new one. People are fucking crazy.

I tear it open with trembling fingers, unfold the paper, and read through quickly. I breathe out a sigh of relief, tipping my head back.

Approved.

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