Page 48 of I Knead You Tonight

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I pushopen the front door, relieved to finally be home.

Resting my back against the door, I take my first real breath in hours.

Simon wasn’t kidding about us needing to get ready for the lunch rush. It was intense. We got hit with not one, buttwoafter-soccer celebrations and were all running around ragged.

When we were still slammed for dinner, I called Sully to ask if it was okay to stay for a second shift to help Simon out.

Okay, okay—it was also to help out my barely-in-the-black checking account.

He agreed, and so I stayed, busting my ass all through the dinner rush and close.

It was all worth it though. Just thinking of the huge stack of bills in my apron makes my feet hurt just a little less.

“I thought we talked about you riding the bus so late at night.”

My eyes shoot across the room, surprised to find Winston sitting on the couch.

There’s no TV on, no laptop across his legs, no book in his hands.

He’s just sitting there.

Waiting.

Though I’m not surprised.

When I left work tonight, Leroy, the only cabbie in town, was waiting to give me a ride home.

“You Drew Woods?” he asked, resting against his yellow clunker.

“Yes? Can I help you?”

“I was sent by that Daniels kid to give you a ride home. He already paid, now I just gotta deliver.”

Of course Winston would send a cab. Heaven forbid I take the city bus home. It’s beneath him for some reason.

Annoyed, I roll my eyes.

Screw him. I’m not here for his handouts. I can take care of myself.

“You said he paid already?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Leroy says. “Tipped and everything.”

“Well then you won’t be mad if I decline the ride, will ya?”

“With the cash he gave me? Nah, kid. You do what you gotta do.”

So I walked my happy ass to the bus stop and waited for twenty minutes for the next one to arrive.

“You talked about it.” I push off the door, kicking my shoes away. “I pretended to listen. I don’t understand why riding the bus is like a sin in your eyes.”

“It’s dangerous.”

“I survived.”

“Yeah, well, you might not have. People are creepy as fuck these days. Something could have happened to you. Then where would Riker be?”

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