Page 128 of One Good Crash
"Well, goodie for you," my mom muttered. She turned back to me and said, "So, you're turning me out on the street? Is that it?"
"No." I made a sound of frustration. "But I do think a hotelwouldbe better."
Her mouth tightened. "Oh yeah? So who's paying?"
Before I could reply, Jax said, "Me."
I cringed. I didn't want him to pay. He'd already paid enough. I looked to my mom and said, "No. He's not. But if you don't have the money,I'llpay."
How, I wasn't sure. Maybe I could get a loan from Allie? Was she even home? I doubted it. I didn't see her truck, and besides, if shewerehome, she'd probably be down here already.
Hell, she could join the neighbors who were openly gawking from their porches.
Jax's voice cut through the noise. "It's already paid for. And so's the cab." He looked to my mom and said, "But the offer expires in one minute. So take it while you can."
My mom turned and gave the cab a long, speculative look. "What about the tip?"
I blurted out, "I'll get it."
"No," Jax said in a deceptively calm voice, "you won't, because I already took care of it."
My mom was still looking at the taxi. "How many nights at the Plaza?"
I wanted to slap her. "Just one. Jeez, what do you think?"
Her chin lifted. "I think it's not enough."
Jax said, "It's paid for a week. After that, you're on your own."
My mom gave it some thought. "My room, it's an ocean-view, right?"
In a tight voice, Jax replied, "They'reallocean-view."
Now, she was giving him the squinty eye. "What floor is it on? Is it on the top floor?"
I snapped, "Does it matter?"
"It might," she said. "You know, for safety and all that."
Jax told her, "The longer you stay, the lower it gets. Keep it up, and you'll be in the basement."
And that's what did it.
Thirty seconds later, she and her suitcase were settled back inside the cab. I watched in mortified silence as it pulled away, leaving us staring after it.
When it finally disappeared, I took a nervous look around. Almost every porch was occupied with people I didn't even know. But they knew me.Now, anyway.
I felt like running, or at the very least, hiding. But soon, I didn't need to, because Jax wrapped me in his arms and pulled me close. His voice was quiet in my hair. "You alright?"
I sighed against him. "Shouldn't I be askingyouthat?"
"Hell no."
I leaned back to gaze up at him. "But aren't you tired of my drama?"Heaven knows, I was.
"It's notyourdrama," he said, "so forget it."
I gave a weak laugh. "Easy for you to say." I took another quick look around. My apartment windows were dark, and I still saw no sign of Allie's truck.
