Page 49 of Savage in the Streets
Mabel is elated with this development but not at all surprised. I asked her once about Carolyn, his first love, but at the mention of her name, Mabel’s eyes grew dark. Like she didn’t want to betray a friend.
Finally, she said, “Carolyn and you are complete opposites. She was a tame beauty queen on the outside and wild on the inside. You are wild on the outside, and quite frankly, with your personality, you could live in a senior living facility.”
I wish I could say her words set me at ease, but they did just the opposite.
Now, I worry that Ashton thinks I’m something I’m not. That I’m wild and crazy when the reality of it is I just like edgy fashion.
I don’t drink. I don’t do drugs. I don’t jaywalk. I knit when I’m stressed. I have nightmares.
“Hey, sexy!”
I look over to see Ashton waggling his brow at me.
He’s been holed up in his office the last eight hours, telling me I’m not allowed in lest I derail his work.
“Any updates? Am I doomed to rock an orange jumpsuit in the foreseeable future?”
He comes over to give me a kiss, but lingers to sniff my newly cut hair.
Ashton is definitely a sensory kind of guy and is always seeking to get close to me, and as he says,experience all of me.
“We were able to trace some of the money being deposited and withdrawn into the account set up in your name. Most was converted into Visa gift cards, spent almost immediately online.”
“Is that good?”
“Ehhh, it’s an okay development. There’s plenty of room for reasonable doubt.”
That lightens my spirit, until I remember Mabel’s description of Carolyn.
“Ash, I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“I’m not who you think I am?”
“What do you mean?”
I snicker. “I’m not some wild, lawless woman. I’m a cat mom. I don’t even drink, and when I don’t have an appointment with a client, I go to bed at nine. I know your ex was a lot of fun and—”
His finger presses against my lip, hushing me.
“Not another word about Carolyn. This is about you. You’re wild enough for me. The last thing I want is for you to turn into her.”
“I hope so…”
“Here.” He hands me some pamphlets. “I wanted you to look these over.”
I open one to see an island surrounded by clear blue water. Another pamphlet shows a beach with black sand.
“I want to be the one to show you the world, Bailey. I want to see your face when you step into the ocean for the first time. I want to take you everywhere you want to go.”
The thought of seeing these places is as thrilling as it is terrifying. I’ve never been outside of my tiny town and exploring new horizons never seemed to be in the cards for me. Especially now that I meet the very definition of destitute.
“I don’t know about all this,” I say. “If I get off, I have to start from scratch. I don’t even have my high school diploma. I suppose I should get that. I am in an enormous amount of debt. Technically, I’m gonna be homeless. I can’t waste my time galavanting around the globe when I…when I have no roots…”
Again, my mother’s words come back to haunt me. I will always be in shallow soil, the slightest breeze casting me into chaos.
“Bailey, you’re not just some random hookup. As far as I’m concerned, your home is right here.”
