Page 39 of Money Reigns
A chill licks down my spine, but I shove it off, telling myself I must have been distracted this morning. Still, my hand trembles as I slide the key into the lock.
Inside, the silence hits like a wall.
I drop my purse on the counter, toss the keys next to it, and collapse onto the couch, pulling up the rent app again.
Loading…
System currently under maintenance. Please try again later.
I blink. Tap it again.
Same screen.
What the hell? Since when do leasing apps go down for maintenance?
Annoyed, I open my contacts and hitMama.
She answers on the second ring, her voice soft and warm. “Hey, Liv Bug.”
“Hey, Mama,” I exhale, rubbing my temple. “Just checking in. Everything okay, how’s the inn?”
She pauses, like she’s trying to decide how much truth to give me.
“We scraped together enough to pay the quarter,” she finally says. “But next one… I don’t know, sweetheart. We’ll do what we can.”
I closemy eyes. “I got a raise,” I say quickly. “A small one, but it’ll help. I’ll send some money this week.”
Her voice softens. “Livvy, no. You’ve done more than enough.”
“You’re my family, mom. Getting money for the inn… it’s the whole reason I’m here.”
“I’d rather haveyouthan your money,” she says gently. “You know that, right?”
My heart stutters.
I stare at the apartment, the small chrome kitchen, the whitewashed walls, the fancy office shoes still sitting by the door. It all feels borrowed.
Like none of it really belongs to me.
“I know,” I whisper. “I just… I’m trying.”
“I know you are,” she says. Then I hear my brother Dean’s voice in the background, loud and teasing.
“Tell her I saved the last of the cobbler!” he shouts. “But only if she comes home and eats it herself.”
A small laugh escapes me. “He’s still holding me hostage over dessert?”
“He’s still got that sweet tooth, that’s for sure.”
I sigh, my heart ebbing. “I’ve gotta go. I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Love you, Liv Bug.”
“Love you too.”
I end the call and sink back against the couch, phone limp in my hand.
The app still won’t open.
