Page 11 of See Me

Don’t curse.

Don’t curse.

That man is infuriating. Not that he knows how hard it is for me to ask for a handout, but still. Does he have to dismiss me by flicking his hand toward the door? I throw the shirts in my locker and slam it shut. I pace the locker room and take in a few deep breaths. I’m already at the end of my rope. Tonight is my last night in the dorm. I’ve been lying to my friends all week, telling them I’ve been at the library making lesson plans when in reality I’m working all day and staying up all night making lesson plans after Jess goes to sleep.

And tomorrowI’ll pack my stuff in my car and drive away with nowhere to go. With a murderer on the loose. It’s fine. This is fine. Every few days I can just suggest a sleepover with my girls and tell them my place is too small. At least I’ll have somewhere to sleep once a week or so.

I pace a circle on the floor and roll my shoulders out, shaking my hands. Breathe in, breathe out. In, out. I have a plan, This is fine.

I walk out to find Enzo bent over his phone on the bar and Tomi taking orders from the only table occupied.

I plaster a smile on my face. “Good morning.”

Silence.

“Hey, what are you doing?” I lean down to place myself in his eye line. “I said good morning.”

He looks up. “What rhymes with episiotomy?”

My mouth falls open.

“What? I’m writing a poem. It’s for my dating profile.”

“You’re a pig.” I shake my head and walk toward the kitchen to grab an apron.

“Why? I want everyone to know I’m an equal opportunity dater.” He yells when I keep walking. “I don’t discriminate against moms.”

“Unbelievable,” I mutter to myself.

“Morning, Ella.” Omar greets me with a smile.

“Hey, Omar.”

“Wanna see something?”

“Sure.” I walk around to enter the kitchen and he pulls out his phone. He brings up a picture of a little bundle wrapped in pink blankets. “My new granddaughter.”

I take his phone. “Oh, Omar. She’s gorgeous.”

He beams. “Capria Annalise.” I didn’t think it possible, but his smile gets bigger.

“A gorgeous name for a gorgeous girl. You must be one proud papa.”

“That I am.” He looks at the picture once more and pockets his phone.

“Congratulations. I hope to meet her one day.”

He nods and smiles. “Yes, yes, of course.”

“I better get out there but you think you could—”

He points to the back of the kitchen. “It's in the walk-in.”

“You’re an angel, Omar.” I kiss his cheek and he winks.

I can’t wait for lunch.

I walk back out to find Tomi and Enzo in a whisper fight.

---