Chapter 12
Trinity
It was Friday. Which meant I had my one on campus class this morning.
Therapeutic interventions weren't available online like my other two courses. With practice twice a day and games on Saturdays, the online classes would be more flexible and manageable. This one was not. But Fridays were very laid back. Not even a full dressed-out practice, so my presence wasn’t even required in the mornings.
Even though I had barely enough time to myself, I still needed to pay for basic necessities like food, gas, and the very hefty student loan payment that was looming around the corner.
So here I stood at the community bulletin board in the student center, looking for any help wanted signs.
My eyes scanned the random flyers attached to the board.
One read “dystopian male searching for female companion.” Wow.
I guess we’ve left Craigslist in the dust. Another was for a full-time bartender at a nightclub.
An opening at a mechanic shop. Nope. But then I spotted the small pink flyer hidden behind a KEGGER party sign.
Waitress needed. Flexible schedule. Laces Out Bar and Grill.
Bingo.
“Thank God it’s still there.”
The voice behind me appeared suddenly and highly distraught, causing me to nearly trip over my own feet.
“Shimaney Cricket.” She righted me with two hands. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Shimaney Cricket?” I laughed lightly at the bubbly blonde who smiled at me.
Her hair was crimped like the eighties and she wore the biggest gold hoop earrings I’d ever seen.
“Sorry. I’m fasting.”
“Fasting?” I lifted a brow.
“Yeah. Gave up cursing for a month. It’s a family thing.” She rolled her eyes. “I have to get creative with my adjectives now.”
I shrugged casually. “Well, I wish you all the fucking luck.”
She was stunned silent before she busted out a laugh. “That was a good one. And on the spot like that? Impressive.” She held out her hand. “I’m Landry.”
“Trinity.” I shook her hand before glancing back at the board. “Know anything about this Laces Out place?”
“Know anything?” She clucked her tongue in a scolding manner. “You’re looking at the heir to the college bar throne.” She plucked the pink piece of paper from the board. “My family owns it.”
“You still hiring?” I asked.
“You got any experience?”
“Enough. But I’m shadowing the athletic trainer for the football season, so my schedule may be a little out of the norm.”
“No way.” She flung an arm over my shoulder, like we just read each other our diaries and painted our toenails. “My boyfriend, J.C. Tull, plays on the team.”
“The defensive lineman?”
“That’s him.” She winked. “Been dragging that boy around since we were six years old.”
She shoved the pink paper in her pocket.
“Usually when the Cougars win, which they will, everyone celebrates at Laces Out. Come by tomorrow night and we can get you all set up.”
An odd feeling washed over me. Kindness without consequences wasn’t something I was used to. There was always a catch. I did this for you. Now what will you do for me?
“That’s it?” I asked. “You just give some random girl a job?”
She laughed again, her blue eyes dancing. “I get a vibe about you.” She dropped her arm. “And Lord knows I can use another female friend with all the testosterone I’m surrounded with.”
I opened my mouth to speak when she whipped out a pink business card. That smells good. “Here. My number is on it. Text me after the game.”
She held out the rectangular card, her number neatly printed in gold ink.
“All right then.”
“Nice to meet you, Trinity. Welcome to Canyon.”
I had just plated the chicken I seared to perfection when my phone rang.
I hadn’t spoken to my mother since last week.
That was due to her lack of calling and partially from my pure stance on avoidance.
The trust between us had been fractured, and I was trying to see past the hurt to build it back.
But it was tough. Alone wasn’t a new feeling.
I’d felt it since I was a kid, but here in this new place, it seemed I had an opportunity to change that.
I just wasn’t sure if I was ready to. To let someone in.
To put my trust in people who had the power to break my heart.
Placing my fork on the counter, I swiped the screen.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Trinity. You haven’t called.” Her tone wasn’t hard, but I could hear the underlying strain.
“Sorry. It’s been a busy week. Class and practices officially started, so it’s been hectic.”
“It’s okay. I’ve been trying to work on revamping your old room.”
That didn’t take long.
“This color you chose doesn’t really suit me.”
“Well, have at it. It’s your house,” I retorted as I picked up my plate to carry it to the table.
I sat down, bringing the fork up to my mouth. I was starving.
“So when should I come visit?”
I nearly choked on the first bite of chicken.
“Visit?”
“Yes. Visit.” She huffed. “You are my child.”
“Well, my schedule is pretty packed. With classes and practice and now my job at the grill.”
“Job? Why do you need a job, Trinity? Your moneybags father is down the street.”
I took a sip of my tea before I answered with poise. “I have bills to pay. I’ve never needed him to pay for them before.”
“You act like it’s thousands.”
Fury crawled over me. “You’re right. Thousands would be like what you spent on my credit card without my knowledge.”
My hand throbbed as I clenched my fingers around the dining utensil, the metal cold and hard.
“I thought we were past that. We agreed I would pay it back.”
“And have you?” I asked. “That follows me around forever, Mom. You ruined my credit. You know how long it will take me to build that back up?”
“You are overreacting,” she chided. “I’m working on it. I’ve asked Marcelo to help me.”
“So you’re going to rob Peter to pay Paul?”
“I can’t talk to you when you’re like this. Call me when you’ve calmed down.”
The click was deafening. I just stared at the screen before I sighed. I needed some stress relief and there was only one thing that would deliver.
A hot shower.