Chapter 8
Lauralyn
“You got the job, Portia. Make sure you’re there at noon tomorrow.”
My stomach drops as I hear Lola’s words. He gave her the job. I should’ve known he’d pick her. I saw the way he was looking at her, that lustful look in his eyes. But I was still holding out hope that he’d keep his word. Turns out I was nothing but a means for some high school revenge.
The tears blur my vision, and I almost don’t want to enter Lola’s office.
“Told you he’d pick me,” Portia boasts in her snotty tone as she comes walking out the door.
“And he doesn’t just want me for the job.
” She cuts me with an evil smirk. “Now, it’s only a matter of time before he puts a ring on my finger.
And then I’ll become an Ol’ Lady and be a queen in this town.
Can you imagine getting to wake up next to that sexy-as-hell biker every day?
I’m not going to be able to keep my hands off him. ”
I don’t want to hear anymore. It’s bad enough that my dreams of finishing school were just ripped away, but this…
Listening to Portia brag about her future with Holt…
Imagining them together… It’s like pouring salt into a wound and rubbing it into the raw flesh.
It burns worse than when I walked in and discovered my fiancé fucking my best friend.
“I hope it all works out for you,” I state, trying not to let her see the truth, but her brightened smile is proof that she knows she’s gotten to me.
I will never understand why she hates me so much.
She’s the one with all the leads in the shows.
She’s the one who goes home with the men, getting extra tips and attention.
All I do is clock in, do my job, and then go home to study.
I keep to myself and I don’t stir up trouble.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” She smirks. “Some guy called for you earlier. He said that if he didn’t receive payment by Monday, he was sending the case to collections.”
I guess that was his final attempt at reaching me. Now, Portia and the rest of the world know my business. And it looks like she’s more than happy about it.
She shoves past me and I take a steadying breath before entering Lola’s office. I just pray I don’t break down in front of her. Lola has enough to deal with right now. She doesn’t need a sobbing mess on her hands.
“Why didn’t you tell me things had gotten so bad?” she asks me pointedly.
I take a seat, feeling the tears threatening to fall. “Because I didn’t want you to feel like you needed to bail me out again.” She’s already helped me enough—giving me cash advances in the past, extra shifts. I’m done draining her of her generous kindness.
“Laur, honey, when are you going to realize that I’m more than just your boss? I’m your friend. I care about you. And I would never let you be put out on the street. If you need money, I can lend it to you.”
I shake my head no. With the amount I owe, I’d never be able to pay her back.
“I need to do this on my own, Lola. You’ve already done so much for me. If I have to hold off school for a few years, I will. And if I have to move into a cheaper place, I can do that too.”
“Cheaper place,” she scoffs. “That dump you live in already gives me agita. I have Dale follow you home every night just to make sure you’re safe.”
“You do?” I didn’t know he did that. Now, I feel even worse. She’s always having to look out for me.
“Of course I do. I’m not old enough to be your mom, but that’s how I feel towards you. You’re a sweet girl, and I don’t want to see you wind up hurt.”
The tears finally fall, slipping right down my cheeks, little drops of pain.
Lola is the only one I have left. I lost my dad.
My mom. My friends. Collin. Everything I’ve ever known.
And all I have is this place and the woman who gave me a chance.
She may not be old enough to be my mom, but I wish she was.
She’s a million times better than the one I was given.
Lola’s been through hell and back, but she’s never let anything take her down.
She didn’t turn to drugs or burn her world down when life didn’t go her way.
She stayed strong. She fought. And she now uses her past to help others.
“I appreciate everything, Lola. But I have to do this on my own.”
“Well, if you won’t take my money, then at least take the job for the weekend. Deuce called.” My eyes snap up from the floor. “He wants to hire you. Wants you there at noon tomorrow.”
He does?
“But I thought Portia got the gig.”
She shakes her head, handing me a Kleenex. “She did. But Deuce needs two girls for the weekend.”
Really? He does? Wow, this is the lucky break I needed. This will save me.
“Yes! Yes, I’ll take the job. Thank you, Lola. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“Don’t thank me, honey. Thank Deuce. By the way, be careful this weekend. I don’t want you getting your hopes up that there’s going to be a golden lining at the end of this. No matter how romantic the man may be or how much fun you have, I don’t want you thinking it means more than it does.”
She has nothing to worry about. I don’t expect anything other than a paycheck at the end of the weekend. I’m not like Portia. I’m not trying to get some rich billionaire to fall in love with me and put a ring on my finger. Already had one of those and look how that turned out for me.
“I know this is just a job, Lola. I’m not after a man right now. All I want to do is finish my degree and go chase my dreams.”
“I want that for you too, hon. Now, before I start crying over the fact that I’m going to lose you one day, go on and get yourself ready for your set.”
I stand and rush to her, pulling her in for a hug. “You’re never going to lose me, Lola. I’m always going to need a mom.”
She hugs me tighter and the tears rock through us both.