Chapter Three
Four days since her suspension, no money coming in, and her rent was due in two days.
Life is not fucking good. But there were some perks, and she was living one of them now.
Keely scanned the manicured lawn from the patio of her best friend’s new digs.
This was the life, and if anyone had deserved it, it was Charley.
She’d officially moved in with Nash a month ago, but this was the first time Keely had been to their home.
They have a friggin’ elevator. Her best friend’s life had done a complete one-eighty.
And while Keely was happy Charley had finally found her happily ever after, it shed light on Keely’s opposite circumstance. My life is in the shitter.
She slumped her shoulders, settling into her seat. Keely had just rehashed the events of the last few days following her berating and humiliating encounter with Rogue. She ground her teeth, shaking her head. Asshole!
“He said that to you?” Charley’s shock proved she didn’t know Rogue too well. She seemed more upset than Keely.
That hadn’t been the case days ago when it happened. Keely was usually pretty good at letting things roll off her shoulders. This time, it had taken her longer to recover. Maybe it had been the timing or the audience watching her humiliation play out live.
“Oh, and the cherry on the fucking sundae? Take one guess who had a front row seat at my bashing.”
Charley knitted her brows, then her eyes widened, and her lips pulled into a frown. “Caine was there?”
“Yup.” Keely dropped her head back on the chair and sighed. “But I mean, at least I got to have some amazing eye candy before I crashed and burned.”
“Did you talk to him?” Charley’s voice hitched.
Her best friend knew all about her crush on Caine.
Keely glanced over and smirked. “Yeah. I said hi, and as usual, he ignored me.”
Charley deflated slightly. If she had to guess, her friend was hoping for a love match. Girl, I’m on board. Keely waved her hand. “That should be the least of my worries. It sounded like a suspension, but you never know with Rogue. He could fire me.”
Keely internally groaned at the prospect. I need this job.
“Have you thought about looking for other employment?” Charley straightened in her seat. “I can see if Elle is hiring. I know a few of the girls are looking for full time jobs now that they’ve graduated. We should have an opening coming up soon.”
It was a sweet offer, and she’d expected nothing less from her best friend. It would definitely be a better work atmosphere. But…
“It won’t pay enough to cover my bills.”
Keely sighed heavily, dropped her head back on the chair, and looked up at the sky.
She’d learned quickly after a three-day bender of job searching, that for all its misery, the Bowery paid really well.
She was having a hard time finding something comparable.
It was incredible how much debt could be accrued in a short time when she had no money coming in.
She’d have her last paycheck to keep her afloat for the next two weeks, but it was definitely setting her back.
“I’m meeting up with Sloane for lunch in a few hours. Hopefully, she has some idea when and if I’ll be able to go back.”
“I’m sorry, Keely.”
She shrugged, playing it off. Realistically, if she self-reflected, maybe Rogue wasn’t far off in his assessment. Hard work and hustle wasn’t where Keely shined. There wasn’t much she took seriously and opted for living for the moment rather than planning for the future.
“You know” —Charley awkwardly shifted in her seat, refusing to make eye contact— “If you need help, maybe a loan…”
Fuck me! Keely held up her hand instantly, silencing her best friend. The last thing she wanted was to be a charity case or a burden on Charley. As much as she appreciated the offer, more so the sweet gesture behind it, Keely wouldn’t accept any type of handouts. She’d figure it out.
I always do.
“I’m good, Charley.” Keely paused, prepping for the biggest lie she’d ever told. Hopefully it came out believable and authentic. “I have a rainy-day fund.”
Charley’s eyes widened, and she clamped her lips.
Yeah, she didn’t believe Keely. Why should she?
I’m lying! Keely didn’t own an umbrella, let alone have cash stored away for emergencies.
She lived paycheck to paycheck, sometimes spending her earnings before receiving them.
I’m a walking financial disaster. But that wasn’t anything she’d willingly admit.
Keely peered out into the yard again.
“I’ll be fine.”
A small timer sounded in the distance. Banana bread.
It was Charley’s specialty. Her friend stood, and Keely was relieved for the distraction.
Charley grabbed her phone, tapped the screen, and handed it to Keely.
“You know what would make this better? Shoes. The Boutique just got in a new shipment.”
What the…
Keely knitted her brows and slowly angled her head, peering up at Charley.
“What part of ‘ I’m broke’ did you miss?”
Charley snickered and shrugged. “The part where I mention it’s your birthday coming up. Pick a pair.”
Keely grabbed the arms of her chair and straightened. “Are you serious?”
Charley started toward the sliding doors to the house. “Yes. Happy early birthday!”
Keely immediately started sifting through the inventory. Too many choices. She was stuck between two pairs when a text came through.
Caine: Send your work schedule by the end of the day.
Keely gasped, and jerked her head over her shoulder, leaning over slightly to look in the house. Charley was at the kitchen counter. Keely turned in her seat staring down at his name.
Caine. Access to this man was just another thing she found herself coveting over her best friend’s lifestyle.
She tapped the information tab and his details popped up.
It was just his name and phone number, but butterflies swarmed in her belly.
She could almost imagine hearing his voice on the end of the line. Deep, gruff, and so incredibly sexy.
Don’t do it!
What was the point anyway? Caine didn’t even remember her, let alone have any interest. Every interaction with the man had been an absolute disaster.
A drunken night at the club and a mortifying run in where he hadn’t remembered meeting her.
Hell, he hadn’t even acknowledged her at work a few days ago.
His lack of interest couldn’t be more obvious.
Having his phone number would only serve as a reminder of what she couldn’t have.
But where’s the harm?
Keely would never call him. Then why have his number?
But…why not? She quickly pulled up her message thread with Charley, shared the contact, and sent it.
Keely deleted the message and pulled up the camera roll just as Charley walked back out onto the patio.
And she wasn’t alone. Keely smiled, lifting her hand in a short wave.
“Hey, Nash!” Her voice was high-pitched. Even for Keely it seemed over the top.
It had been a few days since she’d seen him at her roasting courtesy of Rogue.
He grasped the back of the vacant chair, eyeing her. “How are you?”
Keely snorted, raising her eyebrows. “You mean, since my berating from Rogue in front of the entire club? Just peachy.”
It was always easier to add humor to the mix when discussing an embarrassing episode. Nash seemed to appreciate it.
He smirked, shaking his head. “He does have a way with words, doesn’t he?”
Keely forced a chuckle, playing it off. “Yeah, he does. But” —she shrugged— “getting ripped apart by him is like a rite of passage working at the Bowery.”
Asshole!
*
Keely arrived at Parry’s ten minutes late but there was no sign of Sloane.
Considering the line to the door, she was surprised she got in.
It was another twenty minutes before she placed her order and sat down.
It was a miracle she’d even gotten a table.
She watched the door expecting Sloane to walk in at any second.
She didn’t. Ten minutes later, she was doing the torturous task of resisting the urge to eat her meal.
Keely held out for two minutes then dug in to her Paella.
If I was on death row, this would definitely be my last meal request.
She periodically checked her phone and texted Sloane several times with no response.
Did she stand me up? It was completely out of character for her quirky manager and friend.
By the time she finished her food, it had been over an hour past her scheduled meet up with Sloane.
Keely’s patience had run out, especially when Parry started eyeing her.
There were only a few tables in the small eatery, and they were a hot commodity.
Keely grabbed her garbage and tossed it while walking out.
Now, what?
She checked her phone again, taking in the time.
It was just past five. Had this been a week ago, she’d be getting ready for a shift.
She was halfway down the block when she heard a strange horn honking incessantly.
Being in the city, it was nothing new, but the odd beeping had her looking over her shoulder at the cars.
Traffic was steady and moving. Nothing out of the ordinary.
When the horn sounded again, she shifted her eyes to the curb watching the mint green scooter race toward her.
Keely openly laughed. How could she not?
There was nothing more entertaining on the streets of Lawry than Sloane Baxter zipping around on her scooter.
Keely walked to the curb, meeting Sloane.