Sierra
Chapter fifteen
What the hell did I just do? I should have stuck to my guns and said no, but when he mentioned Sam getting sick, my heart started racing with worry.
How would I take her to the doctor? I sure as hell don’t want to reach out to Aunt Sarah for help, especially after she took everything I’d saved.
Which reminds me, I need to talk with Mrs. Butler about stashing my money there.
Something I should’ve done way before now.
If I had, then I wouldn’t be in the situation I’m in now, needing to talk to Rico about increasing the shifts I’d just cut down. He’s going to kill me.
Zander places his hand on the small of my back, and fuck if I don’t feel tingles.
He’s treated me so kindly today, something I’ve not had from anyone at school in so long.
I’m about to open the door when he stops me.
“I’m right there,” he says, pointing to his car.
“When I unlock the door, I want you to run.” I just nod my head as he clicks his key fob and gestures for me to go.
I make it inside the car just seconds before him.
He quickly puts the key in the ignition and starts it up, turning the defroster on to clear the fogged-up windows.
“I wish I had something for you to dry off with,” he says with a look of disappointment on his face.
“So I need the address to put in my GPS or for you to give me directions.”
“Oh, yeah, guess you need that.” I open my book bag and rummage through it until I find the paper with the address written on it.
“I’ve actually not been there before, but I have the address.
” I can’t look him in the face, knowing he’s probably wondering why I’m picking Sam up and riding the bus.
Hell, we can’t all come from money. Straightening the paper out, I hand it over to him so he can put it in the GPS. Once he’s done, he hands it back.
“Let’s go get your sister. Brax told me she’s hilarious.”
“He… he… told you about her?” Shock’s not the word I’d use to describe what I’m feeling. Why would he mention her to his brother? He’s treated me like he doesn’t even know who I am.
“Yeah. He told us he wished we’d talk about him like she does you.” He places his arm along the back of my seat, winking as he looks over his shoulder and backs out of the spot.
He keeps trying to spark up a conversation, but all I give him are short answers, hoping eventually he’ll get the picture so we can just ride in silence, but he doesn’t.
Even when we are pulling up outside the house, he’s still trying to talk, opening his door to get out when I open mine. “What are you doing?” I ask in panic.
“Umm… getting out to walk to the door with you.” His face twists in confusion.
“No. Just wait here. I’ll get her,” I tell him, but it comes out more like an order, as I get out, shutting the door behind me. Rushing up the driveway, I keep looking over my shoulder until I finally get to the door, making sure he isn’t following me.
Thankfully, he doesn’t. I lift my hand and ring the doorbell, anxiously rocking back and forth on my feet, wringing my hands together.
I’m not even paying attention when the door opens and the sweetest voice, one that reminds me of my mom, speaks.
“My word, honey, get in here. You must be Sam’s sister. I swear you look just like her.”
“Yes, ma’am. Was she any problem?”
“Oh no, she was such a joy. We hope she can come over and spend the night with Destiny again. They’ve already been planning it.” She laughs before calling out into the house for the girls.
Sam comes running, wrapping her arms around me after skidding to a stop. “Are you ready to go, kiddo?”
“Do I have to? We were just about to play dress up.” I about laugh at the way she crosses her arms over her chest and pouts, sticking out her lip, but I don’t.
“No, Zander is out front waiting for us. So I need you to go grab your bags and thank Mrs. Thompson for letting you stay.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Thompson.” Sam barely gets the words out before she and Destiny take off into the house, returning a few minutes later with her overnight bag and backpack.
We’ve hardly stepped back out the door before Sam’s questioning me, “Who’s Zander?”
“Remember the guy you were talking to at the shoe store? It’s his brother. We were working on a project for school when it was time to pick you up. He offered to give me a ride to get you and take us home, so we wouldn’t have to ride the bus in the rain. Now let’s go and not keep him waiting.”
We take off down the driveway, Sam hurrying into the car, already strapping her seat belt when I get in.
Zander turns around in his seat, a smile beaming on his face.
“Well hello, Sam, I’m Zander. It’s a pleasure to meet you.
Are you hungry? I was just telling your sister how much I’d love to have two pretty ladies like yourself join me for some lunch.
What do you say?” Zander looks at me, tossing a wink and flashing a million-dollar smile. Asshole!
“Zander…” I start, but he puts his finger up, covering my lip, stopping me.
“Nope. This is between me and Sam. So, what do you say? How does pizza sound?”
“Like my favorite. Let’s go, what are we waiting on,” Sam shouts in excitement, bouncing around in her seat.
“Looks like we’re having lunch before I take you home.
” He smirks, removing his finger, before placing the car in gear and backing down the driveway.
He knows exactly what he did. I can’t say no now.
He thinks he’s won. I just cross my arms over my chest, staring out the window, pouting like a kid.
Secretly, though, I’m excited about spending more time with him.
I start counting in my head how much cash I have on me.
No way was I letting him pay for us. This isn’t a date and we’re not a charity case.
I was nervous the entire time. Not about spending time with Zander, I’d already been doing that.
I was worried that Sam would spill something, especially with all the questions he was asking her.
Nothing made me happier than when she grew tired of him after eating and ran off to play games.
Zander bought some tokens with the food order and gave them all to Sam.
“Is something wrong?” He scoots his chair over to me, leaning in.
“No. Why would you ask that?” I force a smile on my face as I turn and gaze into his gorgeous, honey-brown eyes, which are full of concern.
“You seem jumpy, especially when I talk to your sister. Are you guys in some type of witness protection program and you’re afraid she’ll spill the beans?"
I laugh nervously. If he only knew how close that was to the truth.
“You’ve watched too many movies. I’m just protective of her.
That’s all. But it’s getting late, and my aunt will be home from work soon and wonder where we are,” I lie.
I honestly need a nap before going to work tonight, and I really want to spend some time with Sam, too.
“Oh,” he says softly. “Want me to go get Sam? I think she’s in the middle of the ball pit.
But first can I…” He stops for a minute, angling his body more towards mine.
“Can I get your number? You know, so we can talk about the project.” I don’t know why, but I feel a twinge of pain when I hear the reason he’s asked.
“Like I said before, I don’t have a house phone and my aunt only gave me a cellphone with a certain amount of minutes and no text. I really don’t have one to give you,” I tell him again, this time giving him a little more information than I should.
He just stares at me silently, furrowing his brows together. When I go to stand, he reaches out and stops me. “I think I have an idea. I’ll let you know for sure on Monday,” he says, before jumping up out of his seat and rushing over to where Sam is.
I shake my head, confused and a little worried about this idea he thinks he has. Standing, I head over to them.
The ride home was quiet, well, except for Sam’s excited chatter.
She kept going on and on about what they did last night, and then the cool game she was playing at the pizza place.
Before I know it, the car stops, and I see we’re at my apartment building already.
Sam shouts out a thank you to Zander, quickly jumping out of the car and running inside.
Biting my lip, I turn toward Zander, who’s staring at me. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I had a great time today.
See you on Monday.” He winks as I open the door and get out.
It stopped raining so I take my time heading inside, stopping once I’m in the lobby to look out the window at him.
To my shock, he’s still sitting there, his eyes locked on mine as he stares back.
Shaking it off, I rush up the stairs to find Sam waiting at the apartment door for me. “He likes you,” she sings songs.
“Stop, Sam. He’s just a classmate I have to do a project with. Nothing else.” I move past her and unlock the door. “I’m going to go take a nap, so don’t open the door for anyone and stay inside,” I tell her as I make my way down the hallway.
“Okay,” she replies as she heads to the kitchen. I guess my answer is enough because she drops the subject.
I continue my trudge down the hallway to my room.
Opening the door, I drop my backpack on the floor.
The air is so stale and stifling, the humidity mixed with the rain, making the room feel like a sauna.
I long for winter, where it’s easier to add clothing to stay warm than it is to take off clothing to cool down.
I take the few steps across my room and turn on the fan, before removing every article of clothing but my shirt and panties, and face plant on the bed. I don’t even care that my pillows aren’t all fluffy or folded up the way I like them because sleep overtakes me.
A small hand shakes me as soft words are spoken. “Ci Ci,” the child's voice calls out again, but I just bat the hand away. I just want to sleep right now. I never feel like I get enough. “Ci Ci, you got to wake up. You said you had to work tonight, and it’s past the time you would’ve been up.”
Realization hits me and I jump up so fast I lose balance and fall backward off the bed, my ass hitting the floor so hard, pain radiates up my spine and down my legs. I barely keep my head from meeting the same fate.
“Shit! Fuck!” I scream as I roll over to my hands and knees and push myself up. When I try to stand, my left leg throbs and I’d bet a million dollars I have an ugly bruise already forming.
“I’m sorry,” Sam panics, thinking it’s her fault.
“For what? I should’ve set an alarm before I passed out.
Thank you for waking me, though.” I pull on her braid as I smile sweetly at her.
“Did you eat?” I ask, rushing around the room, trying to get all my shit for work tonight into my bag.
Once I double-check that I’ve got everything, I pick up my discarded clothes from the floor and pull them on.
“Sam?” I call her name again since she didn’t answer my question.
“I had some ice cream and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I’m still full from all that pizza.” She places her hand on her stomach and rubs it in circular motions.
Checking the old battered clock on my dresser, I realize I’ve got five minutes to get to the bus stop if I have any hopes of being somewhat on time. God, I hope Rico’s in a good mood today.
“Okay, let’s go. I need to get you upstairs and to work and I’m already late.” Grabbing my things, I rush her out of the room, snatching up my keys from the kitchen table as I pass it.
Running Sam up to Mrs. Butler’s, she notices how frazzled I am about my schedule being shot to hell, and rushes me out the door.
I sprint down the stairs and barrel out the front door of the building.
But I’m stopped dead in my tracks by the brick wall that I run smack into.
For the second time today, my body is thrust backward, except this time the impact never happens.
Two hands attached to the most muscular arms known to man grasp hold of me, keeping me on my feet.
“Guess I don’t have to go upstairs to get you,” a deep voice I know says while laughing.
I’m still trying to process what’s going on. He’s here. Why? Shit, if he finds out my secret, I’m screwed. We’re screwed. They’ll take Sam and we’ll most likely be separated.
“Wh-what are you doing here?” Just as soon as the words leave my mouth, I see my bus pass by the building.
Fuck! “Shit! That’s my bus. I’ve got to go and try to catch it.
” I try to push past him, but he still hasn’t let go of my arms. “Hold up, Lilac, that's why I’m here. There’s no reason for you to ride the bus when I pass right by here to go to work.
Remember last night I told you I could take you to work?
” He finally releases me, and my shoulders slump in defeat.
Regardless if I remember him telling me or not, I’ve missed my bus, and to keep from being later than I need to be, I guess I'm going to need to suck it up and accept his ride.
“Fine, but you shouldn’t have just shown up like this. It’s kinda creepy and stalkerish if you really want to know.” He chuckles like I’m joking, and damn if it doesn’t make me feel things I shouldn’t.
No, Sierra! There are no boys in the cards for you. Not the knight in shining armor or the guy who loves books you want to cuddle up with.
He extends his arm out towards the door as he does a slight bow, and using his best English accent, “My lady, your chariot awaits.”
And there goes another tiny piece of my shield.