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“Five grand? That’s a shit-ton of money.”

“It’s a big house.”

“But it was paid off.”

She holds up her hand. “Five teenagers and a lot of medical bills.”

“And you carry that burden and raise your boy?”

“She helps.”

I shut my mouth and then I can’t. “When I was a teenager, I slung newspapers and rode my bike into town to shovel sidewalks when I was hungry.”

“You were hungry?” she asks in a voice that tells me she feels sorry for me.

“No, I worked.”

This time, it’s her turn to reach over and hold my hand, and it feels good.

***

When we get to the hotel in Orlando, it’s late, really late. I know she slept for shit last night, so tonight, I have to let her sleep, but tomorrow, I have other plans.

This stay is longer, so I manipulate like a motherfucker to get us adjoining rooms again.

I watch her walk in her room and then go into mine. I set my bags down and decide to shower. After I’m done, I walk out and am starting to go through my bags to find a brush when I hear a knock on the door between our rooms.

I grab the towel off the floor and wrap it around my waist, open the door, and she’s standing in a towel.

“You need some sugar, neighbor?” I ask, stepping back so she can come get some.

My dick is immediately hard as she walks by.

“Did the bell boy bring my bags in here?”

“Not yet. I have my bag if you need something for now.”

She looks back at me, then glances down and quickly away.

“Yaya, there is no way in hell you missed that, so let’s not pretend I’m standing here limp or that you’re gonna get a stitch of clothes.”

“I’m tired.” She walks around, looking for something. “I hope they didn’t lose my luggage.”

“It’s not here.”

She blows out a long breath, then yawns.

I walk over and turn down the bed. “Sleep with me?”

She nods.

“I’m gonna make damn sure you sleep tonight,” I say as I climb in bed behind her. “In the morning, I’m gonna make damn sure you’re feeling me well into the next day. Then, I’m gonna do it again.”

She rolls to her side and backs her little towel-clad ass against me. Then I roll facing her back and start to push my arm under hers. When she lifts it, I wrap my arm around her and pull her back against me.

“Goodnight, Finn.”

“Not bad at all.”

***

I wake to her voice, and although the curtains are drawn, I can see slivers of the hot Florida sun.

I get up and walk into the bathroom, where she is looking in the mirror.

“Good morning,” I say before kissing the back of her head.

“It is now.” She smiles at me through the mirror’s reflection.

Her phone rings and she grabs it up. “I saw two missed calls and tried to call you back. Is everything okay?”

I rest my chin on her shoulder, and she rests her head against my cheek.

I hear a woman on the other end say, “Noah needs to go in for a treatment. When we get back, I’ll call and let you know how it goes.”

“How is he?” she asks in obvious concern.

He’s running a low grade fever, and his breathing is labored. I’ll take care of it.

“I’ll catch a flight. There’s enough money in the household account, isn’t there?” she asks.

I don’t know, but it’s not necessary. I will call you after we see a doctor.

“Aunt Margie, I’ll be home as soon as I can.” She hangs up the phone and looks at me.

“I’ll call the front desk about your luggage.”

After wrapping the sheet around me, I search the web for flight information. I can’t stay holed up in a hotel when Noah is sick. What was I thinking leaving him for this long?

I find a flight from Orlando to Columbus that departs in four hours. Nine hundred dollars. That’s a lot of money, a lot, but I can do it. I know the money is there.

I grab my hair and take a deep breath, knowing I need to call Taelyn. I hit her number on my contact list, and she answers on the second ring.

“Sorry to bother you, but … well …” Frustration beckons tears, and the fear of losing my job drags them out. “I was wondering if it would be all right to go home for a couple days. My son is sick, and—”

“Of course. Family first, Sonya, always,” she says with the utmost sincerity in her voice.

“You’re sure? Because I really need this job,” I reply.

“Nothing is scheduled for the next three days. Just spreading the word about the open auditions. I am sure Tally can handle it. Go, get home.” She is almost insistent.

“Thank you so much,” I say as I wipe the tears from my face. “Taelyn, I want you to know I am sincerely sorry about how I came to get this job, but I want you to know I am so grateful for the opportunity.”

“Well,” she whispers, “I am sure Xavier hired you because of his concern for Memphis and the band, but I pushed it because I had a feeling about you. You are an asset to this team. Now get off the phone and book your flight. If you need to use the corporate card, feel free.”

“Thank you, but I’m sure I still have enough money. Taelyn, thank you.”

“Of course.”

I click on the flight as I walk through the room’s adjoining door to grab my purse. I take out the debit card and sit on the bed, beginning to type in my information. I wait for the server to process and am stunned when it comes back purchase denied.

“Must be a mistake,” I think out loud, then type it in again and again and again.

I click on my online banking information and log in, and the account shows four hundred dollars. I click through the transaction information and see that money, a lot of money, has been transferred into different accounts, none familiar. However, the situation is.

“I can’t believe this,” I whisper.

“Everything okay?” Finn asks as he pulls my bags in my room.

I nod and go back to try to find a cheaper flight. There’s nothing today, nothing tomorrow, and nothing I can afford for another two weeks.

I stand up, needing to have a moment alone. I don’t need an audience when I break down, especially not Finn. I need to think. I need to get home. This whole thing was a bad idea.

When Noah was a baby, showers renewed me when I was frustrated. They became my escape from the crying. They washed away the spit up that comes more often from a baby with reflux. They soothed my sore breasts and allowed me to let go of my emotions without anyone seeing me break.

Needing that same release, I strip down and get in, crying in anger, in frustration, and in self-doubt. Why did I need this job so badly? I had everything I needed, more than some people. I was a survivor in more ways than one.

I will get a bus ticket to get home. Then I will take more classes online so that, when Noah is in school full-time, I can maybe teach or assistant teach while working the online business.

Having a plan kicks my survivor’s instinct into overdrive.

I get out, throw my hair into a towel, and put on the hotel robe. Then I walk out into the room where Finn is showered and dressed.

I look at the bed where a pair of leggings and a long-sleeved, light blouse lay next to my white panties and matching bra.

“Get dressed, Sonya. You have a flight to catch.”

I look back at the bra and panties and my face burns.

He smirks. “When you have your boy all set, as your friend, I need to take you shopping. A body like yours should not be covered by panties like that.”

“I have nice ones,” I say defensively.

“I’m well aware. I have taken them off you. But these,” he says, reaching down and picking them up, letting them dangle from his fingers, “need to go.”

I snatch them up and then turn, putting me feet in them and pulling them up.

“Yaya, turn around. I need to see.” The humor he finds is evident in his voice.