Fallen Woman(23)

Holland: Nonsense. I bought it for you.

Me: It’s just too much but thank you.

Holland: Everything you do is for someone else. This is just for YOU. I can’t return it so suck it up. Goodnight.

I knew arguing wouldn’t get me anywhere, so I called Jase to bitch instead. He needed to get his friends under control. I didn’t need lavish gifts—they were already doing more for me than I could ever repay.

“Hey, babe.”

The way he drew out the word “babe” sent shivers down my spine. For some reason, when I called him late at night, his voice was always husky, and it made me want him in ways no respectable woman should ever consider.

“Did you know?”

“Know what?” Normally, I loved the slower speech pattern he reserved for me, but right now, it was just irritating.

“About Holland.”

“I know a lot about Holland. You’re going to have to be a tad more specific.”

“The bracelet.”

He laughed, giving me every indication he was well aware of what I was talking about.

I stomped my foot like a five-year-old and clenched my fist at my side, beating it on my leg with each word that followed. “Jase. You have to stop this stuff. Your friends can’t give me expensive jewelry, and buy me clothes, and take me out. I look like a whore!”

“No, you don’t. Plus, no one but you even knows.” He made light of what I was talking about, but it was true.

“You knew exactly what I was talking about, meaning I’m sure Drake, Max, and Willum know.”

“Likely. And luckily for you, Max and Willum will try to one up him. Drake won’t care. He’ll stick to the agreement as it was written.”

“What the heck, Jase? You guys have a written agreement about our arrangement? Are you insane?”

“It’s not going to get out, and they’re not doing anything they don’t want to do, so don’t worry about it.”

“I am worried about it. You never let me pay for anything, not even lunch. Your friends buy me expensive clothes, pay me an insane amount of money to hang out with them publicly—which, by the way, I’d do for free—and now lavish gifts? No way. It has to stop somewhere.”

“I’ll let you buy lunch Monday. Deal?”

He infuriated the crap out of me. “No! Jase. Not a deal. Me spending fifteen dollars on lunch does not make up for a sapphire bracelet.”

“But I didn’t buy you the bracelet. You have to take that up with Holland.” His jovial tone made me want to reach through the phone and smack the daylights out of him. “But don’t be surprised when he rejects your demands as well.”

“Oh no, please don’t tell me that.”

“He fancies you, but don’t worry. He won’t violate the bro-code.”

And that right there shut me up. It was the perfect opportunity for me to attempt to get Jase to give me any indication he felt the same thing I did. He all but implied his friends see me as off limits, but knowing Jase, that’s probably out of protection rather than any romantic association.

“Gia, you still there?” The silence had gone on too long and I’d gotten stuck in my head.

“Yeah. I guess.”

He chuckled again. I hated that I loved his sounds so much, happiness being my favorite. It rattled through his chest like wind through leaves on a warm day. “Night, babe.”

“Night, Jase.”

~~~

My eyes opened early the next morning. The curtains remained open where I’d forgotten to close them last night, and the sun broke through like a blinding beacon. I grabbed a quick shower and put on jeans and a T-shirt before going to Miss Pearl’s. I stuffed a bit of cash in my pocket and went to see what she had going on for breakfast. Sunday mornings were usually reserved for church, but she’d made an exception, and I was welcomed by the scent of warm sugar and fresh cinnamon rolls. If she weren’t older than Methuselah, she could have a nice career opening a restaurant of some sort.

The kids were still asleep in the living room when I walked in—all but Emmy, who was jammed right up next to Pearl in the kitchen making icing for the cinnamon rolls. She was in her element as much as my neighbor was. Emmy poked her in the side in an effort to goose her, but instead, it sent her into a fit of coughs—horrible, wet, croupy coughs.

“Miss Pearl, you doing okay? That cough sounds bad.”

“Nonsense. I’m fine. Better than I can say for our girl here. She had a tough night with the pains.” The look on her face wasn’t fine, but I couldn’t tell if she was deflecting or ensuring I knew my daughter had a rough night…meaning we were headed back to the doctor this week.

“Are you coming down with something? You look like maybe you’re getting sick,” I said to Pearl as I kneeled down to see if Emmy had any other symptoms. Her glands were swollen along her neck, and I could easily see the swelling in her elbows, but my little trooper hadn’t complained. It ate at me that she knew every doctor visit was more money I didn’t have, and thus hid her pain from me. I raised my eyebrows, acknowledging I knew but that we’d talk about it later and turned my attention back to Pearl.

“Now hush yo’ mouth. I told you I’m fine, and I aim to be just that.” Her tone was harsh, and I’d never been spoken to like that by her. She must’ve realized just how short she’d been. “Don’t worry yourself over nothin’, ya hear me?” she asked pointedly, and I nodded. “Now, reach up there an’ gimme that plate.” I did as she told me to, and Emmy loaded the platter and then set the table.