His Reverie (Reverie #1)(59)

“If his TV show isn’t making any money and his other sources of income are drying up, sure. I know his congregation or whatever you want to call them send him donations all the time but that’s not considered income. He can’t touch any of that money.” Michael reaches into the ice chest and pulls out an apple, sinking his teeth into it with a loud crack.

My appetite flees as I think of Reverie. What would she do if her parents lost all their money? She goes to some fancy all-girls high school. I bet the tuition for that place is a fortune. And her brother goes to a private college, drives a ridiculously expensive car and lives in his own place that I can only assume is funded by their parents.

“Good thing the summer season is almost over, right bro?” Michael continues, laughing when I send him a withering stare. “We can bail out of here with our paychecks and not worry too much. Though I’m gonna be pissed if I lose this gig next summer. I was planning for it to be my last one before I graduate for good and never come back here.”

I can’t even joke right now. All I can think of is Reverie and what she might know, which I’m going to assume is not much. I pull my cell phone out of the back pocket of my jeans and send her a quick text, my heart racing as I tap out every letter.

Are you all right?

I wait impatiently for her reply, thankful Michael isn’t eager to get back to work. Considering it’s hot as hell, the both of us are completely zapped of energy.

I’m okay. Just had an argument with my mom tho.

Frowning, I answer her.

What’s going on? Why did you two argue?

“Texting your lover girl?” Michael asks in a sing song voice. He sounds f**king ridiculous and normally I would laugh but I’m not in the mood.

“Shut the hell up,” I mutter as I wait for her answer.

“Sensitive much?” he taunts but I ignore him.

She’s been a mess and I don't know why. She gets upset for no reason. She started yelling at me when I said I didn't want to go home early.

My heart drops when I see the last few words she typed.

“They want to leave early,” I say out loud.

“Who? The Hales?” When I nod Michael continues. “Well, that’s total bullshit. Who told you that?”

“Reverie,” I murmur as I answer her text, my heart pounding so loud it causes a roaring in my ears.

Your parents want to go home early? How early?

“Damn it, I was counting on at least two more paychecks coming in. This is utter crap,” Michael mutters.

They want to leave in the next few days. ☹

Shit, shit, shit.

“Listen bro, I gotta go,” I say, pushing up to my feet and brushing off the back of my jeans. I’m covered in dried bits of grass and smudges of dirt. I’m a sweaty mess and I still have two more hours on the clock before I can leave but f**k it.

I need to find Reverie.

“Where are you going? You need to tell me what’s up, man.” Michael stands as well, concern written all over his expressive face. He’s losing something too if the Hales leave early. He counts on this summer job every year to help pay his college tuition. He’s not a broke joke like me but his parents are standard middle class, hard working people. And Michael is just trying to do the expected thing and follow in their footsteps.

“I need to go talk to her and find out what’s really going on.” I turn to face Michael. “Heather’s never mentioned anything like this? Not a word on leaving early?”

“No way.” Michael shakes his head. “And I would be the first one she would tell too. At least I hope I would be. She’s losing something too you know. This job is as important to her as it is to us. She’s saving up all her pennies for college.”

“It could be all talk. I don’t know,” I say. “Her parents’ way of scaring her into thinking they’re leaving?” But why would they do that unless they suspected we have something going on, and if they did suspect, then why not just fire my ass and be done with it?

“Who knows man? As soon as you find something out, will you let me know?” Michael runs a hand through his hair, sending bits of dried grass flying. “Now I’m nervous. I don’t want this job to end early. I need every dollar I can make.”

“I’ll keep you posted, don’t worry. Cover for me?” I ask as I start backing away from him.

“You know it. Text me when you find out anything.”

“Will do.” I say before I turn and break out into a run toward Hale House. My concern isn’t about money though. Yeah, I need it. And I definitely didn’t plan on having to find another job so soon, but I can suffer through that.

What I can’t suffer through is losing Reverie too early. I’d been counting on seeing her through most of August. Spending time with her in her room, out at the beach, at her little clearing among the pine trees. Wherever we can meet, whatever bits of time together we can manage, I wanted. Needed. I just need her.

I’m in love with her. Just the thought of losing Reverie…I don’t know what I’ll do. This moment was coming, I’ve known it all along, but I didn’t expect it to happen so fast.

Michael’s right. Something is definitely going on with the Hales. I just wish I knew what the hell it was.

“Aren’t you supposed to be working?” Reverie asks in a teasing voice as soon as she walks into the stables and sees me feeding one of the horses a carrot.