Downfall(17)

I was reaching for the front door when it suddenly pushed open with enough force to send me back a step. The sudden movement made me clutch my injured side and let out a string of swear words that were loud enough to wake Lester. He blinked an irritated look in my direction. Orley rocked back on her heels and stared at me through sleepy blue eyes.

“Oh. Sorry, I didn’t see you.” She scooted her way around me, rubbing her eyes and obviously trying to shake herself awake. She looked like a very pretty zombie sleepwalking out of the building.

Sucking in a breath between my teeth and letting it out when the pain in my side was manageable, I roughly asked, “Where are you off to so early?”

She looked at me again and lifted a perfectly arched eyebrow. “I should ask why you’re just getting home when the sun is coming up. You go first.”

I grunted in response and watched as she suddenly seemed to take notice of the damage to my face. I knew it wasn’t pretty, but she gasped and lifted her hands to her mouth like she was face to face with a horror movie monster.

“What happened to you? Are you okay? Who did this to you? Did you call the police?” The questions came rapidly. One of her hands lifted in my direction, almost as if she wanted to soothe the dark spots and lacerations decorating my skin.

I took a step back before she could touch me and lifted my chin defiantly. I was slightly taken aback by her show of concern. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had asked if I was okay. I was the one always taking care of everyone else, so my needs tended to be an afterthought. “I’m fine. No need to call the police. This, unfortunately, comes with the territory when I’m at my second job.”

She frowned at me and adjusted the purse strap that was digging into her shoulder. “What kind of job gives you black eyes and a busted lip?”

I grunted again and reached for the front door. All I wanted was my bed and eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. “The kind you know nothing about.” I flicked a look back over her, noticing she was dressed in form-fitting black pants and a white button-down shirt. It wasn’t an outfit that was appropriate for the heat. “You finally get a job?”

She nodded and nervously reached up to play with her hair. “Your friend Erica hooked me up with her brother. He gave me a job at the diner he manages. I’m still training, and right now they have me working breakfast shifts. It’s not so bad. I’m home in the afternoon and still get to spend most of the day with Noble.” She blushed and had the good grace to look regretful. “Erica is watching her for me while I work. She’s great with Noble, and Noble loves Riley. I should have reached out sooner when you gave me her number.” She sounded contrite but I was in too bad of a mood to appreciate it.

She should have, but this chick was stubborn to a fault. “I’m glad you found something.” I would dig my own eyes out with a spoon before admitting to anyone I’d been worried about her. She seemed so stressed, and I knew desperation was a very dangerous thing in a place where others were just waiting for an opening to take advantage of you. Luckily, I knew Ramon and the rest of the crew who ran the diner. They were all good people and kept a close eye on the young women who worked there. My Boss’s woman worked there when she was putting herself through college, so he also kept his ear to the ground for any rumbling of trouble when it came to the diner. It was about the safest, most legitimate job Orley could get in the city.

“Go put a frozen bag of peas on your eyes, and get some sleep. You look like you could use it.” Orley flashed a grin at me and I felt the impact low in my gut. It was like taking another punch, and this one almost doubled me over. “Hey, if you need anything, I’m in 5B. Let me know. I owe you for getting my car back on the road. I’d be screwed if I couldn’t get to the diner each morning.”

I blinked at her but tried to keep my features under control. She was the quiet neighbor on the other side of my apartment. She was my actual neighbor, not just someone in the building I would pass on occasion. She’d also given me her apartment number. I was too tired and too sore to think about why entrusting me with that knowledge sent something much more pleasant than the pain I was feeling shoot along my nerves.

“I’ll be fine. This isn’t anything new. Do you need me to walk you to your car?” Shit. Why did I offer that? I was barely staying upright as it was.

She shook her head and fiddled with her purse strap some more. “I’m fine. I found a spot pretty close. Thank you for offering though.” Her eyes flitted over my face. “Seriously, Solo, take care of yourself.”

She turned and walked down the steps, stopping to hand Lester something that looked like a muffin. They exchanged quiet words, and even though I was dead on my feet, I couldn’t make myself go inside until I saw her shiny hair disappear into her little car.

Muttering over how much of an idiot I was, I once again tried to walk into the building, but Lester’s raspy voice stopped me.

“Those girls have been without air conditioning for over a week. I think that’s one of the main reasons she caved and let her little girl go and play with Riley. They had to get out of the apartment before they died of heat exhaustion.” The old man kept one eye on me as he picked apart the muffin in his hand. “She called that bastard of a super no less than twenty times and the useless bag of bones has yet to show.”

I tried to lift an eyebrow at him, but the motion hurt too much. “Why are you telling me this, old man?”