Fallen Fourth Down (Fallen Crest #4)(102)

I vowed to myself that I would figure things out when I woke up the next morning. I had no other choice. I had to make a plan, or I’d never survive.

*

Days had passed since Rick kicked me out of his house. I’d accomplished nothing unless I counted the tips I’d made. I had been living off of dollar cheeseburgers and washing myself in the restroom sink at work. A Laundromat was nearby, so I at least had clean clothes.

The first day, I’d left after my shift ended. I’d waited until the diner closed and everyone was gone before driving back and parking behind the building again. I’d made sure that I was up and gone before the diner opened the next morning since I was on night shift.

The second day had gone much the same way. Hiding at the local library all day, I’d lost myself in the pages of not one, but two books. The first one was a paranormal book about angels and demons that I’d read a million times. I would use it to escape reality. My problems would seem so small when compared to the main character’s issues. So what if I was homeless? At least I didn’t have to worry about stopping a hoard of demons from taking over the earth and enslaving mankind. The second book was a romance. It was about a girl my age starting fresh in college and falling in love with a man who was no good for her. I couldn’t help but feel sad as I’d read it. There was no fresh start at college and no love in my future.

It was the third day, and I was working the morning shift again. I was taking my daily sink bath in the restroom when one of my coworkers, Junie, walked in on me naked.

“Oh my God!” I screamed as I tried to cover myself. Apparently, I’d forgotten to lock the restroom door.

Junie looked like she wanted to die as she quickly mumbled an apology and slammed the door shut. After I dried off with paper towels, I walked back into the main part of the diner. I headed over to the coffee pots and started making both decaf and regular, praying that Junie wouldn’t mention what had happened. Naturally, she cornered me while I was dumping coffee grinds into the filter.

“Claire, why were you taking a bath in the restroom?” she asked.

I glanced up to see concern in her expression. Junie was older than me, probably in her late twenties or early thirties. With light-brown hair and brown eyes, she was pretty but plain. She’d recently gone through a nasty divorce and lost a lot of weight. I knew the stress from the divorce and trying to raise her two boys on her own had been taking a toll on her. I didn’t know much about what had happened, but I was pretty sure the bastard had cheated on her.

“I didn’t get a chance to shower at my house this morning,” I lied.

“Cut the crap, Claire. What is going on?” she asked.

I debating on lying again, but I couldn’t do it. Junie was always nice to me, and I couldn’t lie right to her face again.

“Rick kicked me out of the house the other night.” I looked away from her.

“He what? That asshole! I’m so sorry, Claire,” Junie said.

I looked up to see her brown eyes filled with anger. “Don’t apologize. There’s nothing you or anyone else could’ve said to stop him. You and I both knew it was coming.”

“You could call and report him though. I mean, he’s still getting paid for this month even though you’re eighteen.”

“Then, what happens if the foster care people decide Tammy and Rick aren’t suitable foster parents? Shelly, Kevin, and Jerimiah would be pulled out and put into a house that could be ten times worse. Rick’s an ass, but he’d never hurt them. I won’t be the reason they’re sent to a horrible home,” I said as I stared at her.

She sighed. “Fine, I see your point, but it’s still not right. What are you going to do?”

I shrugged. “I have no clue. I guess I’ll just keep saving my tips until I can afford a place to stay. My car will work for now since it’s summer, but I’ll have to find somewhere to stay before winter hits.”

“I wish you could stay with me, but I literally have no room.” She was clearly upset over the fact that she couldn’t help me.

“Don’t worry about it, Junie. I’ll be fine. I need you to promise me that this won’t leave the two of us. I don’t want anyone to know what’s going on with me. It’s embarrassing.”

“Claire…” She bit her lip.

“Junie, please,” I begged.

“Fine, I won’t say anything, but I wish I could help you somehow.”

“Don’t stress about it. Just focus on taking care of your kiddos. They need you more than I do.”

She gave me a weak smile before walking over to a family who had just walked in. I watched as she led them to a table and handed them menus. I smiled as the mom picked her baby up out of the portable car seat and cradled the little one in her arms. A wave of sadness swept over me as I thought of all the things I’d missed out on with my own mother. I hoped that this baby would have a better life than I had.

The rest of the morning went by quickly. By the end of my shift, I was dragging. Once my last table was cleared, I walked into the back room and grabbed my purse. I headed back out to the front and waved at Sarah, the waitress taking over my tables. She waved back before turning her attention to the two guys she was waiting on.

Our boss, Bob, came barreling out of his office and headed straight for me. “Claire, I need a favor,” he said when he stopped in front of me.