“The VA.”
Her landlord didn’t look thrilled but he lifted her dad to his feet and propped him up with the walker while Heavenly fetched him a robe and slippers. It would cover the essentials.
Within a few minutes, she helped her father to the curb. Mr. Sanchez waited inside, revving the engine, until she eased her father into the front seat and folded up his walker. As soon as she chucked it into the backseat and climbed in behind her dad, her landlord sped off.
They reached the hospital blessedly fast since rush hour was still relatively thin. They took him back surprisingly quickly. As soon as Heavenly filled out a few forms and talked to one of the nurses, she had nothing to do but wait. She found the bathroom, finally relieved herself, put on her bra, then went to find Mr. Sanchez.
In the waiting area, he lounged out, ankles crossed and hand clasped over his bloated belly, staring at the morning news he couldn’t hear because the sound had been muted in favor of closed captioning. He looked up when she entered, stare intent.
They were alone.
Heavenly sank gingerly to the chair beside him. He made her more than a little nervous. “Thank you for bringing us here. You don’t have to wait around. It will be hours before—”
“What’s he got?”
“A rare autoimmune disease.” She didn’t go into details. He already seemed bored by the short answer.
“Huh.” He shrugged. “So that’s why he doesn’t work and you do?”
She nodded, though she didn’t see why he cared as long as she paid the rent. “Yes. Look, I’m sorry to have disturbed you so early in the morning. But I really, really appreciate your help. I’m so grateful.”
He sat up, leaned across the thin wooden arm separating their chairs, and raised a brow. “How grateful?”
Heavenly shrank back, putting some distance between them. She knew where this conversation was going. “More than you know. And I can give you fifty dollars for your trouble.”
It almost killed her to part with what little reserve she’d tucked away in the sofa cushion back home after last night’s shifts. But it was damn cheaper than an ambulance. She prayed Mr. Sanchez took it.
“Fifty bucks?” He scoffed. “Keep it. If it will help you, chica…”
“That’s generous. Thank you again.” Maybe she’d figure out how to get a taxi back home. Every warning instinct she possessed told her to steer clear of this man.
“I can be very generous.” He edged closer, skimming his knuckles across her cheek.
She shuddered. It wasn’t the first time a man had touched her face—Beck and Seth both had—but it was the first time she’d been afraid.
“Mr. Sanchez…” With her back already plastered to the chair that was flush with the wall, she really didn’t have anywhere to escape except to her feet.
When she would have leapt up, he grabbed her shoulder and held her down. “Extremely generous, in fact. You ever have trouble paying the rent? I can let it slide for a month or two.” He grinned.
“Really?” Was he kidding? That would be a godsend. “You’d do that?”
“Absolutely, chica. For you, yes. All you have to do is swing by and spend some…quality time with me.”
Heavenly narrowed her eyes. Was she understanding him correctly? “Doing what?”
He gave her an ambivalent shrug she didn’t believe for a second. “You know… You’re a pretty thing. You’d look fine in my bed.”
“I’m a virgin,” she blurted, shaking her head.
His smile widened. “Even better. It’s been a few years since I’ve had a cherry pie, and I’ll bet I’ve never had one as sweet as yours.”
She gasped and recoiled, mentally berating herself for thinking this man might have the decency to respect her innocence. “I, um…have a boyfriend.”
It wasn’t totally untrue. She hoped.
“Then he’s either gay or blind, because if you’re a virgin, he’s not getting the job done. I will, chica. I’ll get you done good.” He moaned and flexed his hips, sending her what he must think was a smoldering stare.
She nearly choked.
Never. Ever. She’d live on the streets before she let this man touch her.
You might, but what about Dad?
She shoved down the question. “Well, as it happens, I have the rent money early this month so…thanks very much for the offer. I’m going to go check on my father.” She dodged his next attempt to grab her and stood. “We appreciate the ride. I’ll find us a way home. Bye.”
As she charged for the exit, she nearly hit the door face first in her haste to escape. On the other side, she dragged in a calming breath and pressed a shaking hand to her chest. She wasn’t sure what was wrong with her dad, how she was going to get home, or how she’d continue to make rent every month with their bank balance running lower and lower. She’d have to skip the fall semester of school. Work more, save more, then maybe go back the following spring. She hated to keep putting off her future, but he was her father. She’d always been able to count on him. He needed to be able to count on her now.