"Stay safe. I know." I hang up. Gah, why was that such a hard conversation? Just because I'm hiding that Father showed up? My mom and I haven't always been the closest, but we had fun on the cruise ship, where I met Rob, and I miss her. She's so far away, and I'm not going to be able to visit her for the longest time. I have no money, and I can't risk a paper trail that my father could follow. Until I have the cash, it's just not happening, and with having to pay Declan's fee, any money coming in is going to have to go straight to him.
I'm spent after talking to Erika and my mom, so I opt to text Kyle instead of also calling him.
Father hasn’t been around to see you, has he?
I lean back and people watch, trying to guess people's stories as I wait for him to text back. There's a girl hurrying to catch up to a guy who is heading for the library. She's all shy, and he doesn't even really glance over at her as they talk, and finally, she shrugs and walks off in the opposite direction. An unrequited crush, clearly.
Another couple. The girl looks a bit annoyed for some reason, but the guy seems nonchalant about whatever her beef is. Her lips purse, and she grabs his arm. Is she going to slap him? No, she kisses him, pats his cheek, and then walks off alone. The guy looks dazed and stares at her. Watching her ass? Was that their first kiss? Break up kiss? Hmm…
My phone vibrates.
No. Haven’t seen or heard from him. You?
I hesitate and then send,Same.