Lexi
I walk from the bus stop to my apartment, my feet aching from standing all day. I have eleven hundred and fifty dollars cash in my pocket, a combination of the money Bobby gave me and my earnings this week, which I hope is enough to get the eviction notice off my door. I unlock the front door to the building and take the stairs up to the third floor, so I can eat a bite of food before I find the building manager.
I try my key in the lock.
It doesn’t work.
Fuck! This can’t be. I try again, gripping the doorknob to rattle the door as I try to jam the key in. But the inner portion of the lock is obviously new.
I’ve been officially evicted. I should have come by this morning instead of hanging out in the hot tub at the Four Seasons. I should have at least called the landlord to tell him I had a partial payment.
Maybe it’s not too late.
I race down the stairs, tears burning in my eyes. How stupid could I be, to think I could keep talking my landlord out of booting me? I should’ve moved home with my mom after the accident and paid the bills down over time. Instead, I hid my head in the sand and just hoped things would work out.
Well, they didn’t work out.
And now I have no place to go.
I wipe my face when I get to the manager’s door.
Get it together, Lex.
I draw a breath, pull out my cash and knock on the door.
The manager, a decent middle-aged guy named Gus, answers. “I’m sorry, Lexi.” He looks away.
I thrust the money at him. “This is eleven hundred and fifty dollars. That covers this month, at least, and I can work on chipping down the debt on the rest. I’m so sorry. I meant to come by this morning to give this to you, but I slept somewhere else and didn’t have time before work, but–”
“Sorry.” He shakes his head. I think he actually does regret turning me away. “It’s not up to me. I just do what I’m told, and I was told to change the locks.”
“No, no, no, no.” I’m talking fast like it’s going to make some kind of difference. “Please, Gus. Can you just let me in there for tonight, and I’ll call the landlord in the morning to get it all paid off? I’m sure he’d rather keep an existing tenant and get the money he’s owed rather than find a new renter.”
“That is not true. He’s bumping the rent to sixteen hundred, and he says he has three people on the waiting list for it. I’m sorry, Lexi, but it’s too late. You’re out.”
I try to hold in a sob, pinching my lips together as a couple of tears leak from the outer corners of my eyes. “Can you just let me in to get my stuff?”
“I can’t, Lexi.”
“Just a few essential things? An overnight bag? Who will know?”
“Not until I hear it from the landlord. Call him first thing in the morning and make arrangements to get your stuff. I’ll open the door when he gives me the okay.”
I press my lips together tight and nod, more tears falling.
Gus shuts the door in my face–not like he doesn’t care, but more like he’s sorry, and seeing me cry sucks for him. I almost wish he was more of a dick, so I could be mad at anyone besides myself for this situation.
Dammit! I totally fucked up. I have that “bad girl” feeling I always get when I mess something up. Shameful and small. Guilty.
Weak.
I run down the hall and out the door, heading back to the subway station. I take it to the stop closest to Swank. I can try to talk to the landlord tomorrow. Right now, I need a drink and a friend.
I wasn’t even thinking about finding Bobby. I’m not the kind of girl with rescue fantasies because in my world, that shit doesn’t come true.
But the moment I push through the door, a strong arm wraps around my waist and Bobby pulls me back against him. “Hold up there, doll. Is everything okay? Have you been crying?”
Even though last night the situation with Bobby stressed me out, something in me relaxes now.