Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

ANDREW

Stupid motherfucker.

I stood outside Kenny's house, staring at the two bags and three boxes that contained everything I had in this world. The jerk couldn't even bother to give me decent boxes. These had been reused so many times they were falling apart. The light rain shower we had earlier today made the integrity of the boxes even worse. That's probably why no one dared steal them when Kenny decided to leave them outside all night instead of keeping them inside until I could pick them up.

Not only had my boyfriend of the last two years dumped me via text while I worked overnight inventory at my cafe job, but he had changed the locks and left town so he wouldn't have to deal with me this morning. I hoped he and his new toy had fun in Bali. Maybe a shark would have them for lunch, or they'd be lucky enough to get up close and personal with one of those rare crocodiles that had recently been spotted invading the beaches there.

Well, I can dream of their violent ending, right?

It wasn't like this was where I always dreamt of being. Kenny never dug deeply enough into my wants or needs to discover my dreams for the future. But this was all I had, and now I had nothing. Well, almost nothing. I had one friend, Stacy, here in Chicago and one cousin, Meghan, who lived in Florida. Either would help me, but I couldn't ask Stacy to let me stay with her indefinitely while she was still figuring out how her relationship as part of a foursome would work. That left Meghan.

Pulling out my phone, I dialed my cousin's number.

"Hey, Slims." Meghan used my childhood nickname given to me for my inability to gain muscle or weight, no matter how many tacos I wolfed down. "What's new?"

"I lost my job and my boyfriend." I had no use for small talk when I was in this crisis. "Can I come down there and stay with you for a bit?"

"That sucks, man." I heard a door close in the background. "I'm just leaving for work, so I can't talk much about the details, but for sure. And I can get you a gig at the club as well. They are always hiring, and Danny, my boss, owes me a favor after I covered for him last month with the owner."

Relief ran through my veins at the prospect of a roof over my head and a way to make money. "Thanks, Megs. You don't know how much I appreciate you."

"I do. And the same." Meghan sighed. "I need to go, but call me later and tell me when to expect you. You can have your things shipped to my house, and I'll pay for it. Let me know the cost, and I'll Venmo you."

"I can't?—"

"You can. And you will. I have the extra funds. Let me do this for you. We are the only family we have left."

"Fine. But I will pay you back." Somehow, I would have to.

"Whatever," Meghan said, "I love you."

"Love you too."

Disconnecting the call, I dialed my other lifeline.

"I thought you were doing inventory today." Stacy knew that I was scheduled to work this shift. She had lucked out and gotten a few weeks off for FMLA leave after Alexis' accident. He was healing well, but all the partners needed to take time to deal with the fact they almost lost each other.

"Stacy, can you meet me at my house?" I held back my tears of rage as I called my co-worker. She was my only friend in the city. "I'll explain when you arrive, but can you please bring the truck? Kenny and I are over, and all my things are out in the yard."

"That no good piece of shit put everything in the yard? No problem, sweetie." The slamming of her door and the engine starting could be heard through the phone speaker. "Do I need to bring backup? My guys are home today."

"I only have a few things?—"

"What about your ex? Is he there right now?"

"No. He went away for the weekend with the new boy."

"Fucker." Stacy spat the word like it was poison in her mouth. "I'm going to bring Dwayne with me. Okay?"

"Okay." I sighed and plopped my ass down on the lawn next to all my earthly belongings. "Oh, and I got fired."

"What?" Stacy swore a few expletives. "I'm going to grab us a few coffees on the way."

"And donuts?" I was an anxiety eater, and it wasn't like I would blow up from a post-breakup binge.

"Fine. But expect to spill it all once we get there. And the next time I see Kenny, I'm kicking him in his balls."

I couldn't help but smile when I imagined the petite, redheaded Stacy marching up to my ex and doing that to the family jewels. "I love you, bestie."

"I love you, too. See you in ten."