Catching Teardrops (MAC Security 5)

free. I’m finally free to be able to do what I want, and yet something as simple as stepping inside a book’s home makes me understand that. Freedom—something I never thought I’d get.

“Hey there, lovely.” I startle at the voice, spinning around and seeing a middle-aged woman standing behind the counter beside a stack of books. “Can I help you?”

“I… yes, please.” I step forward, keeping my cell in my hand just in case. “I was looking up online where I could do my GED and this place came up.”

She nods, spinning around and grabbing a folder before turning back to face me. “Do you have all the information you need?”

“I…” I bite down on my bottom lip, shuffling my feet on the floor. “Well, I’m not really sure how it works, or what I have to do.”

Her small smile gets a little bigger and she leans her arms on the counter. “Okay. So what you need to do is create an account on this website.” She pushes a piece of paper toward me and points at a web address. “Then you have to register and set up a time and date at the local test center.” I look down at the paper and then back to her. “The test center is a ten-minute walk from here.”

“Okay.” I grip the edge of the paper. “And I can do that here? Register, I mean.”

She nods, pointing over to the back wall, and when I look over I see several computers.

“You can use one of the computers.”

I scan the paper, seeing what other information is on there, and as soon as I see the amount of money it’ll cost for the tests, my shoulders droop. How am I meant to find one hundred fifty dollars? I have some money saved up but it’s all in my bag back in my hiding spot at the house.

And so is my I.D.

Tears start to well in my eyes, and when I look back up at the lady, I try my hardest to push them back.

“Thanks for your help,” I tell her, taking a step back and folding up the paper before pushing it into my back pocket.

“You’re more than welcome.” Her eyes fill with understanding and pity. I can’t stand the look in them so I spin around and practically run out of there.

I don’t stop when I get onto the sidewalk, I keep going, needing to get back home as soon as I can.

This is why I had a plan and why every step was crucial, but now I have nothing. I have no way to pay for my GED, no way to prove who I am.

How did it get to this? What did I do to deserve what’s happening to me?

The tears break free before I can get home, and even though my vision becomes blurry, I don’t stop. Luke’s voice sounds in my head, and right now, I wish I could scream and shout, berate the world for being against me. But what good will it do? It won’t make any difference. I’m stuck here in this place with nowhere to go and nothing to do.

I’m not this person. I’m not the kind who wallows in self-pity, but right now all I want is to get back into bed and not come out of it for days.

My Converse slap against the steps to the house, and once I’ve flung the door open and slammed it closed behind me, I run into the bedroom and flop down on the bed.

My mind runs a mile a minute, trying to come up with some kind of plan to get the money, but it won’t matter if I don’t have my I.D. too.

“Lily?” Gasping, I sit up, my eyes wide. “Darlin’?”

I hold my hands up as Luke steps closer, his brow furrowed. “No… don’t.”

“What happened?”

I look away from him, swiping my hands over my face and trying to rid the evidence of me crying. I hate him seeing me like this. I’m always this person he needs to save and I can’t stand it.

“Nothing,” I finally whisper.

“That shit isn’t nothing, angel. Tell me what’s going on.”

Whipping my head around to face him, I yank out the piece of paper and throw it toward him. “I went to find out how to get my GED.” My nostrils flare, frustrated at the situation. “But not only do I not have the money to take the tests… I don’t have any I.D.”

He leans down, picking up the paper and unfolding it, reading it over and shrugging. “I can give you the money.”

I throw my arms up in the air, fully aware that I’m being dramatic. “See? That’s why I didn’t want to tell you! I knew you’d swoop in and try to save the day.”