She doesn’t look happy. “You watched me change?”
“Really, Shayne.” I walk up and put my hands on the counter between us. “I’ve seen you with less clothing on. And that’s not the most important thing I’ve just said.”
She blows out a breath. “You’re right. I’ve been sleeping in my car for awhile now.”
“Why?”
She glances around to make sure no one will overhear us, but it’s just the two of us here this late. She sets down the coffee pot and grabs the broom to clean the mess she’s made with the mug. “I’m late on my rent, and honestly, sleeping in my car is easier when I have two jobs and not to mention classes. It doesn’t matter though, my roommates just told me they found someone to take my place, and I need to come get my stuff. So, it looks like my decision has been made for me.”
I open my mouth, but she holds up her hand stopping me with her tiny palm in my face.
“When my parents died they left us in debt. We didn’t have any family. Trace and Slade slowly knocked down what my parents left for us. And then, I was a mess and racked up a ton of bills and well, I’m trying to be better. I don’t want them to have to pay a penny for me to finish school.”
Pride fills my chest. She eluded to her parent’s finances when we stayed up talking all night at the bar, but this is the first time she’s given me her motivation.
“I’m proud of you.”
Whatever Shayne thought I was going to say, she was not expecting that. Her mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water.
I enjoy catching her by surprise.
She smiles. “Thank you. Now are you going to buy some donuts or continue to harass me?”
I grin as I order three dozen donuts and this time I’m allowed to leave her the big tip I wanted to earlier.
She pushes it away, trying not to accept it, and I drop it in the jar when she’s not looking. What she doesn’t know is this is her last shift at the donut shop. “When does your shift end?”
She stalls as if she doesn’t want to answer me.
“If you don’t tell me I’ll just hang around here until you get off.”
“I work six hours today.”
I wink at her as I jump into my Uber having him drive me home, leaving a box of donuts as part of his tip.
9
Shayne
‘I’m proud of you.’
He said, ‘I’m proud of you.’
When Damien walked into the donut shop, I was fully prepared for a fight. What I was not prepared for was him saying he was proud of me. And now that I think about his words, I’m proud of me too. I was terrified when Trace and Slade left to join the Marines. When I moved to Las Vegas, I knew I’d be completely alone. And even though I may have messed up and goofed off when I was younger, now I see it all coming together. It really is coming together.
Sure, I’m no Damien. But, I almost feel like I’m growing up.
It sucks my brain needed Damien to voice his pride before I could recognize my accomplishments, but it doesn’t matter because I’m seeing them now. Damien, his brothers, and their girlfriends have all praised me on the work I’ve shown them. Graphic design is something I not only enjoy, but I’m good at as well. I’ve always thought that after I graduate I’d finally have the nerve to put my work out there, and start making money, but maybe I should start now. Maybe I just needed a little ego boost in the form of a sexy club owner to push me in the right direction.
I can’t stop the smile on my face as I work my shift at the donut shop. The customers seem to feed off my good energy and my shift ends quickly with more tips than normal. I shouldn’t be surprised when the bell above the door tinkles, and Damien walks through.
“Ready?” he asks as I take off my apron and fetch my purse.
“Ready for what?” I’m hesitant to find out what his big smile is all about.
“I’m helping you move out.”
“That won’t be necessary. Most of my stuff is already in my car. It won’t take me long to grab the rest.” I chew on my bottom lip. Even though I’ve never seen Damien’s house, I know it’s a hundred times better than where I’m staying. I don’t want him to see where I can’t afford to live.
He leads me outside. His Range Rover’s parked next to my car. Which is just another reminder of how different we are. “I’ll follow you.”
“You don’t need to.”
Damien bends down so that our noses almost touch. “Shayne, I already know where you were living. It’s on your application. I’m helping you move out of your place, and then, I’m helping you move into mine.”