Falling In (The Surrender Trilogy 1)

By the time the black silhouette of St. Christopher’s showed in the distance, her hunger pangs had converged into a dull throb. She spotted Parker’s tall form in the shadows before stepping onto the cracked pavement of the old church’s courtyard. He pushed off the wall and met her by the broken steps of the shelter.

“You went to see Pearl.” It wasn’t a question. Parker wasn’t her keeper, but he liked to pretend he was.

“I needed to drop her off some things. She wants you to come with me tomorrow.”

“You’re going back?”

“Yes.”

There was no need to explain that she’d gotten paid and wanted to bring Pearl more supplies. It was none of his business. She’d be going back with or without him. Like Pearl and her reckless lifestyle, Scout could be unbending too.

“You almost didn’t make curfew, Scout. You can’t keep going there this late at night.”

“If I miss curfew I’ll just stay there.”

He stilled and then quickly caught back up to her as she pulled the heavy door to the church open. Her muscles were tired and weak, begging for a break. “I think you should only go there on the days you don’t work. It isn’t safe to go there when it’s dark.”

“I grew up there, Parker.”

No matter the years Parker had been on the streets, he’d never fully understand what it meant to be born there, to never have any other option or never know what it might be like to have a roof over your head no one could take from you. His background was very different than Scout’s. The streets of Folsom were all she’d ever known.

He’d long ago given up asking why her mom couldn’t stay in the shelter and she was grateful he had. Scout rarely took the time to explain herself, but Parker was her friend. He worried. It was easier when he accepted this was the way it would be, and his opinions wouldn’t change what was.

They walked into the church and down into the basement. The scent of stew and boiled carrots had her cramps returning with a vengeance.

“I’ll go with you,” he said as he held the door for her.

The subdued chatter of the residence greeted them. Following Parker to the line of people, she secured her bag over her shoulders and lowered her hood. They each grabbed a tray.

“You don’t have to,” she told him as they followed the sluggish line.

Parker’s eyes focused on the new resident three spaces ahead of them. He was an older tan-skinned man whose left eye never moved. The man had stared at them the entire time they ate the night before, and Parker already decided to hate him.

“Ignore him, Parker.”

“I don’t like the way he leers at you.”

“He’s harmless.”

Moving through the slop line, they filled their trays with potatoes, rolls, wilted salad, and what looked to be beef stew. Parker followed her to the end table where they sat and ate in silence. Scout tucked her roll in her bag at her feet for lunch tomorrow. The potatoes were flavorless and too mushy to cut. Gently scooping one into her mouth, she chewed as her cheek stretched over the boiled tuber.

“How was work?”

The watery potato disappeared down her throat with little flavor to herald its journey. “Good, but I might’ve gotten in trouble today.” They ate in silence for several minutes, food taking precedence over all else.

Once their plates were mostly clean, Parker asked, “What happened?”

Scout’s fork scraped the last of her stew into the crease of her bowl, hoping to get one last bite. Her stomach was already cramping with fullness, but she couldn’t waste the warm sustenance.

“I had to do the penthouses today because the girl who usually does it was out. There’re people who actually live in there. Can you believe that? The place I cleaned was so luxurious you would’ve pissed yourself, Park. It was insane.”

“So how did you get in trouble?”

Parker never commented on her references to others’ wealth anymore. He found it unimpressive, whereas Scout found it fascinating how rich people lived. He’d constantly told her that her standards were screwed up, and people like them shouldn’t fixate over a life they’d probably never have. She didn’t see it that way. There was no predicting what the future could bring.

“Well, I accidentally knocked over some papers and of course the guy who lived there walked in the moment I was picking them up. I don’t know what he does for a living, but whatever it is I’m pretty sure he’s good at it. He was terrifyingly powerful.”

Parker scowled, his soft green eyes taking on a menacing glare. “How so?”

“Just in the way he carried himself. Even his shoes were intimidating. He was tall and handsome and rich. I think he thought I was snooping. He sort of cornered me and gave me an inquisition.”