Lana
A Week Later
I stand behind the thin curtain and look out at Cypress Street, number 356. I let out a slow breath. I can’t hide from Xander forever. And lying to him only made things worse.
When I told him I was seriously sick, he added more time to what I owe him. It wasn’t fully a lie. The thought of him touching me still makes my stomach turn.
A week without work is already too much for us, especially now. We don’t have the money for that. Which means I have to stop hiding. I have to step back outside and hope for the best.
If I’m lucky, I won’t see Xander today. Not between classes. Not during my shift at La Dolce Vita Bakery.
My thoughts drift to a man I met at the bakery almost a week ago. He left me a fifty-dollar tip. That money paid for our groceries.
Without it, I w
