Danielle
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MY BELL RANG an hour after Booker left. I opened the door to my brother who leaned down to kiss my cheek as he handed me a box with a phone inside and stepped into my apartment. My brother was tall, just over six feet, with blond hair and hazel eyes. My girlfriends all had crushes on hiru, waxing portic about how much he looked like Brad Pitt.
“Hi” I said, and closed the door..
“Hey. Where’s your car?” he asked. “It’s not in the lot.”
“One of the guys at the wreckage place is having it towed somewhere to evaluate it. He’s going to call me tomorrow or Friday” I glanced at the new phone. “Well, he’s going to leave a message and I’ll call him back since he can’t really call
Elliot chuckled “Got it sis”
-1 forget y
you’re smarter th
smarter than
you look.” I grinned. “Want so
some wine or a leer?”
or a lie
“Thave to go, actually, just wanted to make sure you got home safe. What time do you have to be at school tomorrow?”
“Seven
Want me to pick you up!”
“Oh. yes. Crap. I didn’t even think about how I was getting to work,” I admitted. Tim a little frazzled.”
He crossed his arms. “How was the blind date?”
“Olimigod, it sucked. So bad. He was boring with a capital B. He went on and on about the mating life of silkworms.
“You’d be well–dressed.”
“I’d be dressed in stuff that was dry–clean only. Pass” I retorted
Elliot chuckled. “I could set you up, you know.”
“No” I said quickly. T’m done for now. I just want to focus on getting my life back and maybe sa
My brother’s face darkened. “Asshole”
“Yes, I know, Ell, but there’s nothing we can do about it. Em did all she could legally and he’s making restitution.”
was a lawyer and had been trying to deal with my issues from a legal standpoint for years.
Our sister, Emily, was a
“A hundred bucks a month is bullshit”
“I agree. I’m hoping Emily can find more in his fi
his financials
Elliot studied me for a few tense seconds. “Okay, I’m going. I’ll pick you up tomorrow at six–thirty”
“Thank you. You’re the best big brother on the planet”
He grinned, his body relaxing a bit. “Don’t I know it”
He gave me a quick hug and then he was out the door, and I locked up and flopped onto the sofa. I pried open the plastic wrapping containing the flip phone, plugged it in, powered it up and called Kim.
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Chapter
“This is Kim”
“Hey, it’s me.”
“Well, hello me.” Kim giggled. “Got your text. Brilliant
Thank you” I said.
“I assume you’re home and safe?”
“No, I’m buried alive in a ditch on the side of the road.”
“Oh, where? I’ll come rescue you
I laughed. “I love how you’ve always got my back
“I’m a giver,” she retorted
“On that note, can you g
give me the number I texted those pictures from, please?”
“Ah, sure? But you have to tell me why.”
“One of the guys said he’d call me tomorrow with an update on my car and I want to give him the new number.”
“Hmm–mm. I bet you do,” she said. “Tell me the real reason.”
I both loved and hated that my best friend could see right through me. “That is the real reason.”
“Is he hot? Your
ar ‘the guy‘ that’s one of the g
guys?
Ohmigod… was he hot? That
at was an understatement. “He’s a thug Kim“.
“That’s not what I asked.”
“Yes, he’s good looking in a rough sort of way. I guess.”
“Hmm–mun, right,” she retorted. “I’ll text it to you.”
“Thanks”
“Do you need a ride tomorrow?”
“You’re willing to come and get me at six–thirty?”
She gasped. “In the morning? Ah, no. Sorry, I just don’t love you quite that much.”
I giggled. “I know. Ell’s picking me up.”
“Oh, how I love him.”
“I know, babe. Everyone does.”
“Okay, I’m gonna text you his number and then hit the hay?
“Thanks, Kim. See you on Tuesday for lunch, right?”
Definitely Bye.”
Bye.
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Chapter 5
60%
popped
I sat on the sofa staring at the phone for what seemed like an eternity before Kim’s text came through. T up on my screen and my heart raced in excitement. It was just after ten and I was typically in bed by now and wondered if he might be too. Maybe he wouldn’t answer, and could leave a message. I hat my lip. I didn’t really know what to do. I felt. compelled to call him Like if I dela’t hear his voice before I went to bed. I wouldn’t be able to sleep
“Dani, you are ridiculous,” I told myself, but it didn’t negate the fact that I was attracted to him. In a big way.
I set the phone aside and sipped my wine, then picked the phone up again and stared at it. I set it aside again and repeated these actions for several minutes as I contemplated my stupidity, In the end. I chalked it up to the fact that he had my car and I was just calling him to give him information. It didn’t matter that it was past ten on a Thursday night. It was business, so I dialed the number.
“Um. hi. Is this Austin?” Lasked. No response, so I glanced at my phone, then put it back to my ear. Maybe I’d dialed wrong. I’m sorry. I must have the wrong number,”
“You got me. Dani” His voice washed over me at
er me and sent a chill down my spine.
“How did you know it was me?” Lasked.
He chuckled. “No one else calls me Austin.”
“Oh. Right. Um. I just wanted you to have my new number for when you know what’s wrong with my car
And you had to tell me that now?”
I was othicially an idiot. “Well, no, I guess not. But it was either now or really early in the morning because I have to be at work at seven and I figured if you were asleep, you wouldn’t answer so I was going to leave a message. I didn’t expect you to pick up” Grap, I was rumbling again.
“Got it, darlin”
“Well, good, Okay. I’ll let you go
“Probably a good idea.”
I should have hung up. But as always, I was a glution for punishment. “Why is it probably a good b
“Dani, I’m not the man for you
I gasped. “Excuse me I never said you were.”
“You don’t have to say it out loud, babe. It’s written all over your face.”
“It is not! Wow. Are you always this rude, or am I just lucky?”
He chuckled and damn if I didn’t squirm a little at the sound. “Your car’s a piece of shit.”
“I’m guessing it’s both, 1 grumbled.
-You really shouldn’t be driving it,” he continued, ignoring my aute observation.
“Well, it’s all I can afford, so I don’t have much choice in the matter.”
“Why is it all you can afford.”
“Um, excuse me, Sir Rude–a–lot, that’s none of your business”
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Chapter 5
He chuckled again
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I sat up straighter. “Well, have someone call me with how much’s going to cost me to fix it and I’ll have someone drive me down to pick it up”
“Four–thousand, seven–hundred, ninety–two dollars is the curre estimate,” he said.
I choked. “What?“.
“Your engine’s pretty much shot, Dani”
“I don’t have that kind of money,” I whispered, blinking back tears. I tended to get a bit emotional when I was exhausted.
“Pickin‘ up on that, dulin Wonderin‘ why”
I dropped my head back and stared at the ceiling. “If you must know, an ex stole my savings and my identity. I have spent the last four years trying to clear my name and get him prosecuted, and now I’m lucky enough to get a hundred bucks a month in restitution. He apparently spent the money he stole or more likely, hid it, and spent thirty days in county. Bonus, he got three years‘ probation. 1, on the other hand, have credit rating that’s in the toilet and have to use the credit card my daddy gave me in order to deal with emergencies, which this certainly is, however, I don’t really want him having to pay five–grand for a car that’s not even worth that much.” I groaned. I couldn’t believe I’d just shared all of that with a virtual stranger, particularly because outside of my family and the asshole who stole my money, Kim was the only other human being who knew the story. “Sorry. Too much information.”
“How much did he steal?” Austin asked, no, demanded
“I’m sorry?”
“How much did the asshole steal from you?” He sounded angry
“It’s not important,” I whispered
“Dani, How much did he steal!”
“Fifty–four thousand, six–hundred, seventy–eight dollars and sixteen cents, 1 blurted. “And that’s just what he took out of savings. He charged another sixty–grand to credit cards he opened in my name.”
“Fuck me. Seriously?”
“Seriously. I’d been saving for a house.” I felt tears slip down my cheeks as the memories of Steve
yal flooded back.
“Anyway, it’s not your problem. Um, I’ll talk to my dad and figure out what to do about my car. I really appreciate all your help. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Bye.” I hung up and shoved my face into a throw pillow to scream. I didn’t have long to wallow in self–pity when the phone jingled in my hand. “Hello”
“What was the bastard’s name?” Austin demanded.
-Excuse me?”
The asshole who stole your money. What’s his name?”
“Why?”
“Babe, what’s his name?” he repeated, his voice pitched low.
“Steven
“Steven what?”
“No one.”
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Chapter 3
“Dani, give me his fucking name.”
“No,” I stressed. “It’s note of your business. I heard him take a deep breath and then there was a knock at my door. E
door.” frowned. “I should go, there’s someone at my
“Yeah, you should open it, darlinTM
I’m not opening my door at ten o’clock at night, Austin. Despite any persona, I’m not an idiot,”
He chuckled. “Open it, babe.”
AD
