“I take care of my family. This is what I do. I can sleep a little better at night knowing you and Di and Shane and Bug have food in your bellies. That Manny will keep Karla safe from the guys who raped her when she first showed up three years ago. That Bug doesn’t have to worry about getting his ass kicked every other day because Manny knows they’re my friends so he takes care of them.” He clenched his fists. “I do what I’ve got to do to make our lives a little easier!”
I stared at him, horrified. “No one expects you to do anything like that! To put yourself at risk to make sure we’re okay!” I protested.
Yoss glared at me and I shrank. He had never looked at me that way. As if I were bothering him. As if I were a nuisance.
“Sometimes it’s nice to go and buy food like a normal person. Just so, for at least one meal, you don’t feel like such a fucking drain on society.” Yoss brushed through his hair and dropped the comb on our makeshift bed. “I want to be able to provide for that happily ever after you seem to think we’re going to have. How am I going to do that, Imogen? How the fuck can I take you away from here if I don’t have money in my pocket?”
“You could get a job—”
Yoss barked out a laugh. “Yeah, because there are a lot of employers willing to take a chance on a homeless kid. Don’t delude yourself.”
Were we fighting?
Whatever it was, it didn’t feel good.
“I just don’t want you to leave. Not after what we were about to…you know.” I stared at the floor, feeling uncomfortable with our audience, even though Manny didn’t seem to be paying attention.
Yoss’s face softened and he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.
“Come on. We’ve got to go.” Manny looked thoughtful for a moment, his finger on his chin. “You could come with us, Imi.” I felt cold. Manny gave me a once over. Starting at my feet and slowly working his way up. “I think that could be a very good idea for both of us.” Manny smiled and my mouth went dry.
“No, Manny, I told you already that’s not gonna happen,” Yoss broke in. He gave me a hard shove so that his body shielded me. “She’s too old anyway.”
I couldn’t see Manny because of the barrier Yoss created but his voice pierced my eardrums and I felt genuine terror. “But she looks so much younger. That can work. Why don’t you let the girl answer for herself?”
“No!” Yoss shouted, his hand wrapping around my wrist and squeezing. Hard.
“Imi. What do you say? You want to come with Yoss and me tonight? It won’t take long and then the two of you can come home together. No leaving you here by yourself,” Manny said, stepping around Yoss so that he could see me.
“I don’t think so,” I rasped, nausea bubbling up in my stomach.
Manny cocked his head to the side. “Are you sure? You’re looking very thin, sweetheart. Some money for a decent meal is just what you need,” he said kindly. So gentle and concerned. It would be so easy to do what he wanted. He spoke with soft persuasion. Like politicians and cult leaders.
He was the scariest person I had ever met. Scarier than Tag or the faceless monsters in the dark.
Because Manny hid his evil with a kind face and an easy smile.
“She’s not going anywhere. She’ll be fine. Shane will be by later,” Yoss’s voice held a hint of his own fear. “Let’s go,” he said to Manny. He quickly looked back at me, his eyes bright and his face sad. “I’m sorry,” he said.
I bit down on my lip so I wouldn’t sob. He hugged me tight, kissing the sensitive spot just below my ear, whispering something I couldn’t quite hear.
I clung to him, not wanting to let go.
He pulled out of my grasp.
And then he was gone.
The Present
I woke up to laughter.
It was a strange sound that didn’t quite fit.
Deep and genuine, it filled the room.
I sat up in bed and looked around in a daze. For a minute, it was like every other morning.
Lonely.
But then I remembered Yoss and I had a momentary panic. What if he had left? What if he had slipped out while I slept?
I held my hand over my racing heart and tried to calm my breathing.
Then I heard the laughter again.
It wasn’t just one voice.
It was two.
I frowned and got out of bed, finding my robe and putting it on.
I could smell brewing coffee as I walked out into my living room. I wasn’t sure what I expected to see.
Yoss and Lee chatting in my kitchen was definitely not it.
Yoss was chopping onions with a smile on his face. The kind of smile that I hadn’t seen in far too long.
Lee was standing at the stove, dropping cut peppers into a pan. The smell of cooking eggs and vegetables made my stomach growl.
“I told her that Madonna was definitely not the look for her. She seemed to take it very personally that I didn’t appreciate the cone bra getup she had on,” Lee snickered, flipping the omelet.
“I can’t see Imi in a Madonna costume. Did you take pictures?” Yoss asked, chuckling. It warmed me to hear. Then I realized what they were talking about.
“Actually, I think I have some on my phone—”
“Don’t you dare, Lee Cutler,” I warned, stepping into the room.
Lee looked up and grinned when he saw me. “If it isn’t Sleeping Beauty,” he teased.
Yoss gave me a shy smile, which I returned.
“Yoss, can you get some plates? Imi keeps them in the cabinet by the sink,” Lee instructed, waving the spatula.