Hard Place by Emily Goodwin

Author:Emily Goodwin [Goodwin, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-09T18:00:00+00:00

17

Harper

I stand outside Alex’s office, coffee in hand, and push my shoulders back. I’ve been thinking about him nonstop since last night, and I still can’t decide if I’m grateful or annoyed.

It was pure chaos when we got home last night, starting with finding out the A/C units in the entire building had pooped out during the day. It wouldn’t be that big of a deal if it wasn’t humid, and if humidity didn’t make that weird musty smell in the hallways ten times worse.

Max, a neighbor on the floor below, knocked on the door right after I got the girls in bed. He’s always had a bit of a crush on me, and over the last year, it’s gone from innocent to making me a little uncomfortable.

After seeing it was him through the peephole, I kept the chain on the door and cracked it open. He said he had a spare box fan if we needed it, since the air hadn’t come back on yet. I would have loved the fan but declined it anyway. The one fan we do have is in the girls’ room. I’d rather them be comfortable than me.

A cold shower and a glass of ice water later, I felt much better, but then I thought I heard someone outside the front door. I pushed the couch in front of it and moved the girls—and the fan—into my room since there’s a straight drop-off under my window, making it harder for someone to climb up and break-in.

I need to get us out of that shitty apartment before something really does happen. I’ve lost count of the number of gunshots we’ve heard since moving in. I don’t feel safe there, and the girls are old enough now to recognize my fear and start feeling it themselves. It kills me to know we’re not safe in our own home.

It’s a bit of a miracle the nice Lexus hasn’t been stolen yet, though I think my saving grace might be people thinking it belongs to one of the drug dealers that lives on the floor above us. Everyone knows not to mess with their shit.

My hair is to the side in a braid today since it’s too hot to wear it down, but I might have spent a little extra time on my makeup this morning. I’m wearing another one of Tessa’s too-sexy-for-school-yet-still-office-appropriate outfits today. It’s a dress, and the deep red color isn’t something I’d normally choose, but I loved it the second I put it on.

We leave in a mad rush for drop-off, and I get into the office with five minutes to spare.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Alex grumbles, shaking his head as he looks at his computer. “Dammit!”

“Is now a bad time?” I ask, finally forcing myself to step inside. The office has glass walls and the door is usually open. Alex can see me standing outside and delaying the inevitable will only make things more awkward.

“It’s fine.”

Nodding, I go to his desk and set the coffee down.

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