Sovereign Ground (Breaking Bonds) by Hilarey Johnson

Author:Hilarey Johnson [Johnson, Hilarey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-04-27T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

It isn’t long before Brody’s red Dodge Ram pulls into the parking lot. He doesn’t get out of the truck, just waits for me to figure out how the extended cab door works and stick my suitcase inside. I place my backpack between my feet on the floor of the cab, with my fingers looped through a strap.

“You have a nice truck.” I leave out how ostentatious it feels. Seriously, what is he trying to prove?

“So where do you need to go?”

“I got kicked out of my house.”

“Bummer, girl.” I appreciate the softness in his eyes.

“I need to find an apartment.” And with it, freedom, independence.

“What part of town?” He answers as though it’s a common occurrence to pick up a homeless dancer from a random suburb park.

“Something close to work?” I hate how often I mean for something to come out as a statement, but I accidentally ask a question.

“I’ve got an idea.” He pulls out a manila envelope that feels like it has cardboard in it and hands it to me. “Want to see your pictures?”

“I only took them yesterday.”

“Digital media is fast. Rodrigo printed them on his computer and dropped them off this morning.”

A CD slides out first when I try to dump the contents. I drop it back in and lift several stiff sheets of photo paper. Every sensation, from the vanilla coffee smell to the hot lights, pulls me like a kite. If not for these pictures, I would have nowhere to sleep tonight; because of them, I have a thousand dollar check. They are ‘fab-u-lous.’ I slide them back in the envelope, wishing I could slide under an envelope as easily.

“I’m taking the disk to our designer today. Care if we stop on the way?”

“Sure. Whatever.” It isn’t like I have an option. In all my haste to not be at someone else’s mercy, I’ve done just that.

“Whatever?” He pats my knee and laughs.

I must be making a face because he clarifies. “Just kidding, Baby.”

So it’s the fun Brody I’m with today, the Brody who took me to a benefit for kids. Not the Business Brody, the one who “takes care of his girls” and watches Clint out of the corner of his eye.

“What does Clint do at the TorchLight?” I turn and watch Brody’s face to see if there is any change to indicate he is upset that I asked this. There isn’t anything.

“Who’s Clint?”

“I thought he was an employee, a partner or something.”

“Did he tell you that?” His chuckle is patronizing. “Baby, don’t believe a guy just because he tells you he’s a movie producer or a talent scout.”

I don’t like being the butt of his joke, but I don’t want to mention the first night I met Clint, because when I think of it, I suddenly regret asking Brody to help me. If Clint hadn’t opened the door at the bottom of the stairs, I’d have been trapped. Who cares what their relationship is?

“Cori and I went out the other night, clubbing.

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