Little Black Book (3 page)

“Night.
”

“You know, I could get you a job at Clive’s. It pays well and you’d be home all day since you wouldn’t have to be at work until six.” Trish said.

She was my only friend. Growing up
, I never had time to go out and meet people because I was always taking care of Gran. Trish was the only person in school who made time for me and understood I couldn’t go out partying on the weekends.

We’d b
een friends since tenth grade and she still looked exactly the same. Same blonde hair, same blue eyes, and same perfect body. My own body had started to grow since high school. My butt was a little wider and my boobs, a little heavier. I still had my tiny waist, which was good, but I hated having to go up a size in my jeans just because my hips were so curvy.

“I’m not working at a bar. Plus, who would watch Kyle at night?”

“Kyle’s thirteen, he can watch himself, Roz. I was staying home alone much earlier than that. You’ll be there when he gets home, and you can make sure he gets dinner, or help him with his homework, or whatever. Then he can get ready for bed and go to sleep. Buy him one of those little pre-paid phones so he can call if something happens, and tell him to lock the doors.”

Trish talked as she flipped through a magazine. It was obvious she never had to worry about another person b
esides herself. I couldn’t just leave Kyle at home all alone. Especially not now. He was already having a hard time sleeping at night, no way could he stay home alone.

“I can’t even afford a cell for myself. How would I be able to afford one for Kyle? It’s out of the question. Keep thinking. There has to be some places hiring around here.”

She sighed. “Fine. We’ll keep looking.”

I knew she was annoyed, but she’d just have to deal with my decision. I wasn’t going to budge.

Every day, after dropping Kyle off at middle school, I’d spend the day putting in applications everywhere. I didn’t have a cell, so I’d checked the answering machine every afternoon with hopes of someone calling me back. I’d already gotten the phone bill, which I couldn’t afford to pay, so I needed a job like yesterday.

Two weeks later
, there had been no calls, and our house phone had been disconnected. I was desperately trying not to spiral into despair, but the water and electricity were the next to go—not to mention, we only had two more weeks before we had to be out. I was at the end of my rope, and desperate.

Kyle and I searched for boxes at all the local stores and packed
the belongings we wanted to keep. Everything else, we sold. By the time the bank was taking the house, we managed to move our belongings into Trish’s parent’s garage.

We each packed a suitcase for everything we’d ne
ed until a place was found. As sad as it was, and as bad as it broke my heart, we moved into the Oldsmobile.

I was sure Trish would have given us a place to stay had I told her about our predicament, but I was to
o proud. She was my age, and worked and lived on her own. I was ashamed I couldn’t do the same.

The little bit of money we had from everything we sold would get us thr
ough. It paid for gas and food and really, that was all we needed until I could get us into an apartment.

As we pulled into the parking lot of his school, I grabbed his arm before he could make his hasty exit.

I turned worried eyes on him and gave him a warning. “Remember, Kyle, don’t tell anyone about our living arrangements. It won’t be like this for long, I promise. Just bear with me, okay?”

“
I’m not going to say anything. I’m not an idiot, Roz.” He smiled sweetly at me. “We’ll find something. I told you, I’m not worried.”

I smiled
at him as he got out of the car, but I felt low—lower than low—and I knew what needed to be done. I had to put Kyle first, and that meant I was going to Trish to beg for a job.

I got out the car and tripped over the sidewalk going to Trish’s front door. She live
d in a nice apartment complex. It was nothing I could afford as of yet, but with her help, I was hoping to. I knocked on the door ten times before she finally answered it. Her eyes were thick with sleep, and her hair was wildly sticking up in odd directions.

“Someone better be dead,” she rasped.

“No one’s dead, but I need your help.” I stepped around her and sat on the couch.

She sighed, closed the door, and turned to me with her hands on her hips.
“You do realize I just went to bed like an hour ago, right?” She dramatically fell onto the couch beside me and pulled a throw blanket over her legs.

“I’m sorry
, but I need that job at Clive’s. I know you’ve already done a lot for us. And I really appreciate you and your parents giving me a storage space and helping me and Kyle load it all up, but I need one more favor and I promise I’ll never ask for anything again.”

“Fine. Vick is looking for another waitress. I told her abou
t you. Just show up this afternoon around five. I’m pretty sure she’ll give you the job,” Trish slurred. Her eyes slowly began to close.

“Just like that? I don’t have to interview or anything?”

“Wear a pair of the shortest shorts you can find. That should get you right in.”

I walked out of Trish’s apartment with a pair of the shortest shorts I’d ever seen and a sinking feeling in my stomach. It wasn’t ideal, but it was money. At that point
, I would have done whatever I had to do to make sure Kyle had a roof over his head and food in his stomach.

“Can you start immediately?”

Vick was nice, but to the point. There was no sugar coating, and she obviously didn’t believe in small talk or getting to know you. She was pretty, but didn’t flaunt it. I got the impression she’d rather you fear her.

“Yes.”
I tried to sound self-assured, but I couldn’t have felt more out of place if I tried. “I can start this weekend if…“

“Good,” she interrupted as if I hadn’t been talking. “I could use someone tonight.”

She slipped off the barstool to the cocktail table we’d been sitting at and left me behind. I frowned before I realized she wanted me to follow her. Like a good little lap dog, I hoped off my stool and caught up to her with quick steps.

“Tonight?” There was no keeping the slight tremor from my voice this time. “But don’t I need some kind of training? I’ve never…”

Vick stopped and turned abruptly, causing me to skid to a halt. She crossed her arms and stared me down like she was an alpha and wanted me to submit. I almost did.

“You need training to carry drinks around?”

Well when she put it like that. “No,” I said firmly, but I felt my cheeks heat up.

“You said you could start immediately and I need someone tonight. Do you want the job or not?”

“Yes.”

The word flew out of my mouth
, even though I knew starting right at that moment was a bad idea. I still didn’t know what I was going to do with Kyle. We were living in a car for God’s sake. And Clive’s was in the middle of the city. Not the best place to leave a thirteen-year-old, in the car… alone.

But we’d make do
. We always did.

“Okay then.” She dropped her arms and gave me a once over. “I’ll get you
an outfit and I’ll have one of the girls show you around after you’re done changing.”

I panicked when I thought of Kyle. “But…” Her impatient sigh stopped me and I bit my tongue. “I just have to make a phone call.”

“Make your call and I’ll have one of the girls bring you an outfit. Find me when you’re dressed.”

I nodded and she turned to leave
.

B
efore she got too far, she turned around again. “Tell Mike, the bartender, to let you use the phone.”

“Thank you,” I said to her retreating back.
Turning around I saw a muscular guy behind the bar. “Are you Mike?”

When he
looked at me, he flipped his head to the side to move the blond hair hanging in his eyes. Leaning onto the bar, face inches from mine, he smiled big enough to show teeth.

He’d obviously been going nuts with the steroids. His arms were easily the size of my head and his shirt could barely contain the muscles
trying to pop free from his chest. He reminded me of the Hulk just before he turned green.

“Lucky for me, I am,
” he winked.

I wanted to roll my eyes at his corny one-liner, but instead I forced a smile.
“Great. Vick told me to find you so I could use the phone?”

He didn’t say anything as he pulled the cordless phone from beneath the bar and handed it to me.

“You work here?” he asked, when I took the phone.

“Started… right now, actually.”

“Glad to hear it.”

I dialed Trish’s number and gave him another forced smile.

When she answered, I gave her a quick rundown of my conversation with Vick and while I hated to ask her for another favor, I had no choice.

“Will you chill, Roz?” she snapped. “Kyle and I are practically BFF’s.” I could hear Kyle’s laughter in the back and suddenly wondered if leaving him with Trish had been a good idea.

She was easily every teenage boy’s wet dream and no matter how much I didn’t want to think about it, I’m sure she had some kind of effect on Kyle.

“Just don’t teach him any bad habits,” I warned.

“Never. Look, I’ll get him some McDonald’s and he can stay here tonight while we work. He’ll be fine, Roz.”

In the background I heard Kyle echo Trish’s words and knew I had no other choice. I sighed and agreed to her plan.

I hated to do it, even though I was assured he would be fine. Not to mention, Trish was nice enough to leave her cell with him, since it was his first night alone.

I was saved from having to engage in anymore conversation with Mike when one of
the Clive’s girls brought me a uniform—at least I think it was supposed to be an outfit. When I unfolded the new shirt and shorts they were more like underwear.

Ten minutes later, I found Vick and stood there while she stared me down like I was a piece of meat.

“Turn around,” She ordered, and I did a full turn. “Let me…”

She took a step closer and grabbed the material of the shirt at my ribs. Then she adjusted
it to show more of my breasts. It was the most uncomfortable thing I’d ever been through, but it got me the job.

“Perfect. Now find Mike again and he’ll give you the run down. Have fun,” she taunted before turning away.

The first night was brutal. I dropped multiple drinks and bumped into customers. I almost slipped and broke my leg, and a few times I got the order wrong. Vick didn’t believe in training, she believed in learning by experience, which meant I was thrown straight into a busy Friday night. I failed miserably.

Two hours in, I was sure I owed Clive’s more money than they owed me, but I wasn’t going to give up. I needed this job, and I wasn’t about to
let it slip through my fingers—like half of the drinks I attempted to serve.

“Just keep smiling, Roz. The guys like you. You have tha
t innocent thing working in your favor,” Trish said, as she slid beside me with a full tray.