Chapter 34


    Yeah, there are days I’m a dirty fucker, and I just can’t help it.


    ****


    Unpacking the Chinese food I’d picked up on my way over, I love what Faye has done with the ce in


    such a short time. I’ve handled her old apartmentndlord and whatever fee he thought he could


    charge her. The moving men had done a good job, but I’d supervised that as well.


    The apartment no longer looks like a cold space but is filled with Faye and Kerry’s things. Several


    pictures cover the walls, and in the far corner of the living room, I see a stand filled with books. There is


    still plenty of space as they didn’t have lots to move. I saw the main bedroom that Faye had called dibs


    on, and even put a note on the other bedroom, telling Kerry it was hers.


    “Where’s your sister?” I ask.


    Kerry dips into one of the food cartons and takes a dumpling. “Shower. Don’t worry, she’ll be out in a


    minute. She has this mother hen syndrome. It means she can’t be gone from me all that long. I’m


    surprised she lets me go to school and doesn’t teach me at home.”


    I don’t like this.


    “Faye cares about you.”


    “I know.”


    “Then why don’t you start cutting her some ck? You don’t have a clue what your sister has gone


    through to help get you here.”


    “Fucking the boss, please, I bet it’s not that hard.” Kerry snorts.


    I stare at this girl, and I shake my head.


    “While you were in the hospital, building up never-ending debt, your sister, the girl that loves you and


    feels like aplete failure because she wasn’t able to protect you, she was selling her virginity to pay


    for it.”


    I shouldn’t have said a fucking word. I know that. Damn it! Everyone knows that, but listening to Kerry’s


    snort and derisive tone, I was fucking done. I get it. She’s a kid and has to be protected after what


    she’s gone through. But therees a point when it’s no longer an excuse. Faye won’t call her out


    because of her guilt.


    “You don’t know that.”


    “Oh, yeah, I do.” What Faye doesn’t know is I still have the damn sheets as well. Yeah, some seriously


    fucked-up shit. “I’m the one that bought her.”


    Kerry jerks back.


    I stare at her. “She could have been with anyone. There were security measures in ce to make sure


    she was okay, but anyone else, they could have hurt her.”


    “What the hell is she doing with you?” Kerry asks, staring at me in shock.


    “A chance meeting. Mypany has a division that employs college dropouts. You see, Kerry, while


    you’re angry with everyone, your sister, and just about anything—and I get it, I do. I know the truth—


    your sister gave up everything for you. A flourishing career in business, her virginity, her time, her life.


    All to make amends for leaving you with a monster. A monster that was supposed to take care of you.


    You can hate your sister, but when I’m here you will show that woman some damn respect because as


    far as I’m concerned, she’s more than fucking earned it.”


    Silence falls after I finish my warning.


    Everyone was looking out for Kerry.


    Everyone.


    Doctors. Nurses. Teachers. Counselors. The lot.


    Who is taking care of Faye? She’s twenty years old, and has taken responsibility of her teenage sister


    like it came natural to her. Everyone judges her, and no one takes her side. Well, I’m going to be her


    sounding board because she clearly fucking needs it.


    I am done with her sister walking all over her.


    “You love my sister?” Kerry looks at me, and she’s gone a little pale.


    “Yes.”


    “Does she know?”


    “No.”


    “Why won’t you tell her?”


    I smile. “She’s likely to run far away from me when I admit it.”


    “You’re the first guy she brought home, ever. I’m pleased she has someone.”


    “She has you, Kerry. That’s what she wants. She needs to know that she’s done the right thing because


    if there’s one thing I know for sure, she loves you.”


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    I don’t need to say the same stuff.


    Kerry gets it, and I see it in her eyes.


    “Am I interrupting something?” Faye asks, drawing my attention to her.


    She’s in a pair of jeans and a huge shirt that doesn’t show off her curves. Next on my list of things to


    do, new wardrobe.


    “Chase here was riding my ass. I need to, like, finish my homework. It’s so incrediblyme, and I’ve


    been putting it off.” There was a pause. “Would you, erm, would you help me?”


    “You want my help with your homework?”


    “It’s an English paper, and I don’t have a clue what to do. You aced English in high school. Please, I’ll


    be a really good student.”


    The request has surprised Faye, but I see the happiness in her eyes.


    “We’ll eat dinner, and I’ll help you straight away.”