I hadn't heard that, but he's probably right. We've had some cold nights, which means the shelters are filling up.
"What am I going to do?" I say, quieting my voice so Gladys won't hear. "Her cough is getting worse."
"Ask that coffee place if she can sleep there."
"They're not going to allow that. I'm lucky they let us use the bathroom."
"Just tell them it's for a night. One night inside she'll be better. It's the cold making her cough. Tomorrow's supposed to be warmer."
I glance back at her. The cold does make her cough worse. Maybe that's why it was so bad today.
"Okay, I'll ask," I say. "But if they say no, do you have an extra blanket you could give us?"
"Hell, no. You think I want to freeze to death?"
"You have more blankets than we do and it's just you. Gladys and I have to share."
He doesn't respond, his eyes trolling the street as more businessmen leave their buildings to go home.
"What about food?" I ask. "We haven't eaten all day. I lost my backpack and all the food that was in it so Gladys and I haven't had anything since yesterday. And they emptied the garbage so I can't—"
"Damn, girl, you don't give up." He walks over to a box next to the building. He takes something out and hands it to Gladys.
She smiles up at him. "Bless you, son."
He returns to the box and tosses something at me.
I catch it right before it hits the ground. It's a sandwich. A full sandwich wrapped in plastic that doesn't even have a bite out of it.
"Where'd you get this?" I ask, holding it up.
"Lunch cart." He points to the office building behind him. "Carl gives me the leftovers."
"Every day?" I ask, shocked I didn't know this.
"Hey, don't be getting any ideas," Levi says, walking over to me. "Took me years to build up what I got here and I ain't letting you or anyone else take what's mine."
"I'm not taking it but you could at least share now and then."
"Who gave you that candy bar the other day?"
"And I thanked you for that."
"Thanks ain't enough. You better start offering me something or you're not getting any more from me."
If he wasn't gay, I'd assume he meant sex but since he doesn't, I don't know what he thinks I can give him.
"Fine," I say. "I'll share what I find."
"I don't want no food from the trash. Give me something good, like them brownies from the coffee place. Or money."
"If I had money, I'd be buying my own food. I wouldn't be coming to you for it."
He leans against the building. "Bet that guy'd give you some."
"What guy?"
"The one I saw talking to you today." He smiles. "Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," I say, turning away from him.
Levi grabs my arm. "Who was he?"
"How should I know? I didn't talk to anyone." I yank my arm back and walk toward Gladys, who's devouring her sandwich. "We have to get going. Thanks for the food."
Levi comes up to me. "He was asking about you."
I look at him. "He talked to you?"
"Not me. I heard him asking other people on the street. Other suits. He was asking if they knew you. Then I saw him later, walking up and down your street, probably trying to find you."
Miles was looking for me? Why? What does he want?
"What'd he say to you?" Levi asks.
"We weren't talking. He just said something to me and I ran off."
"Why'd you run off?"
I sigh. "I don't want to get into it."
"Is he trying to get something from you?" he asks, his brow raised.
"No! It's not like that." I sigh, knowing he won't give up until I tell him. "I met him at the coffee shop. He didn't know I was homeless. We had coffee and he asked me out. I told him no and then I left before he could ask me anything else. When he saw me on the street, I ran off."
"What's with the suit? What's he do?"
"He's a lawyer. He works in one of the buildings down here."
Levi smiles. "A lawyer, huh? Lawyers are rich."
"He's been a lawyer less than a week. He's not rich. And I'm not asking him for money."
"But you'll ask ME? That don't make no sense."
"I told you I'd pay you back. It's just a loan."
"And where you gonna get money?"
"I don't know. I'll figure it out. C'mon, Gladys. We're going home." I help her up. She coughs and can't stop.
"Here." Levi hands her a bottle of water. "Get better, old lady."
"Her name's Gladys," I remind him. "Thanks for the water."
I wish I could ask for one for myself but that'd be pushing it. He's already given us more than I thought he would.
"I'll bring you something tomorrow," I tell him as we leave.
"I'll believe it when I see it," he says, and when I turn back, he's sitting on his lawn chair, looking out at the street.
"We're going home?" Gladys asks, pulling the blanket tighter around her.
Home. I wish that wasn't our home. I don't like even calling it that. I'm sure by now Miles found our spot and knows that's where I live. I bet he went back to the coffee shop and asked about me. The new girl, whatever her name is, probably told him that's where I live.
Now I don't want to go back there. I want to find a new spot. I looked for one earlier today but couldn't find one that's better than what we have now. Being by the coffee shop, we have access to a bathroom and we get whatever food they have left at the end of the day. We wouldn't get that living outside an office building or a warehouse. And I feel somewhat safe in our current spot. There aren't any men around and the police station is just a few blocks away.
Back at the coffee shop, I go inside with Gladys and find the new girl wiping down tables. The place is empty except for a woman sitting at a table with her laptop.
"Excuse me," I say to the girl as she wipes crumbs off a table. I wish I could remember her name.
"Hey." She stops and turns to me. "I didn't think you were coming back."
"What do you mean?"
"That guy said your stuff was packed up, like you'd left."
"What guy?" I ask, my heart beating faster.
"This guy who was looking for you. He knew your name so I assumed you knew him."
"I do. I mean, kind of. We met the other night. So what did he want?"
"He had your backpack. He wanted to give it back. I told him I'd give it to you but he said he wanted to give it to you himself. I assume that means he'll be back, although he saw your stuff gone and thought maybe you'd moved on. He left me his number so I could call him if I saw you. Should I call him?"
"No! Just forget it. And if you see him again, don't tell him you saw me."
"Okay." She turns and wipes the table behind her. "Oh, he got you a brownie. It's behind the counter if you want it."
He bought me a brownie because he feels sorry for me. Because he pities me, the poor homeless girl. I don't want his pity.
Gladys sits down on the chair next to me, coughing.
"Is she sick?" the girl asks, stepping back like she's afraid it's contagious.
"She just has a bad cough. It gets worse when it's cold outside. That's actually why I came in here." I walk up to the girl and lower my voice. "Do you think she could stay here tonight? I know it's not allowed but it would only be for a night. It's supposed to get really cold tonight and I know if she just had one night where she's warm and could sleep, she'd get better."
The girl shakes her head, continuing to clean. "Sorry, but I can't. I just started this job and I don't want to get in trouble."
"You won't. I know Zoe. She's one of the managers. If you called her, she'd say it's okay. I know she would. But you don't have to call her. Nobody has to know about this. I won't tell anyone. I swear. And I'll make sure we're out of here before the morning manager gets here."
"I can't leave you the keys to loc
k up," she says. "I need them for next time I work."
"I'll give them back to you. Just tell me when you work next and I'll make sure I'm here."
She looks back at Gladys, who's still coughing, then back at me. "I'm really sorry but I can't. I barely know you, and like I said, I just got the job and can't risk losing it."
I nod. "Okay."
"But you can stay until close." The girl walks back to the counter, probably to get away from me before I ask for anything more. I understand she's worried about getting fired but now I don't know what to do. Gladys is going to freeze outside all night. We only have two thin blankets to share and our tent has holes in it and won't close because the zipper's broken.
Going back over to Gladys, I lean down to her. "I'm going to go set up the tent."
"Let me help," she says, getting up.
"No. You stay here where it's warm." I take the sandwich Levi gave me and set it down in front of her. "Eat that. It'll help you get better."
"Raine, that's yours." She hands it back to me. "You haven't eaten all day."
It's true. I should probably eat it since I don't know when I'll find food again.
"Would you eat a brownie?" I ask, remembering the one behind the counter.
She smiles. "You know I love my sweets."
"I'll be right back." I go to the counter and grab the brownie Miles bought and bring it to Gladys. "Stay here, okay? I'll come get you when the tent's ready."
Going outside, I shiver when I feel the cold wind hit my face. It's only September. Why is it so cold already?
When I reach the alley, I blink a few times to make sure what I'm seeing is real. Did I go too far and end up in the wrong alley? I walk back to the street. I look left and see the black awnings of the coffee shop. I'm definitely in the right alley so what's going on? Did someone else move into our spot?
I walk back down the alley and cautiously approach the dark green tent. It looks brand new with not a single tear, and it's big, made for at least two people, maybe three.
"Hello?" I ask, tapping the side of it.
Nobody answers, but they could be asleep. I reach for my backpack to get my knife, just in case I need it, but then remember my backpack is gone. Miles has it. I wish he'd left it here. I really need it.
"Is anyone there?" I ask, tapping the tent again.
There's no response and the only movement I see is from the wind blowing the tent's fabric around. I crouch down and slowly unzip the tent and peek inside. There's nobody there but it's full of stuff. Sleeping bags. Heavy blankets. Pillows.
"What the hell?" I say to myself as I climb inside. Why would someone leave all this here? It's brand new. If someone finds it, they'll steal it.
There's a lantern on the side of the tent. I flip it over and find the 'on' switch. It lights up the tent and I notice a plastic sack in the corner. I pick it up and look inside. It's full of food. Bread. Peanut butter. Grape jelly. Beef jerky. A can of nuts.
"Holy shit," I mutter, popping open the can of nuts and tossing some in my mouth. I'm not sure who they belong to but I'm starving and have to eat something before I pass out. The sandwich Levi gave me is in my pocket and I take it out and unwrap it. I devour it, worried that at any minute now the owner of the tent will come back and kick me out, or worse, hurt me for being here.
What am I going to do? My tent is gone, along with the only other blanket we had. Whoever moved into the alley must've thrown them out. They staked their claim and now Gladys and I have to find a new home. Maybe whoever this belongs to would let us stay here for a night or two to give us time to find a new place. Or maybe we could share the alley.
I doubt that would happen. People on the streets tend to be territorial. Like Levi. He'd kill you before giving you his street corner.
My sandwich is gone and now I'm thirsty. I don't even remember the last time I had something to drink. I look around the tent and notice a water bottle peeking out from under the sleeping bag. I grab it but it's empty. The girl in the coffee shop would give me water. And if she didn't, I could always drink out of the bathroom sink.
I'd love to stay in this tent all night and fall asleep under the warm blankets, on the soft cushion of a sleeping bag. But unfortunately, this isn't mine. I have to hurry and find a new place for Gladys and me to stay. Maybe Levi would let us stay with him for a night. He acts like I annoy him, but deep down I think he likes me, not in a romantic way, but like a kid sister.
I turn the lantern off and crawl out of the tent, zipping it shut. When I stand up and turn around, I see someone right in front of me. I rear back, fearing the worst, then get a better look and relax slightly, but my heart's still thundering in my chest.
8
Raine
"What are you doing here?" I demand, angry he showed up here, and even angrier that he looks so damn hot. Why does a guy like this have to come along now? When my life's a total mess? Not that my life has ever been great, but it will be someday. Why couldn't he show up then and not now?
"I wanted to see you." He holds up a case of bottled water. "And give you this."
"Miles, you can't be here." I go around him. "You have to leave. I don't know whose stuff this is but they'll be back any minute and—"
"It's yours," he says, setting the water down. "All of it's yours. I came by earlier and saw what was left of your tent and saw you only had that thin blanket so I went and got you some stuff."
My heart rate slows back to normal as my head tries to process what he's saying. "You did this?"
"I had to. It's supposed to be really cold tonight and I wouldn't sleep knowing you were out here staying in that ripped up tent with no blankets. No food. No water."
He feels sorry for me, and I hate it. I don't want him, or anyone else, feeling sorry for me. I got myself into this situation and I'll get myself out. I don't need anyone's help. I accepted help from Rob and it ended with me getting beat up, broke, and out on the streets.
I had everything, and then nothing, because I trusted someone who offered to help.
"I don't want it," I say, folding my arms across my chest.
"What do you mean you don't want it? You just want to freeze to death?"
"Give me my stuff back."
"I tossed it. That tent was worthless. It couldn't even stay together. And the blanket wasn't much better."
"It doesn't matter. It was mine and I want it back."
"I told you, I don't have it. I tossed it. And if you're worried I'm going to ask for something in return, I'm not. I did it to help you. That's it."
"I don't need your help. Or anyone else's. Just take your stuff and go."
"I'm not taking it. It's yours. If you don't want it, give it to someone else. But I don't know why you'd do that."
Glancing back at the tent, I chew on my lip, knowing I should keep it, at least for Gladys.
"Fine," I say, turning back to him. "I'll give it to Gladys."
"Who's Gladys?"
"A friend. She's old and has a really bad cough. She needs it more than I do."
He stares at me, looking frustrated. "Would you at least keep some of it for yourself? A sleeping bag? Blanket?"
"You have two in there, so yeah. I'll take one. I stay with Gladys so we'll share the tent. If it were just me, I'd give it back but Gladys really needs the shelter."
"So do you," he says, his eyes on mine.
I glance down. "You should go. It's getting late."
"It's only eight. And I don't want to go. Why don't we have some coffee? They're open for another hour."
"I don't want to go in there. I just told the girl who works there not to tell you where I am, so if she sees us together she'll ask questions."
"Why'd you tell her that? Why didn't you want me to find you?"
I roll my eyes. "You really have to ask?"
"I don't know what you mean."
Why is he making me say this? It was bad enough having him see me take food out of the trash and now he wants to talk about
it?
"You saw me," I say, looking away. "I didn't want you to."
"Raine, if I'd known, if you'd told me, I would've helped. I would've got you whatever you needed. I would've—"
"I don't want your help. And I never asked for it so you shouldn't have done all this. I don't know what you're expecting but—"
"I'm not expecting anything. I didn't do this to get something in return. I did it because you needed it. You needed a place to sleep that wasn't ripped into shreds. And you needed food. What did you even do for food today?"
"There's a guy I know. He gave me a sandwich."
"What guy?" he asks, concern in his tone.
"It doesn't matter. It's none of your business."
"He didn't..." he pauses, "make you do anything to get it, did he?"
I huff. "What are you trying to say? That I give out my body in exchange for food?" I shake my head and walk away. "Good to know that's what you think of me."
He rushes over, stopping in front of me. "I never said that. But I know sometimes people do what they have to in order to survive."
"I'm not one of those people. I get along fine on my own. Now would you please leave me alone?"
"Why don't we try out the tent first?"
"Try out the tent?" I say, raising my brows. "I thought you said you didn't expect anything in return."
He sighs. "I was going to sit in there with you, not whatever you thought I meant. What's the deal with you? Why do you assume the worst?"
"Because the worst is what keeps happening to me. I live in an alley. Eat out of the garbage. Luck isn't exactly on my side."
"Or maybe it is. You met me." He smiles. "You gotta admit that's luck coming your way."
"If you call luck some guy who won't leave me alone."
"C'mon." He walks to the tent. "I'll leave it unzipped to make sure you don't try anything."
"ME? I'm not the one we have to worry about."
"I'm not so sure about that." He's still smiling. "I saw you checking me out."
Does he mean the other day, or now? The truth is, I check him out every time I see him but I didn't think he knew that. Maybe he was kidding.
"I forgot the water," he says, going to get it. "I would've got you soda but I wasn't sure what kind you liked."
Home With You Page 7