I Shouldn’t Love Him (Book 2) – Chapter 73
LAKE
Everyone went about their business as if nothing had happened.
As if Manning hadn’t left for almost two hours.
ng an innocent person into a police car was normal.
messier than I thought. Hannah and I worked in silence picking up, unmaking beds, emptying trash cans. The girls were sitting outside in the sun on their b
adio back on?” we asked.
“No.”
said I wasn’t involved in why they took him, but I didn’t see how that was possible. I had been there every step of the way. The officer must have seen something and returned to the station with it. Would they come and get me next?
sure they knew, even if it meant being punished for life. Even if the result ruined me in my father’s eyes.
ad their bags in hand, Hannah looked at my bunk.
em now.”
d the sweat from my forehead. I wish I had taken a shower, because I w
a second to pack.”
hem in place.
a hive, as we walked the girls to the buses. I searched the area for someone who might have news. Mannin
y before he saw me.
irls, and to Hannah, “I’ll be right back.”
looked up, waving his clipboard at me.
LAKE. Are you
ned?”
hat?”
Where is he?”
oked around.
e post.
at happened
her for me.” It’s not here yet, and we have to stay on
ave him here
e.
d while waiting to find out if one of our counselors gets arrested? How do you think the parents would feel about that?
’t just…”
you think? It’s her boyfriend after all.
t Manning when it was convenient for her. I was the one who
my face. Gary put a hand on my shoulder.
You
don’t I ca
s lawyer.”
“Why?”
an’t s
rowned.
orry.”
?”
not.”
h other.
?”
t probably seemed like I was exaggerating. Gary didn’t understand why this wa
friend to us. Our family.
o go see him?
ve. Again, she was my only connection to Manning.
her bangs stuck to her forehead.
d.
“I can’t find my
loor like fugitives on the run.
the bus.”
oing to shut up when you came here!
music.”
bus. you won’t need your Walkman. Right now, I need you to do a job for us.
outed.
round to each bed that doesn’t have a sleeping bag, remove the sheets from the mattresses and pile th
ds fun, right? »
o the nearest bed.
said to Tiffany.
ving babies, remind me of this experien
like that.”
e shit out of him. But that wasn’t the way to reach Tiffany.
“When I sent you
dding me?”
ing. I love you.
s lipstick, it was Chanel. That wouldn’t go
tep back.
lip liner. You should have put this first because now the lipstick is bleeding. You look like a prostitute.
me. “Do you want her to look like a prostitute?”
aking the lipstick out of her pocket. She put it back. “Pardon.”
okay.”
ome point, Tiffany had been struck by an ounce of patience. Although it made me happy to see her trying, I needed her to focus. “Ti
ut it in the mesh pocket of her luggage. “Who?”
o him.
sweating. I didn’t know what she was talking about. “When?”
u all that?
said it was. . a
e been trying to act like one lately. Be like me.
ce blushed. “What do you mean?” Sh
It’s a long dr
won’t tell me more.” I knew that.
d made that clear since we met, but at what point did he make things worse? I didn’t exactly feel safe with him in custody , unable to tell me about our next move.
come with you to get it?” I asked.
ck She shook her hand. “God, it hurts. And I broke a f*****g nail.
“Tif
is place,” she said. “C It’s dirty
ng.
hatever-”
did he say?” »
s something els
o you want from me, Lake?” she said, banging her fist on the suitcase. Surprised, I stepped back. “I have no idea what’s going on. He wouldn’t tell me anything. I don’t know what to do or if I should do something or right.” Her body shook under the threat of a sob. I was so shocked by her tears that I ended up on the floor next to
d away. “Don’t do i
F
e narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re the reason
, not to fight.
trouble?” she asked. “How will you feel then?” »
He won’t.”
know?” she asked.
eople don’t go to jail
he’s not innocent?”
is,” Gary said from the door. “Manning is a good
Gary,” I said. “Please.”
Manning specifically asked me to keep you away.
t I’m his girlfrien
wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but I could see that was all we were going to get. It was better than Manning being alone. “Thank you,” we said. “
.
he could stop packing. Considering there were designer handbags in there, she must have been desperate.
on the bag, and you zip it up,” I said. “I’m heavier than you.” I might have been, if I had the tits and a*s she had, but it was exactly what she needed to hear. She took a breath and stood up so I could take her place. After struggling with the zipper, she closed the bag. His face and eyes were red, his hair sticky with sweat. I couldn’t help but wonder what had happened earlier, before Gary interrupte
atter to her because she had no real feelings for Manning. But did she? “I’m sorry this week was so bad,” I said sincerely. “I’ll go to the mall with you when we get home and buy you something.”
what?”
wance. Probably more than you.
o her bed to take down the photos of her and her friends that she had taped to the wall. “You know I can have al
ething happen to him?” I asked.
don’t know.”
up with him?”
ybe
xpected her to stay with Manning for two whole years until I turned eighteen.
,” she said.
It was an excruciating two years away from him. But the thought of them together made me feel like I had a piece of glass lodged in my chest – I couldn’t go very long without being reminded that he was there. Manning and I needed Tiffany , but at the same time, it was undenia