Right?
“West?” I realize she’s been talking to me.
“Sorry, I was just checking out all the cars. Do you see one you like?”
“That little SUV over there.” She points at something relatively compact and red.
“Let’s go look at it.”
I tug her hand and we walk in that direction, pushing away all thoughts of asking her to move in.
That’s a conversation for another time.
Maybe after I’ve gotten my head out of my ass.
Chapter
Twenty-Four
Serena
“There’s just no way,” I say after we’ve crunched the numbers every which way. “I can’t swing it without living off my credit cards, no matter how badly I want a new car.”
“But what’s the alternative?” West asks. “You have to work. Your current car will cost at least six thousand dollars to get it running, and then what? It’s going to break down again. It won’t be the transmission, but it could be the alternator or the fuel line or a dozen other things on a car that old.”
“You don’t understand,” I say quietly, hating the tears welling up in my eyes.
“Hey, come on—don’t cry.” He reaches for me and tugs me against his chest.
We’re sitting on his bed with my laptop and a pad of paper, and all I see is money I don’t have.
“I hate that my life has come to this,” I whisper angrily. “I hate that I have to be in a position where Joey can’t play T-ball or soccer or whatever because I can’t afford the fees. Or that I have to choose between food and a reliable car.”
“You don’t,” he says, stroking my hair. “Because I have an idea.”
“You can’t save me, West! We’re too new for that. I don’t want to rely on you because what happens when we break up? Then?—”
“Okay, wait. Stop.” He pulls away slightly and lifts my chin. “You haven’t even heard my idea.”
I swipe at my eyes and nod. “Okay. I’m listening.”
“Now hear me out before you say no.”
“Uh oh.”
“Bodi and Jayne are moving out soon. Not right away, but their house should be done by early summer. What if you moved in and we made that Joey’s room? I charge Bodi a thousand dollars a month. That includes all utilities, cable, and internet. Plus a parking spot in the garage. Joey could have their room and you’d be with me.”
I’m not sure if the roaring in my ears is because I’m shocked, grateful, or think he’s fucking with me.
He can’t be serious.
I stare at him blankly because I truly don’t know what to say.
“How long until your lease is up?” he continues.
“I, um, I don’t have a lease. We’ve been month-to-month for a long time.”
“So, let’s give it a try. Give Rudy a month’s notice and move in here. You’ll have a few months of not paying anything until Bodi and Jayne move out, so you can buy that SUV you want. And then?—”