I spin around to see who it is only to find my dad’s business partner. He is also his best friend and the father of my best friend, Sable. “Marc,” I say, trying to not sound so surprised.
“Hey, Raven,” he says with a kind smile before grabbing my bag and taking the receipt. “Thanks.”
“Mhmm,” the cashier says as she starts ringing up the next customer.
“Thank you so much. I must have just miscounted as I was getting stuff,” I say as we step outside.
“Where are you parked?” he asks.
“I walked,” I say as I go to grab the bag. “I’ll give you the cash I have. I have some change at the house that I can give you the next time I see you, if you want.”
“You walked four miles from your condo to the grocery store?” he asks, raising an eyebrow at me.
“Six miles and a bus for four, technically, and yes,” I say. “I don’t live in the condo anymore.”
“Why?” he asks.
“Because I make $2.13 an hour plus tips at a shitty diner because no one will hire me. That’s why,” I snap but then stop and take a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I’m just tired and hungry. No one will hire me with my degree because of yours and Dad’s business. My perv of a boss won’t give me hours because I won’t fuck him, so I’m stuck paying for a week’s worth of groceries in change.”
“A week? Raven, does your dad know?”
“That I have no money or that I live in the sketchiest apartment building in the city?” I ask. “Either way, no. I always meet him at places, and I’m not dumb enough to ask for money.”
“He would help you, ya know,” he frowns.
“No, he won’t. Since I could walk, he said that he would never lend me money and that it was my responsibility to make it in life. I got a scholarship for college and will take any job that hires me. I don’t use power and I shower at my gym. Luckily the gym still has me listed as a student, so I don’t pay anything for it.”
“Does Sable know?” he asks, and I shake my head before wiping away a tear. “Come on. I’ll take you home.”
I follow him to his car, and he opens the door for me. Before I sit down, he stops me and hands me his phone. “Type in your address.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Because at a minimum, I will make sure you have food. I understand you are afraid to go to your father, so I won’t tell him, butI am having your meals delivered to you weekly. All you’ll need to buy is essentials like salt, pepper, and oil,” he says. I sigh and do as he says. I know there is no use arguing. “You and Sable like the same things, so I’ll send you the same thing I send her.”
“Thank you,” I say quietly.
“You can thank me later. Sit,” he says.
When he shuts my door, I realize what he just said. What does he mean I can thank him later? He doesn’t mean... there’s no way. He’s my dad’s age.
Marc drives us to my apartment. I am silent as he hums along with the radio. When he opens my door, he frowns at me. “There is no fucking way your father would approve of this place.”
“When he pays my bills, he can have a say over my life,” I say bluntly. “Want to come in?”
“Please,” he says. He follows me down the hall, past the drunk guy, Billy, who is always passed out in the hallway.
“Raven,” he slurs happily.
“Hey, Billy,” I smile. “Hit the bottle early again I see.”
“You know it, girl. Who’s the dude? I’ll beat him up if he tries to hurt you,” Billy says, pointing at Marc.
“He’s good people, Billy. It’s okay,” I laugh.
“Good. That’s an expensive suit, man. You should have the money to get her the hell out of this place. It’s no place for a smart girl like her.”
“Oh, she won’t be here for much longer,” Marc says. “You always look after her?”