Chapter 2

“Idon’t understand.” How could my situation go from awful to worse? I’m fighting back tears, not wanting them to freeze on my cheeks again. I have cried enough for one day.

The snow is coming down harder. I normally love it when it snows. It’s even more perfect because it’s so close to Christmas, so that means we’ll have a white Christmas. I don’t think we’ve had one for years. This is normally my favorite time of year.

“What’s not to understand? You gotta get out.” Mitch is fiddling with his phone, not any real help.

“But I have a lease!” I don’t believe I received a copy, however. I’m guessing he’s not going to give me one now. Doesn’t a lease protect you from these kinds of things? I mean, can I just be thrown out of my place without some sort of notice?

“Then sue me because I don’t own the building anymore.” Mitch shrugs.

“I can’t get all my things out today.” I try to make him see reason, but I already know it’s falling on deaf ears. Mitch only cares about himself and money.

“Every tenant is getting a buyout. The company is going to give each renter a couple grand to compensate them for the trouble.”

Okay, that’s better than nothing. I don’t have a couple grand worth of furniture. My bed is a couch, which works fine for the most part. I only have a tiny studio. It’s all one room. The kitchen stove only has two burners. The place is tiny, but it worked for me. It was the most affordable option I could find, and it felt somewhat secure. It was close each month, but I’d been making rent.

I can’t believe I got fired. It wasn’t even my fault. I can still feel the spot where the woman spilled her coffee all over me. I’ll be shocked if there aren’t any surface burn marks. I should have seen it coming. That woman had a weird dislike for me. I don’t understand why.

“When do we get the money?” I could use it to get a hotel. I don’t have much of a choice because Mitch has me. What am I going to do? Sue him? Right. Like I have the means to do that. Who would even buy this place?

“A check in a few weeks.”

“A few weeks!” Mitch’s brows rise. I really don’t want to go back to the shelter, but I can’t afford a hotel for that long. There is no freaking way.

“You don’t have to yell at me, Gabby.”

“I’m sorry,” I hurriedly say, feeling like kicking myself right after I say it. I should yell at him, but I detest being mean, and I believe Mitch is aware of this. He is now using that knowledge against me. Why do people have to be so cruel and take advantage?

You’d think with how I grew up I’d be tougher and not so gullible. I always tell myself I’m going to be meaner and more forceful, but I don’t have it in me. I remember one of my foster parents telling me I was full of sunshine. All I feel lately is like I’m walking with a dark cloud hanging over me.

“Just leave your key inside your place. I’d hop to it if I were you. You’ve only got a few hours to get your things.” With that, Mitch turns to leave. I stand there and watch him pull away in a fancy car with temporary tags. I guess he got a good price for the place.

When I enter my studio, I walk over to the couch and fall backwards on it, pulling out my phone. I start to search for a place to spend the night. The prices have me wanting to cry again. I let my eyes fall closed for a few minutes. With all the crying and worrying, I’m utterly exhausted. I’ve been working every shift I could get in order to try to at least stay afloat. Only to get fired.

I jerk awake what I think is a few minutes later to see it’s been hours. Holy crap. I make myself get up. I really don’t have any time left. For once in my life, I’m happy for owning so little. I start shoving things in the one suitcase I have. I grab a couple of trash bags for the rest of it. It’s that or leave it behind.

It’s kind of sad how quickly I packed all my things up. I plop back down on my couch trying to think of the positive, but for the first time, I can’t think of even one thing.

Caleb comes to mind. That would normally perk me up, but now I’m not sure I’ll ever see him again. He was always the brightest spot of my day. I was always trying to get him to talk more. He was quiet but so freaking sweet.

There is no chance I’ll ever run into him, though. We’re from two different worlds. The man’s watch alone is likely worth five years of my salary. Still, he was always so kind. Not like a lot of the other high-powered businessmen that came and went from the shop. They could barely give you the time of day. They would look right through you.

I’d most definitely grown a one-sided crush on Caleb. I constantly drew little hearts on his coffee cups, but he was always polite and never asked for my number or anything else. It was probably for the best. It never would have worked between us.

I pull out my phone and start searching for places to stay, praying for a Christmas miracle. For once, it would be nice to have a bit of luck on my side.

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