Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 59287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Nothing that entertained me.
Against my better judgment, I logged into my burner account on Instagram. Then I typed in “Olivia Spencer.”
A page full of profiles appeared, but the tiny picture of the woman I was looking for was hard to miss.
I clicked on it and her page opened.
There were rows of photos of her walking around New York, hanging out at a children’s library, and—
What the hell am I doing?
I blocked her page and logged out, vowing to never visit it again.
RECIPROCAL DISCOVERY (N.):
THE EXCHANGE OF DOCUMENTS, LISTS OF WITNESSES, AND OTHER INFORMATION BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES OF A LAWSUIT OR CRIMINAL PROSECUTION BEFORE TRIAL.
OLIVIA
“Okay, lady.” The burly man at the car pound stamped my proof papers. “I’ll be right back with your vehicle and printed receipt.”
“Thank you.” I moved back.
“I am so sorry, Olivia…” Lindsay pressed her hands against my shoulders. “I thought I told you about this.”
“No.” I stepped back. “You did not tell me you used my license at a ‘few’ traffic stops when I let you borrow my car.”
“Well, I couldn’t use mine, you know?”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because I’m in nursing school.” She sighed. “I can’t have anything reckless on my record before I graduate because no hospital will want to hire me.”
“But I can afford to be a criminal?”
“No, but…You have more resources and stuff. Plus, whenever you land your next big job, I figured you’d be able to pay off everything with one check.”
My blood boiled as she stood there looking nonchalant as ever. She’d conveniently dropped this bomb on me during our morning bus ride over here.
I used to think it was kismet that I’d met someone who could pass for my sister, that our becoming roommates six years ago was fate, but now I wasn’t so sure.
Sure, we’d been evicted together, gone through shared growing pains, but this was absolute bullshit.
“What’s your excuse for not telling me about the court warrants that were mailed to the apartment?” I still couldn’t believe this. “The clerk said they mailed out like ten, and I can’t remember getting a single one.”
“I don’t know…” She shook her head. “I’m going to make this up to you, I swear.”
“You could start by paying me half of the fees,” I said.
“I will.” She pulled out her wallet and took out a twenty dollar bill, leaving a thick stack of others behind. “I’ll give you twenty bucks a week starting today.”
“Lindsay, it costs me six hundred dollars.”
“Okay, fine.” She took out two more twenties. “How about sixty bucks a week?”
As much as I wanted to yell at her and smack it away, I took the money and bit my tongue.
“On the plus side, Sam just bought a car so we won’t have to borrow yours anymore.” She smiled. “Isn’t that great?”
I said nothing.
“He’s coming here to pick me up in it since I figured you might be a little too mad to drive me home.” She tilted her head to the side. “Or are you?”
“I think you should walk away from me, Lindsay…”
“Awww, okay.” She shrugged. “Well, when you come home from work later, the gourmet cheese plate and champagne on the dining room table is a special gift from me to you.”
I refused to say a word to her.
“Well, um, bye!” She finally turned away, and I swallowed all the “fuck yous” that were on the top of my tongue.
I pulled today’s lottery ticket from my pocket and checked the numbers on my phone.
34 8 11 2 51 23
Powerball Number: 12
My picks weren’t even close.
The sound of a car speeding along the gravel made me look up.
My gray Nissan was dustier than it was when I left it, and the words “Please Wash Me” were etched on my windshield.
“Perfect…” I muttered.
The attendant parked right in front of me and stepped out of the driver’s side.
“Here you go, Miss.” He tossed me the keys. “I left your receipt on the passenger seat.”
I nodded and stepped forward.
“Oh, and um—” He ran a hand through his hair. “Not that it matters, but you really need an oil change and a tune-up. I know a guy who could do both for about five hundred bucks.”
“Do I look like I have five hundred dollars?” I snapped. “Like, seriously?”
“No.” He smiled, looking me over. “Well, how about a night with me and I’ll get it handled for free?”
“No, thank you.” I moved past him and slid behind the wheel.
I’m not that desperate…
I cranked the engine and glanced at the receipt that had officially robbed my savings account.
I saved my tears for later and steered out of the lot and into the far left lane on the highway. I ignored all the honking that came my way, making my usually twenty-five minute commute forty minutes instead.
I was never going to break a traffic law again…
I pulled into my usual spot at the children’s library.