pte

r

jump in surprise. She gives me a mischievous grin when I turn to look at h

I'm not in the mood for an

hy we hang out a lot since we were in nursing school toge

ud, and makes a habit of bringing home a carousel

my surrogate family. The only

tray on the table and pulls out the chair across from me, the metal legs dragging noisily against the

as I impale another piece of potato

t. I heard you m

ea

n the entire hospital who hadn't heard about that guy. Smith Stark, everybody

icks up her ham and cheese sandwich

ll. An asshole came. H

e is and how lucky you are to have talked to hi

nothing.

use it was nothing." Catherine takes a big

ated me like an idiot." The red-hot anger in my chest flares up again, the fire kindled by Cathy's com

Like I'm hi

Smith Stark is rich, hot, and he practically holds Dr.

's ... Why would he have a

." Catherine grins. "It's not even technically a bad word. E

"That's...d

with balls?" The grin

exactly wh

nd over her mouth. "Honestly, that is nasty.

ience, I ask, "What's the connection betw

bt when we built the new wing, which was Dr. Dan's idea. We almost had to abandon the project halfway t

that a family c

ig

ow how it feels to be chained down by deb

e has to pay them bac

is ass." I know how debts

ferential treatment occasionally, when they need medical attention.

pital. Now we have to do what they say, no matt

at me. "What exactly did

not going to get it. She had to be t

he wanted me to call someo

he wanted your firstborn." Catherine breaks in

und to check that nobody's hea

ng that I'm still a virgin. I feel like peo

." Catherine moves her eyebrows up and down to emphasize her point. She takes a deep breath, stares into the dista

hat ship has saile

s and looks me in the e

erine has cheered me up after all. I still hate Smith Stark's guts, but

lems I could solve if I

" Catherine pops her head into my

Henry's homework, lean back on the headboard

oo

?" I

that you sometimes a

e, even if you want to cast doubt on my q

eed money. And since you do, well, I have good news for you

ting in front of the cheap particle board desk by the small window, the only window in the ro

ly, not even bot

y eyes.

teenager myself, but I had to grow u

t a job, so I could move out of Mom's as soon as I turned eighteen

her lousy boyfriends. Sure, nobody ever beat us up or anything, but that woman doesn't ha

d study in peace. I ruffle his hair as I get u

nd-hand Ikea couch. The seat is hard and sagging from yea

ch is always a bad sign. Whatever plan sh

bank? Mess with an old lady's wil

st, do no harm, remember?" The grin remains plastered on Catherine's

." I take a deep breath

tching tattoos, TP the house of the ex who cheated on her, a

t sent to jail. I mean, if I have money problems now, how

teresting without Catherine's crazy ideas, though. Not a

unk for free multiple times. I also joined some guys Cath

se I'm always busy working and because it takes time for me

ce my

e Europe trip?" Catherine adjusts her po

bout it, like, s

a deep breath. This is not a good sign. A sane person about to d

I'm hearing. Even by Catherin

aitress," s

n't believe you're actually considering th

er eyes. "It's just like any of your other waitre

a waitress

any of those other job

. I raise my hand and hold up my palm, all five

es shine with excitement. She

the debts, the due dates, and the portion of my paycheck that wi

eally use

amount of money for one night's work. If you think about it, it's j

u're right. I didn't see it that way. Yeah, it is ju

," Cathe

is starting to sound not-c

they just had a bunch of girls quit and now that it's party season, they're overwhelmed and understaffe

an, give me som

. I know you're not working

mor

ey urgently need gir

here won't be a

ng you, you're probably worried about safeguarding

erine. It just hasn't ha

underwear, talking to men, some of them are probably going to

it out of their own free will and they got paid really well. These men are super rich. If you're inter

at seems se

eople will be there, people who don't want to risk their reputations over some

sound too dang

y, maybe once or twice I've tried, but you're too smart to get involved in something dangerous. I can tell you already think

e some doubts. "How did

ften comes to me with outlandish stories and opportunitie

ou tru

insecure about it. I've always wondered how she could afford all her designer bags and shoes without rich pare

klessness, but she's a good judge of chara

est. I feel like I'm watching my own body from

naked body in front of strange men sends a shiver down my spine, alth

t have to keep trucking, do whatever I have t

n, he's going to hurt me-or worse, Henry. And I can't