Page 29 of Shattered Queens: Veronica
“That would be lovely.” He grabs all my bags. Damn, those were heavy. Standing next to Will, I realize I've never really spoken to him. I know nothing about this kid.
“How do you like working here, Will?”
He looks at me as if I have an extra head. I guess tenants don’t speak to him. “I like it.” He looks down at my bags. “The hours are great, and my boss works with my schedule.”
“What do you do outside of work?” Again, he looks at me like I'm blowing his mind. Really, no one talks to him? He only works here every day.
“I work at my other job,” he shares.
“Another job?” I’m being too nosy. “I’m sorry, Will. I don’t mean to pry.”
“Oh, not at all, miss. I pick up shifts cleaning schools.” He pauses before continuing to open up. “I live with my grandmother. I take care of her. My mother, well, she left when I was a baby, and my father died when I was five.” The elevator opens, and we walk as he continues to share. “I owe her everything.”
“That’s very noble of you,” I say, the words catching in my throat.
“It’s not noble, miss. I do it because I can. She'smymother.” He says it with so much pride. My guilt, always just beneath the surface, emerges. I open the door to my apartment and motion him to step inside. He takes my place in and moves to set my groceries on the counter. “Thank you, Will.”
“Anytime, miss.”
“Please call me Veronica. I insist.”
He thinks about it. “How about, Ms. Veronica?”
“I’ll take it.” I extend my hand, and he shakes it. “Nice to meet you, Will.”
“Nice to officially meet you, Ms. Veronica.” He smiles politely and exits my apartment.
I set my purse on the counter and see the mail. It’s overflowing in my tote. I pull it out— nothing but ads and my first utility bill. My mind wanders to Will; he works two jobs to support his grandmother, the person who raised him. Meanwhile, I avoid my own because of my fears.
I pick up a familiar black envelope. My hand trembles in recognition. There is no return address. I use my fingers to feel the contents, and I freeze. It’s another photograph. I tear the envelope open and see it: me in bed, sleeping. Only, I’m not sleeping, I'm passed out drunk. I don’t remember when this was, but I know it was during that year when I was with Tony. I’m thinner in the photo. The dress I'm wearing was a gift from him, a couple of sizes smaller. I remember going on a strict diet for weeks just to fit into it.
The only person who had these photos is Tony, and he isn’t around for me to ask. How would anyone get access to these? I need help, but I can’t go to my family, and Felix is a definite no. Plus, they’ve already done so much for me. There is only one other person who I can think of. Goddamn it, he’s the last person I want to ask. It’s not like I have to see him to ask him for help. That may soften the blow my ego is going to take. I talk myself into not backing out and pull out my phone. I can’t bring myself to do it. Then I look at the photograph and pull up my messages. I let him know it’s important, then I see the incoming call. That was fast. I’m not surprised; he’ll take any reason to gloat.
“Princesa,” he says sarcastically. “To what do I owe the honor?”
I haven’t spoken to him in such a long time. Is that what he sounds like? A smoker. Gross. The last time I spoke to him, it was more yelling than anything. It was after he called the police on my date and had him thrown in jail for kidnapping, which it wasn’t. All because I threw my phone into the ocean so he wouldn’t be able to locate me. He still did. Veronica zero, Miles one.
Over the years, I realized that going to my brothers and complaining about Miles and his antics is no use. So I don’t bother anymore.
“Hello to you, too, Miles.” I can’t help the internal eye roll. “Did I interrupt your nighttime stalking?”
“On the contrary, Princesa, I was looking at my dating app. A man has needs, you know. Do you remember what a dating app is? It’s been so long since you used one.”
“Of course I remember, you vile gremlin.”Breathe Veronica. “I’m sure you have women lining up because you have such a winning personality.”
“Now, Princesa, that’s not nice. Remember, you reached out to this gremlin.”
I can’t fucking stand him. I try to center myself before I lose my shit and throw my phone across the room.
“Fine. I need your services. Before you say something that’s going to piss me off. Just remember, you work for my family.”
“Correction. I work for your brothers and cousins and uncles. Well…almost everyone else, but you.”
“God, you’re such a smart-ass. I don’t have the energy for this.” I’m already over this call.
He laughs. That laugh is familiar. I know I’ve heard it somewhere. But where? Miles lives, well, I don’t know where he lives. In a cave?
“Still there?” he asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.
