Page 17 of Unexpected Prejudice

“Shit. I’m sorry. But I can’t. I need to go to…” I kept my work a secret because it pretty much sold me out on being broke and all, but Shay-Lee already knew, and so far, he didn’t question me about it.

“To work?”

“Yeah,” I said, putting on my shirt.

“Do you need a ride then?”

I wanted to say no, but I also wanted to say yes.

I guess Shay-Lee noticed my inner dilemma because he gave me a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about it, Keller, it’s fine. You can trust me.”

I looked around the locker room, before I returned his smile. It was busy, yet no one paid us any notice. “Okay, yes. Thank you.”

The smell of leather inside Shay-Lee’s Bugatti made me think back on my old car. Of course, I never had a car as sweet as this one, not even close, but still, my old baby was nice.

We were driving while a killing remix played, filling in the silence until Shay-Lee lowered the volume and asked the question I’d hoped he wouldn’t.

“So, wanna tell me what’s going on?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, playing dumb, which earned me a chuckle.

“C’mon, Keller. I’m not an idiot. Something’s been going on with you since last year.”

We stopped at a red light, and he turned to look at me, with one hand around the wheel while the other rested behind my seat. “I’m your friend, Keller. You can trust me.”

“I know,” I said quietly. “I do trust you.”

The light switched to green, and Shay-Lee continued to drive without saying a word.

“My father was accused of fraud and fled the country, leaving my mom and me with nothing.” With frightening ease, I shared my secret of six months with him. “We lost the house and all the bank accounts we had. My mom and I are broke. Literally.”

“Oh, fuck, Jordy. I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Thanks, I guess.”

I almost choked when I felt Shay-Lee’s palm suddenly rubbing the back of my neck. That simple touch, meant to show sympathy, made my heart rate pick up.

“So, you’re having money problems. That’s why you took that job?”

“Yeah,” I answered, trying to ignore how his hand still touched me.

“So, where are you staying?”

“Some crappy motel, not too far from where I work.”

He moved his hand away, and I could finally breathe again. I was so nervous he’d notice how my body reacted to his slight touch and quickly discover my other secret—the one involving my growing attraction to him.

After a couple of minutes, Shay-Lee parked his car in the parking lot beside my work. Still having a bit more time left until my shift started, I didn’t hurry to get out of the car. Too nervous to hear what he had to say, I waited for him to speak first.

“What about this?” He pointed at my black eye. “Who gave it to you?”

I thought about lying, but why should I? I had already told him most of it.

“Among other things… my dad borrowed money from bad people.”

“Loan sharks?”

I nodded.