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Tears spring to my eyes I blink furiously to battle them back It doesn’t work, and they slip down my cheeks

“Listen,” Nelson says diso But I’ll make sure to tell Hope when she coo on any trips with friends in the future I’m sure she’ll love you for that”

“Don’t you dare,” I hiss, but all I can hear is dead air

The asshole hung up on me

“Goddaainst the hood ofmy bones to ache

The anger starting to swiftly turn to depression, I make my way around to the driver’s side and throw myself into the front seat Just as I start ht that perhaps Nelson has had an attack of conscience and is reaching out to s better

When I look down at ut

It’s not from Nelson, but from Toby, my brother

There’s a Fender guitar at a pawn shop that’s an incredible deal Can you loan me 200?

Aup under all this stress

Fro at me

No, I write back

It’s a short, curt response from me, and he quickly responds No worries Thanks anyway

He even puts a kissing face emoji

I had a hand in raising Toby and Frank because my mom worked herself to the bone to be able to afford rent, utilities, and food She waited tables at a honky-tonk bar in rural South Carolina where the pay was horrible and the tips even worse I admire the hell out of her for it

I toss my phone back in my purse, then head back across town toonsad movies