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Morrison has been quiet other than talking about Marisa Those two have bonded, and I am not sure how I feel about it I try to keep s separate frohter

It stings, though He won’t even kiss et ht weDoes my past turn him off that bad?

Of course, in the grand schehter, a job, and now my very first place, all on my own

Checks and balances—my scales are all even For the first time in my life, no one owns me For the first time in my adult life, I can say with confidence I owe no one

It feels good

Chapter Seventeen

I stand in the doorway of the rooinally intended for Mo it eh for a while it couldn’t have been onna lie toI’ve ever had to deal with

Hailey was strong when I met her—fierce, actually Never in a ht she felt like that fuck really owned her Given what she went through, I understand she needed to build a wall I wanted that wall strong, and not only for her

The little one needs herthat now, no doubt about it She even told ht, hts, I take her out of the nest, so to speak, and we have dinner

Hailey’s new nest The original nest—the horeat for the two of them And for us, too I’m sad to see that time end

However, now little chick and I have our one-on-one Wednesday date night, and fuck if she doesn’t havedoors and shit It’s the first time in s at the hardened Caldwell heartstrings Okay, so it was chicken tenders, fries, and milk shakes, but dammit, it was a step

Soive that to little momma Hailey

“You okay?” Hendrix asks from behind me

“Monday nights, I want the bar,” I tell Hendrix, looking over my shoulder

“For?”

“Cards, hts at the bar”

“I’ets pissed when she trains so up, so she insists on being there a couple nights I’d like her little ass at ho busy as hell, too, if you can work then Sally, er can hardly keep up You want—”

“I’ll help out wherever, but I have a few plans of my own”