Chapter 24: Better Than You
I slid into the booth just as Mindie plopped down across from me, already halfway through a glass of iced tea. Mindie and I had settled into our usual lunch spot on campus, tucked beneath the shade of a tree near the arts building. She’d brought fries, I had a sandwich, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I could breathe.
“Took you long enough,” she said, eyeing me with a half-smile. “You look like you haven’t slept.”
“I haven’t,” I muttered, reaching for my food. “Long night.”
Her brows pulled together. “What happened? Are you okay? Did that snake Elliot show up again?”
“No,” I said quickly, brushing my hair behind my ear. “Well... yes, but that’s not what this is about.”
Mindie leaned in, lowering her voice. “What did he do this time? Because I swear if he—”
“Mindie,” I interrupted gently. “It’s fine. Really. I can handle him.”
She stared at me for a beat longer, like she didn’t believe me—but finally nodded. “Okay. So... how are you holding up? With your dad, school, everything?”
I let out a breath. “It’s been rough. But I’m figuring it out.”
“I can help, you know,” she said. “I have some savings. It’s not much, but—”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Thanks, but I’ve got it handled.”