Page 25 of Roughing
I stood back in case I was needed again, feeling a bit like an onlooker at a car accident.
Heidi wasn’t forthcoming with where she’d been or what’d happened to her, despite her friends’ prying questions. Finally Desmond stepped forward and once again put a stop to the inquisition.
“Ladies, Heidi will share when she’s ready. In the meantime, we’re thrilled you’re back. We were worried about you.”
“I didn’t mean to worry anyone. I was fine.”
She didn’t look fine, and reading everyone else’s expressions, they agreed.
“How can we help?” Aspen asked.
Heidi ducked her head and didn’t answer right away. Finally she looked up. “There is one thing…”
“Anything. Name it.”
“I, uh, I need a place to stay for the next month until I graduate from cosmetology school.”
Her friends exchanged glances. Aspen and Everly were in new relationships, and moving someone in would be awkward.
“You can take Aspen’s place on my couch,” Desmond volunteered. Aspen had been essentially homeless and had slept on Desmond’s couch for several months until her art career took off.
“I…I was hoping to find a situation with women, not men. No offense, Desmond, and I do adore you, but I’m uncomfortable around men right now.”
Desmond nodded, not the least bit offended. In fact, he seemed to understand more than I did, but I was coming in cold, not really knowing Heidi or her background. Yet these four people I respected thought the world of her.
“We’ll put our heads together and find something for you,” Everly promised.
“I don’t want to be back out on the street right now.” Heidi hugged herself, and her face was ashen.
My heart squeezed in sympathy. She’d obviously been beaten and possibly worse. I had some experience in the abusive boyfriend area.
Before I had second thoughts, I made an offer. “You can stay with me. I only have two small bedrooms, one I use for a closet, but I do have a twin bed in that room.” I didn’t elaborate as to how full that room was of clothes and shoes. We’d figure something out.
“Oh, Michella, could I?” Her eyes teared up, and her slight smile brimmed with gratitude; no way was I backing out of my offer.
“Absolutely. As long as we’re clear that neither of us has men over to stay the night.” I secretly applauded myself for a rule that’d keep Briggs out of my bed. Heidi was doing me a favor by being a roadblock between Briggs and me.
“I’m more than happy to agree to that. I’m done with men for a long while.”
“I know that story.” I smiled, and she beamed at me, the happiest I’d seen her since she walked in the door.
“Great, I’ll find out when Briggs is ready to go, and we can leave.”
“Briggs?” Heidi glanced around nervously. Her eyes grew big as she studied the men cleaning up the adjacent room.
“He gave me a ride here. Don’t worry. He might be a grumpy bastard, but he’s harmless.”
Heidi swallowed and nodded. From the stricken look on her face, she didn’t believe that any man was harmless.
“I’ll be right back. Why don’t you get your things together, and we should be ready to go within the next hour.”
“This is all I have.” Heidi pointed to the bulging duffel bag. Shame cut through me at the size of my wardrobe, not to mention my shoe collection.
I hurried over to Briggs. “How much longer do you think you’ll be?”
He rolled his shoulders and leaned against a concrete pillar. “Soon.”
I gestured toward Heidi. “I’m letting her stay with me for a while, and I think she probably needs some rest.”
