Safer Outside (A Mature YA Romance) (The Outside Series) Read Online Free Page A

buy with my SNAP card.” Other than diapers, if there was something she needed that she couldn’t use food stamps for, it generally meant wine or cigarettes.
    “Doesn’t Jesse have money to cover up his daughter’s ass?” I hated being so bitchy but they brought out that side of me.
    “Don’t be like that. You know how he gets when I ask him for money. It’s just easier to ask you. Can you help or not?” Her guilt trips were legendary. Somehow, her poor life choices meant I was responsible for feeding her addictions.
    “Yeah.   I’ll be home by eight. So, how are the kids? Is Billy home yet?” His bus stop was one of the last for drop off so he got home late most days but I was grateful for it. Every hour in that house was an opportunity for him to get into trouble. And by trouble, I mean saying or doing the wrong thing and earning a whipping from Jesse. I wish he could stay at school until I could pick him up so I’d be able to shelter him a bit more. But, I could only do so much. As Kim always reminded me, I’m not his mom.
    “Not yet. I’m sure he’ll be home soon. Oh, Macy just woke up so I’ve got to run. Thanks for the loan, baby. Be careful on the bus.” She hung up before I could say anything else.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
    Low Profile
    Mrs. Jameson was home by five thirty so I texted Kim that I wasn’t going to her place and walked straight to the bus stop. I was able to get through most of my homework during the long ride home. The bus was full but that was fine with me. As long as I had a window seat, I could easily block out the world around me. I found myself staring out the window and looking into every white car that passed.
    I got off at my usual stop but turned toward the convenience store instead of heading straight home. Steve, the manager, was Jesse’s long time customer so he’d never think of carding me and possibly cutting off the occasional line of credit that Jesse gave him before payday. He was a decent guy but like everyone else that knew Jesse, he looked the other way when it came to the shit that went down at my house.
    Grabbing a pack of diapers and Marlboro Lights, I figured I’d save Mom the trouble of another trip out. Gas was also something she couldn’t buy with her SNAP card and Jesse tracked her mileage like the IRS.
    When I turned into the driveway and saw the car gone, I froze. If Jesse was home, I didn’t want to go in at all. But, there was a fifty fifty chance that he was out and she was home with the kids. Not wanting to stand out in the street any longer, I put on a blank expression and went straight in.
    Macy was standing in the kitchen and crying as Jesse walked down the hall.
    Seeing the diapers in my hand , he tossed the pack of wipes to me. “Good, you’re home. She’s been screaming since your mom left an hour ago. Can you shut her up?”
    She lifted her arms to me when she saw me. “Mama.” She called me that when she was upset or happy. I didn’t bother to correct. I knew she’d grow out of it eventually.
    “Yeah, I got her.” I picked her up and took her back to my room to get her changed. Her face was sticky and she needed a bath but I wasn’t going to hang out alone in the house with him. As soon as she was dressed in leggings and a long sleeved shirt, I put her down in the kitchen. Jesse was leaning against the fridge, watching my every move.
    “I’m gonna throw this out back then take her for a walk.” He pinched my ass as I walked past him.
    “She’s quiet now. You should just stay and watch a movie with me.”
    “Okay, in a little bit. I just want to water the flowers out front and then we’ll be back.” I heard Macy start to cry again as soo n as I walked into the garage. Jogging to the back door, I quickly dumped the dirty diaper in the trash can and ran back inside.
    When I opened the kitchen door, time moved in slow motion. Macy was still wailing in the middle of the room and Jesse pushed off the wall and walked