One Day Soon (37 page)

“Yoss, I need to talk to you.”

Yoss jerked away from me as if he had been doused with ice water. I looked up and saw Manny standing beside the cinderblock bookshelf, watching us.

“Sorry to interrupt, kids, but I’ve secured some plans for the night. You were asked for specifically, Yoss,” Manny said, giving us an apologetic smile. As if he really felt bad about stepping into our private moment. As if he wasn’t about to take my boyfriend to meet some strange man who would make him do things for money.

I didn’t understand Manny. There were times he seemed like an affable guy. He would smile and say hello and you felt almost comforted by his warmth.

But he was also a man who used and manipulated the younger, vulnerable kids he came in contact with for despicable reasons.

“Cover yourself up,” Yoss muttered, wrapping the blanket tighter around me, shielding me from unwanted eyes.

Yoss hastily got to his feet. He and Manny walked away, their voices pitched low. I noticed how Manny continued to look my way as he spoke to Yoss and I felt a knot of alarm coil in my gut.

Yoss looked upset. Angry even. His fists were bunched at his side and for a moment I thought he was going to hit Manny. I had never seen Yoss like that with him before. Most of the time he practically defended the pimp. Or worse, he blamed himself for the choices he made.

Manny put a hand on Yoss’s shoulder and said something that made him sag a little. In defeat.

I quickly put my sweatshirt back on, feeling my own sense of defeat.

Manny followed Yoss back over to our spot and waited as he grabbed his deodorant and cologne.

“Where are you going?” I asked, feeling the anger start to simmer dangerously.

He was leaving?

Why couldn’t he just tell Manny to leave him alone? That he wouldn’t do that shit anymore? That he was done selling his body to those disgusting people?

“I’ll be back later,” Yoss muttered, not looking at me. Never looking at me.

“He won’t be gone too long, Imogen. He’ll be back before you know it,” Manny remarked, pulling a cigarette out of his pocket and handing it to Yoss, who took it and immediately lit it.

I didn’t bother to acknowledge Manny. I got to my feet and moved close to Yoss, my back to Manny so he wouldn’t hear me.

“Don’t go, Yoss. Tell him you can’t,” I pleaded.

Yoss swiped deodorant on his armpits and put it back and then spritzed himself with cologne he never wore any other time. I hated the smell of it.

“I have to, Imogen.”

I grabbed his hand, not letting him walk away from me. “No you don’t,” I snarled. “You can say, right now, you won’t do that stuff anymore. We can leave. Tonight.”

Yoss’s face hardened and the look in his eyes scared me. He finally looked at me, but for the first time I wished he hadn’t. “If my life disgusts you so much, you can leave you know. No one is keeping you here,” he spat.

I recoiled, taking a step back. “I just worry about you, Yoss. I see what this does to you,” I implored, lifting my hand to touch him, but he shook his head.

“I take care of my family. This is what I do. I can sleep a little better at night knowing you and Di and Shane and Bug have food in your bellies. That Manny will keep Karla safe from the guys who raped her when she first showed up three years ago. That Bug doesn’t have to worry about getting his ass kicked every other day because Manny knows they’re my friends so he takes care of them.” He clenched his fists. “I do what I’ve got to do to make our lives a little easier!”

I stared at him, horrified. “No one expects you to do anything like that! To put yourself at risk to make sure we’re okay!” I protested.

Yoss glared at me and I shrank. He had never looked at me that way. As if I were bothering him. As if I were a
nuisance.

“Sometimes it’s nice to go and buy food like a normal person. Just so, for at least one meal, you don’t feel like such a fucking drain on society.” Yoss brushed through his hair and dropped the comb on our makeshift bed. “I want to be able to provide for that happily ever after you seem to think we’re going to have. How am I going to do that, Imogen? How the fuck can I take you away from here if I don’t have money in my pocket?”

“You could get a job—”

Yoss barked out a laugh. “Yeah, because there are a lot of employers willing to take a chance on a homeless kid. Don’t delude yourself.”

Were we fighting?

Whatever it was, it didn’t feel good.

“I just don’t want you to leave. Not after what we were about to…you know.” I stared at the floor, feeling uncomfortable with our audience, even though Manny didn’t seem to be paying attention.

Yoss’s face softened and he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.

“Come on. We’ve got to go.” Manny looked thoughtful for a moment, his finger on his chin. “You could come with us, Imi.” I felt cold. Manny gave me a once over. Starting at my feet and slowly working his way up. “I think that could be a very good idea for both of us.” Manny smiled and my mouth went dry.

“No, Manny, I told you already that’s not gonna happen,” Yoss broke in. He gave me a hard shove so that his body shielded me. “She’s too old anyway.”

I couldn’t see Manny because of the barrier Yoss created but his voice pierced my eardrums and I felt genuine terror. “But she looks so much younger. That can work. Why don’t you let the girl answer for herself?”

“No!” Yoss shouted, his hand wrapping around my wrist and squeezing. Hard.

“Imi. What do you say? You want to come with Yoss and me tonight? It won’t take long and then the two of you can come home together. No leaving you here by yourself,” Manny said, stepping around Yoss so that he could see me.

“I don’t think so,” I rasped, nausea bubbling up in my stomach.

Manny cocked his head to the side. “Are you sure? You’re looking very thin, sweetheart. Some money for a decent meal is just what you need,” he said kindly. So gentle and concerned. It would be so easy to do what he wanted. He spoke with soft persuasion. Like politicians and cult leaders.

He was the scariest person I had ever met. Scarier than Tag or the faceless monsters in the dark.

Because Manny hid his evil with a kind face and an easy smile.

“She’s not going anywhere. She’ll be fine. Shane will be by later,” Yoss’s voice held a hint of his own fear. “Let’s go,” he said to Manny. He quickly looked back at me, his eyes bright and his face sad. “I’m sorry,” he said.

I bit down on my lip so I wouldn’t sob. He hugged me tight, kissing the sensitive spot just below my ear, whispering something I couldn’t quite hear.

I clung to him, not wanting to let go.

He pulled out of my grasp.

And then he was gone.

The Present

I
woke up to laughter.

It was a strange sound that didn’t quite fit.

Deep and genuine, it filled the room.

I sat up in bed and looked around in a daze. For a minute, it was like every other morning.

Lonely.

But then I remembered Yoss and I had a momentary panic. What if he had left? What if he had slipped out while I slept?

I held my hand over my racing heart and tried to calm my breathing.

Then I heard the laughter again.

It wasn’t just one voice.

It was two.

I frowned and got out of bed, finding my robe and putting it on.

I could smell brewing coffee as I walked out into my living room. I wasn’t sure what I expected to see.

Yoss and Lee chatting in my kitchen was definitely not it.

Yoss was chopping onions with a smile on his face. The kind of smile that I hadn’t seen in far too long.

Lee was standing at the stove, dropping cut peppers into a pan. The smell of cooking eggs and vegetables made my stomach growl.

“I told her that Madonna was definitely not the look for her. She seemed to take it very personally that I didn’t appreciate the cone bra getup she had on,” Lee snickered, flipping the omelet.

“I can’t see Imi in a Madonna costume. Did you take pictures?” Yoss asked, chuckling. It warmed me to hear. Then I realized what they were talking about.

“Actually, I think I have some on my phone—”

“Don’t you dare, Lee Cutler,” I warned, stepping into the room.

Lee looked up and grinned when he saw me. “If it isn’t Sleeping Beauty,” he teased.

Yoss gave me a shy smile, which I returned.

“Yoss, can you get some plates? Imi keeps them in the cabinet by the sink,” Lee instructed, waving the spatula.

“Sure.” Yoss turned to me. “Uh, I made coffee. I can get you some. You still like it with milk and sugar, right?” Yoss asked.

“That sounds great,” I told him. Lee waggled his eyebrows once Yoss’s back was turned.

I returned his look blandly.

“Yoss said you had a late night so I turned your alarm clock off and let you sleep in a bit,” Lee said, flipping the omelet.

“You turned my alarm off? What time is it? I’ll be late for work!” I checked the time on my phone and saw that it was only seven thirty. I had plenty of time.

Lee rolled his eyes. “Chill out, the world won’t fall apart if you’re a little late. You need to work on loosening that rigid control you have over every aspect of your life.”

I noticed Yoss was watching the exchange between Lee and me with interest.

“You’re making a mess in my kitchen,” I pointed out.

“And your house is a pigsty. What’s your point?” Lee volleyed back, not bothered in the least my gruff attitude. “Yoss and I have been having a great talk. I came over to bring you some happy eggs that Kevin brought home last night. You know they’re called happy eggs because the little hens get lucky. No artificial insemination for them. Nope. It’s just them and the rooster and a whole lot of hot poultry action.”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Thanks,” I interrupted.

Lee glared at me before going on, “Anyway, I came over and Yoss answered the door. He tells me he’s on old friend of yours and you’re letting him stay here. I told him that the Im I know isn’t one for spontaneous house guests, so he must be special.” Lee gave me a significant look that demanded an explanation.

Yoss put the plates on the counter and Lee filled them with his egg concoction. We all sat down together at my kitchen table. It was beyond odd having them both there. My past and my present lives crashing into each other over omelets.

“So old friends, huh? I’ve never heard you mention a Yoss. Unique name. I would have remember that one,” Lee pestered, taking a bite of egg.

“Where’s Kevin? Shouldn’t you be at your couple’s yoga class this morning?” I asked my friend, evading his questions with a less than subtle change of topic.

Lee made a face. “Kevin decided he wanted to take his mother to breakfast instead. And I wasn’t going to subject myself to an hour with the in-law. If it ain’t a holiday, I’m not doing it.”

“That’s very selfless of you, Lee,” I replied blandly.

“It’s called self-preservation, Im,” Lee corrected. “I’m sure Yoss understands what I’m talking about.”

Yoss moved his food around on his plate, not eating. “You could say that.” Yoss put his fork down and stood up suddenly. “I’m going to get a shower, if that’s okay? I was too tired to get one last night.”

“Oh, of course. I warned you about the girly shampoo and I think there’s an extra toothbrush in the medicine cabinet,” I said.

“Okay, thanks.” Yoss turned to Lee who was watching us with that analytical shrinky way of his. “Lee, it was nice meeting you.”

“Sure. It was nice meeting you too, Yoss.”

As soon as Yoss was gone, Lee pounced. “What the hell, Im? Who is that guy? Is he really an ‘old friend?’ Or did you pick him up somewhere? Is he some illicit one-night stand that hasn’t left yet? He’s ridiculously hot, so good for you if he is. Though that doesn’t sound like you at all, which disappoints me greatly.”

“No, I did
not
pick him up. What he said is the truth. We’re old friends. I knew Yoss when we were teenagers.”

“So, what? He called you and said he’s coming to town and could he shack up with you?” Lee asked incredulously.