Keys, check. Wallet, check. Phone, check. .38 special...check. Faith made sure to give her boyfriend an extra hug before heading out the door this Friday evening, almost forgetting that he was probably waiting for a proper explanation as he finally moved to hug her back from his seat on the couch. 568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUvxpLx0cX
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She wished she wouldn't have to be alone in what she was about to do, but this was how it had to be. "Faith, wait..." He stopped her as she pulled away to head toward the door, his soft green eyes appearing not only confused, but almost sad. It was as if he was begging her not to carry it out, but he had no idea...right? How could he? She'd been too smart about this for him to know. "You still didn't tell me where you're going. And the way you hugged me just now--you seemed tense."568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6J2BzuZfV
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"Well, I forgot some things at the store yesterday. Leave it to me to be forgetful, right? It won't take long, Rowan, I promise," Faith replied, unsure how to respond to his comment about her tenseness.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0LH9FuvaP
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His eyes lit up. "Then let me come with you. I just need to get my jacket--"568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxYun85NY2
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"No," Faith interjected, before cringing at how unintentionally abrupt that had sounded. "I really need you to hold down the fort for me here, and plus that arm of yours still needs to finish healing," she added, attempting a small smile. Smiling didn't feel all that natural to her, but she would if it meant that it might have a contagious effect on Rowan.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXo4C73kESY
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But instead of a smile, all Faith got as a response was a simple "oh." He slumped back onto the couch, picked up the TV remote, switched his gaze to the screen displaying some kind of commercial, and...surprisingly didn't argue further. He only added, "Well, whatever you're about to do...just be careful out there, this late at night." 568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoAMwMubXv
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"I told you, I'm just going to the store," Faith repeated, hoping that didn't sound like a lie at this point...even though it was. "But anyway, I'll be careful. That's another thing I tend to be, you know." When Rowan continued to give her the silent treatment, she concluded awkwardly, "So...I'll see you in an hour, maybe less than that."568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSSmVuQ2Rq
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She turned toward the door but hesitated, asking herself one more time if this was what she wanted to do before finally walking outside to her SUV. She had almost been bursting at the seams inside, wanting to tell him everything and ask him to please come with her, so that she wouldn't need to do this alone. 568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKS4bmD8or
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Ideally, a couple was supposed to work together and support one another when problems related to things such as finances and health arose, but...not in this case. Not this time. Rowan had done so much for her already, and at times it seemed to have made him worse for the wear. If she could help it, he would never see any more of the world's ugliness than he'd already had to before she found him. As for herself, she had been helped through everything, all her life up to that fateful day she met him. It was her turn to step up to the plate. Having made her decision a year ago after being forced to choose between Rowan or her family...he was all she had now. 568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWxGflBO70
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Still, she couldn't believe she would be setting foot in an office belonging to the likes of Aaron Galanos--even if she did know him from her and Rowan's high school years and was friends with his girlfriend. What do you see in him, Sheena? Faith silently wondered. His money, his appearance...or has he possibly changed for the better? It was pretty crazy how much of a different person he sounded like whenever Sheena described him from the side of him that she'd seen many times. Aaron Galanos, at least the one Faith knew, was always going to want payment for any sort of favor. Whether it would be the kind of payment she was willing to give now was something she would find out tonight. 568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjm53LaY5Ul
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Of course Faith had thought many times about warning Sheena of what she'd seen him be capable of in the past, and had subtly tried to find out more about what their relationship was like, but each time Sheena had never hinted that Aaron was anything less than a good boyfriend to her. Ultimately, Faith had decided not to rule out the possibility that maybe he'd actually changed, or even if he hadn't, Faith had no proof of otherwise. Besides, she was too busy with her own boyfriend and making sure they both had a roof over their heads to take anyone else under her wing right now. However, Faith couldn't help but wonder what would happen to her friend in the case that Sheena discovered something about Aaron's money sources that she wasn't supposed to...568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnC6sfQtLHg
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It's going to be a short visit here, I know that much, Faith told herself in an attempt to calm her churning stomach. Just focus on you and Rowan. If Aaron recognizes me, he might actually cut me a break. I'm not banking on it, but hey, it's a possibility.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIJlN3Uncw
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Eventually, having pulled over for at least three police cars and one ambulance upon reaching this side of town, she saw it, just as Sheena had described to her: a lit up neon logo to her right that read "Happy Scoops" and displayed a triple-scoop ice cream cone with a small smiley face on each scoop.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsAiA3oWYp
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Had her friend not described the building to her, Faith would have been sure she'd driven to the wrong location. It looked so out-of-place, this little ice cream store. Its innocent cuteness almost made the atmosphere worse instead of better. Only two cars were parked in front of the entrance. After taking a parking space next to them, her next immediate goal would be safely getting from the car to inside those doors. There was a man standing at the side of the building that she almost thought she recognized for a split second when her headlights briefly shone over his face, that graying handlebar mustache and all, but she knew it couldn't be. Her mind was playing tricks on her, as usual. Regardless, she intended to walk as quickly as she could past this guy, despite the fact he appeared to be preoccupied with his phone. Gathering her courage along with her purse (and confirming that the latter still contained her handgun), she exited her vehicle and made her way inside Happy Scoops. 568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXe2nxTa9kO
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She thought she would feel safer once inside, having only received a brief glance from the man outside, but that feeling never came. Still, she steadied herself--all she really needed to do was think of the two alternatives (moving back with her parents and sending Rowan to live with his shallow womanizing brother who didn't care a thing for him, or both of them ending up homeless), and she swiftly locked eyes with the two people who were already staring at her. The skinny boy behind the counter wore a name tag reading "Levi", while the other, a makeup-caked lady reminiscent of a Bratz doll, eyed Faith quizzically.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnIL7YCPMs
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"Welcome to Happy Scoops! How can I help you tonight?" the boy greeted Faith. His tone was friendly enough, but he glanced at the lady beside him as he spoke, who continued to watch Faith with an unwavering gaze.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6jKaUXx0k
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"Um...I'm a friend of Sheena's--she's the girlfriend of the owner here--and she said he had an office here? I...need to talk to him about some things."568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2s2U1kyOzf
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"Ugh, don't say her name." The woman brought her long, claw-like red fingernails to her forehead, as if experiencing a sudden headache. "Seriously, when's the boss gonna break up with that little--"568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tuA3ulvai
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"Come on Tracy, remember what he said the other day--we need to leave our personal lives at home," Levi appeared to correct her, flashing Faith an apologetic smile. Tracy let out a huff and plastered on a smile herself, once again turning to face Faith. "Anyway, can we get your name?" Ah, so she works here as well. Upon closer inspection, while she didn't display the same professionalism as Levi, she also wore a nametag.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePSNphO6Zo
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"Um, Faith."568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DSC3UGv2A
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Fortunately Tracy didn't ask for her full name, even though that was likely coming eventually. Tracy cocked her head for Faith to follow her. "Come with me." 568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaM5wbuBTc
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Faith began to follow her hesitantly, wondering if maybe Tracy was the reason Sheena hadn't offered to come here with her. No. Don't worry about it, Faith told herself again. It's not my fault if Sheena is dating a lowlife like Aaron.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq76ZtmVBah
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"Chop chop. You think you're the only one that's gonna be needing to see the boss tonight?"568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Dv0MjomMl
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"No, it's just--" 568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpdKO23LsG
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Before Faith could finish, Tracy continued walking briskly down the hallway until she'd gotten to the end, where a door displayed a "staff only" sign. At least the behavior of some of the staff around here confirmed to Faith what kind of establishment this really was. A front, and not much more.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEjhnkFQwI
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Tracy gave a couple of taps and said, "Mr. Galanos, got another one for you. She says that blonde chick of yours sent her; this must be a friend of hers or something." I can't believe I'm doing this, Faith thought, facepalming internally. 568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3YuLC29YV
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Brisk as ever, Tracy whipped around and, pointing in Faith's direction and almost poking her in the eye, asked, "You're here for a loan, right?"568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GOv108uWk
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"Yeah...potentially," Faith replied.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSnWCJtplz
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"A'ight, come on in," that familiar male voice responded, though he continued to say something she couldn't make out, as if he were talking to another person.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZakNPXEwM
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"Good luck, kid," Tracy muttered, cracking open the door before leaving Faith standing alone in the doorway, as if she had somewhere to be. 568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4wqfTsuFd
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The man gestured for her to take a seat without really looking her over, and now Faith noticed he had a cellphone--perhaps a burner phone, though she couldn't tell for sure--up to his ear. His desk was unassuming, with the typical computer, stacks of folders, a water cooler that sat behind him, and a window to the left. Keeping her head downward and pretending to toy with her blue painted fingernails that were beginning to chip, she heard him sigh frustratedly, and she raised her eyes just enough to briefly watch him run his hand through his dark wavy hair as he listened impatiently to the person on the other end. 568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9S6B2mvzub
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He soon cut them off, though. "--No, no no no no. Don't tell me that. Look man, I dunno what else to tell you, except I've got a reputation to keep up and you've got $800 to come up with this time tomorrow." 568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFR0aZJKxRa
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Claustrophobia was beginning to set in, but the oldies music quietly coming from the computer's small speaker calmed her a bit. It reminded her of more innocent days when she would listen to the same music with her dad as a little girl. If nothing else, she and the man on the other side of this desk at least had music tastes in common. "We'll be seeing each other again, one way or the other."568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56jQeu6Z9Q
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Following a sudden beep from Aaron ending his call, she finally heard him address her, albeit an element of absentmindedness remaining in his voice. "Sorry about that." However, when he recognized Faith's face, that absentmindedness seemed to leave altogether. "Faith? What's a girl like you doin' in a part of town like this? Good to see ya' again after all this time!" When he held out his hand for her to shake, Faith hoped her palm wasn't too clammy. She just wanted to be done here as soon as possible. 568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBPZaRpbLR
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