I'd been homeless before. It was how I ended up living with Marcus and his mother. No matter how well I behaved, foster family after foster family sent me back to the children's home within a few weeks. I would cry outside the director's office while the families told her the same thing. It just wasn't the right fit... and when they left, they passed me by without looking at me. The summer before my freshman year of high school, I decided I was finished with the heartbreak and ran away before the newest family picked me up.

As an adult, I looked back on that time, wondering how I survived without being molested or injured. On good nights, I slept in alleys on cardboard, huddled under the eaves. On bad nights, I didn't sleep at all, crouched behind whatever object I could hide behind while terrible people did terrible things. It took years for me to sleep through the night without hearing the cries and whimpering in my dreams.

Standing at the end of an alley, I rubbed my arms through my coat and stood on my tiptoes to get a better glimpse into the shadows behind the dumpster and in the corners where the weak streetlights didn't reach. Besides a few puddles and an unfortunate stench, it looked reasonably safe, but the biggest win was the dirty mattress pushed against the wall beneath a fire escape. Chances were someone would boot me out before morning—maybe even the person who put the mattress there—but if I could at least get some rest, it would be worth it.

I fished my phone from my pocket and hit the side button to make the screen light up. No missed calls or texts. Not that I expected Lochlan to call. My bottom lip trembled, and I sucked it between my teeth, forcing the tears away and willing the numbness from earlier to come back.

Because that was the girl who was going to survive this. The one who didn't throw herself a pity party and accepted this was what she deserved. That girl could pull her shoulders back and do what was necessary to survive. That girl was going to sleep in this alley, and tomorrow, she would do whatever was needed to get away from this city. And its people.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Oh my gosh," I gasped, jumping at the sound of the woman's voice.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." She ran a hand through her short, silky black hair and shrugged. "You were zoned out. Something special in that alley?"

I glanced over my shoulder, gaze landing on the mattress before I turned my attention back to the woman. "No. Just deep in thought."

"You should really be careful." She ran her thumb over her bottom lip. The venom green of her nail stood out in stark contrast against her plump red mouth. "Once it's dark out, I suggest limiting disassociation to indoors, at the very least."

I laughed. "Noted."

Neither of us moved, and an awkward silence stretched between us. If she didn't leave soon, it would force me to wander into a store until she disappeared and risk losing this spot.

Finally, she rocked back on her heels and exhaled. "Look. I know this is very uncharacteristically hospitable of a city girl, but you don't look psycho or anything—"

"Dangerous assumption."

She cracked a smile. "But I kind of have a sixth sense, and something is telling me you might need a place to crash tonight."

"N-no." I twisted my hair in one hand and shook my head. "I told you. I was just—"

"Thinking about sleeping on that mattress. Look, I've been there. I moved to the city with big dreams about being on Broadway, and I did the whole starving artist bit. I know what desperate looks like because I've been there. And I have three roommates who will all be home. So, you won't be alone."

Her kindness drew the stubborn tears to the surface. I shouldn't even entertain her offer. Lochlan's anger and hurt still clung to me like a stain I would never be able to remove. I should sleep on that mattress tonight and be grateful. But...

"I don't even know your name."

She dropped her toes back on the pavement and smiled even bigger. "I'm Jade."

"I'm Millie." Throwing her messenger bag to her other right hip, she linked an arm through mine and started walking. "I didn't say yes."

"But you were going to. And the fact you didn't immediately take me up on my offer makes me feel less crazy about asking you. You're not the only one taking a risk here, ya know? But us girls have to look out for each other."

Did they? I wouldn't know. It hit me then that I'd never really had a girl friend before. None of the girls in the children's home stuck around long enough to make it worth getting to know them, and the women I met while working with Marcus were mostly the worst of the worst stereotypes. They didn't want my friendship, nor did I want theirs.

Jade continued to ramble. "So, I'm guessing you're only recently down on your luck?"

"Um, yeah," I replied, pulling myself out of the past. Not that my present revelries were any better.

"Let me guess." Jade peered up at me. "Girl troubles?"

"Close. Boy troubles." Tall, brooding, beautiful boy troubles.

"Damn it. I didn't get the vibe from you, but I was hopeful. You're gorgeous."

"Women would be easier."

"Ha, you would think, but I've dated both. Men tend to be simpler."

She held onto me as we approached a crowded area on the sidewalk. It was hard to hear her over the din of voices and horns honking. On a bench, a woman played the violin, her music case open for tips. The air smelled mostly of food, bodies, and exhaust, but now and then a breeze carrying the crisp cold scent of autumn reached me, making my heart ache because the only thing I wanted in this moment was to trade the girl on my arm for the man I'd betrayed.

"It's gonna be okay," Jade said as she turned us toward a pale building with dark wood doors.

I sagged in relief. It didn't scream money like Lochlan and Anna's buildings, but it looked comfortable and safe. Maybe someone was looking out for me.

"Thank you," I whispered, squeezing her hand.

She gave me a sad, understanding smile, and a few minutes later, she opened the door to her apartment. Putting her back against the door, she gestured toward the inside. "Welcome to my humble abode."

Taking two calming breaths, I slipped past her. The room was dark, but only for a moment. As soon as the door clicked shut, another click followed as Jade flipped the light switch.

"What? How?" I gasped, stumbling back. Jade's small hands on my back stopped me from running. I looked over my shoulder.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't have a choice."