Chapters (47)
“Okay.” Amelia made her way back to the couch. Scooping up the blanket, she sat down, setting it in her lap. “I can share my blanket if you want. And help yourself to some popcorn.”
“Thanks.” Lauren sat beside her as she unpaused the movie.
Lauren didn’t take her up on the blanket offer but did take a handful of the popcorn. She didn’t come here to watch a movie, but she made the most of it. Leaning back on the couch, she chewed popcorn and watched some teenage girl pine away over an older boy.
After about a half an hour, she was getting restless. She’d come here for a purpose and she wasn’t sure how much time she had left. Whitney could come home at any time. “Um...I’m just gonna use the restroom,” she said.
“Okay.” Amelia reached for the remote. “You want me to pause it?”
“No, you go ahead and finish. I’ve seen it before,” she lied.
“Oh, you should’ve told me. We could’ve watched something else.”
“It’s cool. I rewatch movies all the time.” Another lie.
Amelia nodded, then turned her attention back to the TV.
Lauren scooted off the couch and made her way down the hallway. Going into the bathroom, she clicked the door closed. What now?
She opened the door, trying not to make any noise, and tiptoed to the edge of the hall. Amelia was engrossed in the movie.
This was her window.
Lauren crept across the hall into Whitney’s room. She wasted no time, running straight to the middle drawer of the dresser. She’d found this envelope filled with cash when she was in here trying to find something to use for the DNA test.
“Lauren?” Amelia’s voice rang out.
After shoving the money into her pocket, she whipped around, heart hammering in her ears.
Amelia stood in the doorway, eyebrows raised. “What’s going on?”
“Um...I uh...I started my period and I don’t have anything...you know.”
“Oh, you should have just asked. I’ll go grab you something.” Amelia smiled and skipped off, leaving a sour taste in Lauren’s mouth. She hated lying to Amelia.
But she hadn’t had a choice. That money in the envelope, along with the money Amelia had in her bank account, was enough to keep them going for at least a month.
After that, they could decide what to do.
The truth was that, as badly as Lauren wanted Whitney to pay for what she did, she knew that if Whitney was arrested, Amelia wouldn’t be able to stay with Lauren. She’d probably end up with her dad or grandparents or something. So, she planned to make the most of this time with her newfound sister. Her family.