Scum (Book 2)

103. Vacancies

Chey’s POV

I’ve given Marissa two commands since becoming her alpha, but because she’s pregnant, she hasn’t been able to fulfill any of them, until recently…

I really don’t know how she managed it, but our building had several vacant apartments, likely because Mr. David, the owner, is also the property’s manager, and he’s having trouble keeping up with maintenance requests.

His children are way too young to help out, and his wife is too soft-hearted for the hassle of rent collection, so quite a few times, he’s paid Jett to help with the trash and other tasks.

The building isn’t that big, so there are only forty-two units, but less than half are occupied, which is why the man was willing to accept our offer of six months upfront when we first moved in.

Yesterday, Mr. David was scheduled to change some of our light bulbs, a service covered under our lease, but when I came home, he was still there, and he was looking over paperwork with my gamma and his mate.

He's desperate, so he agreed to lower the rent for people that we recommend as tenants, and in exchange for his ‘kindness,’ the couple promised him that the property would be well taken care of, that they would personally do inspections free of charge, and that they, would be responsible for any damage that isn’t associated with normal wear and tear.

I have to admit that I'm a little worried about that, but Marissa is working with Dyson, Miguel, and Samuel, one of their friends who manages a local warehouse.

According to Jett, he's promised us at least ten jobs, and another friend of the pair is a social services case worker who said he can help with job training opportunities.

That means that I'll probably be able to collect a small tax, and that money, according to Marissa, is what we're supposed to use to pay for damages, if any.

"That only leaves childcare," Marissa says, rubbing her belly affectionately. "We can't expect mothers with children to work without knowing where their kids are." Speaking of kids…

"If we're really going to do this, we need to move fast. School starts in a few weeks, and I want the children enrolled on time."

"Got it. Our first set of meetings is tomorrow afternoon, so we can start crossing those who are ineligible off the list." Before we started this, I told Marissa that I wouldn't play savior to everyone.

Some people deserve the life they lead, and I doubt mates would be willing to separate at my request.

“And we should start setting aside emergency medical funds.”

“Oh yeah, this came today." Marissa waves an envelope that I jump at, tearing it open to see how much we won.

"Only 8K?"

"Only?" Jett replies. "How much were you expecting?"

"At least twelve, but I guess this will have to work." Pushing the check back at the couple, I smile, hoping that they understand.

"No…"

"Yes. You've earned it and more. Consider it your gamma wages for the time that's passed." Jett never hugs me, but he must be beside himself right now.

"Do you know how badly we needed this?” I did because I have overheard the couple trying to find bargain-priced cribs and baby clothes.

They have a few things here and there, but I’ve worked in childcare, so I know they could be using up to ten diapers per day, meaning that what they’ve acquired will last a month at best.

“But Chey, you put most of the money into the bet.”

“And I still have money coming in, so you don’t have to worry about me.” Sitting down, I pick up the contract I’m supposed to sign, but my eyes land on a handwritten chart with a lot of unfamiliar names on it.

“What’s this for?”

“Those are our pack members. I made a schedule for when we meet them.”

“Do you think Dyson will be able to help me cook?”

“Of course he will, but what are we cooking for?”

“I don’t want them to make the trip for no reason, especially knowing that most of them aren’t working.” Picking up the paper, I shake my head at the sheer number of unemployed pack members I inherited.

I’m sure they’re getting government assistance, which I will never scoff at, but I know that at least one family is struggling to feed their children, and another can barely afford to feed herself because her mate doesn’t make enough to support his child and their household.

“So, you want to bring to-go plates for them?”

“If we can do it on a budget, then yes, but if not, I want to at least bring them cookies.” The conversation ends with that, but an hour later and I’m being disturbed by my phone ringing for the hundredth time today.

Noah has been calling and texting me almost nonstop, wanting to know what he ‘did’ wrong, but the truth is that he hasn’t done anything. I’m just afraid that he may be attracted to me because of something he has no control over, but I would also hate to be ignored the way I’m ignoring him, so I reluctantly answer his call.

“Chey, if this is about me missing your fight, I already told you, I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Noah, for the last time, I’m not mad at you. I just think we should keep our distance.”

“At least be honest with me. If you're dating someone now, I…” Chuckling, I massage my brows, not understanding why Noah won’t just listen to me. “I’m not desperate, so if you're with someone else, I’ll be happy for you. I just wouldn’t want to lose you as a friend because of it.” Hearing the man say that kind of hurts, and for whatever reason, it makes me think of Liam.

He and I were friends, and maybe if I had been happy about his reunion with Porsha, things wouldn’t have grown sour between us.

Maybe he just needed to know that I was happy for him, and maybe then he would have-

“Chey?” I didn’t even hear what Noah said, and because I’m embarrassed, I simply say 'yes.' "I promise you won't regret it. So, this Friday?" Fortunately, I already have plans for Friday, so…

"I'm meeting with some of my new pack members on Friday."

"Wow, so you're like a real alpha now..."

"And I don't want to be anything like Cornell."

"That's good. Then on Saturday?"

"I'm meeting with them on Saturday too."

"Then you suggest a date."

"How about we go to the gym on Wednesday after work." Noah is silent, probably because I know that I just moved the goal post.

"Umm… the gym?"

"Yeah. I like working out. We can grab a smoothie from across the street afterwards."

"Okay. That sounds like fun." It is fun, but it’s more of the kind of fun that Marissa and I like to have after she spends a full hour on arms and cardio.

It’s what Jett calls a girl's activity, which I can’t dispute because Miguel and Dyson whole-heartedly agreed.

“Okay. What time?”

“I get off at 3pm.”

“It’s a date.” Cringing, I pull my phone away from my face as I frantically mind-link Jett.

“How do I cancel a date?”

Cancel a what?”

“Chey?”

“One second…” I’m literally panicking because Noah is handsome enough for me to make another mistake, and I’m not ready for s*x with anyone.

“What’s going on? Do you need help?”

“No, I'm fine, I just dropped something." I haven't mastered the skill of mind-linking and talking at the same time, so I accidentally respond to Noah with what I meant to say to Jett.

"If you want to cancel a date, just be honest about it. Why? Is someone bothering you?" I don't have the heart to tell Noah that he's the person I want to cancel on, so I pretend to have been reading something, making me feel even more terrible. "You seem really busy. Are you sure you'll even have time to see me this week?" Perfect!

"Honestly speaking, I don't know. I have a lot on my plate, especially since so many of my pack members need more help than I can offer right now?"

"I can always help out if you're truly in need."

"I wouldn't feel comfortable taking money from you." For as long as I can remember, I have never liked the idea of people just giving me money I didn't earn.

I may be desperate, but I'm not in a position low enough to abandon my personal values.

"It doesn't have to be monetary. I mean, I could make money off helping you as well."

"How?" Noah explains that he can help me get unhealthy pack members in shape and post progress videos on his social media.

I don't know how many of them would actually be willing to participate in something like that, but it wouldn't hurt.

"And you know that working out is like stress relief for our species. It could be therapeutic.” Noah has a point; one I can’t really argue with.

“Okay. We can talk about it more on Wednesday.” Because I’ve been ignoring his links, Jett came to my room, so he’s waiting for me to end the call. “Anyway Noah, I’m really sorry about the misunderstanding.”

“It’s not a big deal, just stay honest with me and everything else will fall into place later.” I like that idea, so I won't say anything.

"Later then?" I ask, feeling myself blush because this is my first real date, and although I wanted to cancel, I’m excited.

Liam only took me out because I was his pretend girlfriend, so he needed to make our relationship believable, but Noah is actually asking me to meet him with the purpose of potentially starting a relationship.

I once believed that Kelvin wanted to date me, and now that I think about him, I wonder how the man is doing.

He was literally the only non-relative nice to me during my final days with Alpine, and I'm sure figuring out that Liam and I were more than friends bothered him.

I know because he wore the same expression I wore when I found out that Porsha was back on territory.

I once heard from Liam that the man felt guilty about 'stealing' my life, so maybe he blamed himself for my poor judgment. However, if he’s smart, he won't get in my way, and he'll avoid my kill list.

"Alpha Chey… Your question?" I forgot Jett was waiting for me to get off the phone, but I don't think I need his help anymore.

"That's okay. I've got it."