Sanctuary by Joshua Ingle Read Free Book Online

and her words always seemed a little too pat for Crystal to be the first damaged coworker she’d tried to console. Crystal wondered what Heather really thought of her, this silly naïve girl always stuck in a rut. What would Heather say if she spoke honestly? Grow up?
    Maybe I should.
    Crystal popped a painkiller into her mouth. “If I have to hear one more time about how—what does he say? ‘The Übermensch transcends traditional morality in favor of Dionysian ideals…’”
    Heather recited the last part with her, then laughed. Brandon said that all the time, like a motto, and Crystal had no idea what it meant.
    Heather tried to stop chortling. “Yeah, he likes to use big words to express little ideas, doesn’t he? The idea that nothing matters seems to matter a lot to him.”
    “If nothing matters to him, why is he so obsessed with guns and drugs and power?” And hurting me as much as he can?
    Heather sipped from her glass and shook her head. “Oh, he just wants to do whatever he wants, and needs some reasoning to support that. I read one of his philosophy books once. I don’t think he even understood it.”
    Brandon, Brandon, Brandon. On another night, Crystal might have been happy to make fun of him with Heather, but tonight she just wanted to stop thinking about him. “Hey, you’re a mom, right?”
    Heather blinked at the sudden change of topic. She smiled curiously. “Uh, yeah. Benjamin. He’s five. Just started kindergarten.”
    “What’s it like? Being a mom?”
    “Aw, are you getting cold feet? Don’t worry. It’s hard work but you’ll love it. Best thing that ever happened to me.”
    “Who’s Benjamin’s dad? If you don’t mind me asking?”
    “No, not at all. He was just a guy I used to see. Is this, uh, is this about Cole? You worried if he’ll be there for you?”
    Crystal said nothing. She realized she hadn’t touched her wine, so she raised the glass to her lips… but then she thought about the baby, and put the glass back down. Heather’s expression grew sympathetic again. Did she realize she’d given wine to a pregnant girl? When she approached Crystal and tried to comfort her with a hug, Crystal readily accepted the gesture.
    “Sweetie,” Heather said, “I know you care about him, but you don’t want guys like these in your future. Take it from someone who’s been there.”
    “But Cole is different.” Crystal had “been there” too. She’d had all kinds of crappy boyfriends, and Cole was more caring than them. More sensitive. He’d once even opened up to Crystal that he hated his own timidity. He cursed himself for letting Brandon take over his life, for letting all Brandon’s fun leave him so empty. Cole put on a friendly face, but deep down he was just as afraid of Brandon as Crystal was.
    Heather broke off the hug. “Do you at least have a backup plan? In case it doesn’t work out with Cole?”
    “I’m saving up for college.”
    Heather furrowed her brow at this, probably making the connection Crystal had made earlier. “College? Does Cole know?”
    “Yeah.” Crystal smiled lightly at her as if to say, I told you so . If Cole was paying her tuition, his commitment must be long term.
    Heather finished her wine, gulped down Crystal’s as well, then went to wash off the glasses. “Just be careful, that’s all. Have a plan.”
    “What good are plans? I mean, did you ever plan to be a porn actress as a kid?”
    Crystal regretted saying it as soon as the words left her mouth. This was just a job to her, but Heather had made it her career. Heather was Crystal’s one true ally in this place, and the jab hadn’t been meant to hurt her. “Sorry,” Crystal said.
    Heather shrugged defensively as she set the cups in the dishwasher. “It’s not a bad profession. I sure as hell enjoy it, or at least I did before meeting our mutual scumbag friend. Men have controlled sex for so long; I say it’s time we make it ours, huh?”
    “I know, just… It’s not a