I could already hear my son’s cries when his tummy yearned for food that wouldn’t come.

I had to do something.

Jerry’s shop was just around the corner, so I was back at my building in no time. I started up the steps when I heard the husky voice call out. “Hey, cutie pie.”

Looking up, I spotted Brandi, Anna’s mom, stepping out of a car that looked more expensive than the building we lived in. She was a statuesque blonde bombshell who left every man’s tongue wagging who lived in Mercy Homes. Shaking my head, I took in her skimpy attire. The high heels she strutted in looked like stilts, and I wondered how she balanced in those things.

“Hey, Brandi.”

“Why the down face?” She frowned and lifted my chin. “Have you been crying?” I nodded because what was the point in lying? “Come with me and tell Brandi all about it.”

I ignored the screaming pleas for common sense and followed her into the building up death-defying stairs to her apartment door. I glanced guiltily at my own door knowing Anna was inside watching Caylen and waiting for my return with a pocket full of cash.

Guilt washed over me.

Brandi was a single mom who knew what it was like to be a teenage single mother. Talking to her about my woes made more sense. Anna was my dearest friend,but she wouldn’t understand. Not like Brandi.

She flipped open the dingy white door to the fridge and bent over. “Want a beer?” she called over her shoulder.

“It’s ten in the morning.” Plucking a bottle from the fridge, she slammed it closed and grabbed a bottle opener from the top. I watched as she turned to lean against the door and popped the top from the bottle. Defiantly, she stared me down and took an unladylike swig.

“Get your panties out of your snatch.”

“Maybe I should just go.” Her crudeness made my stomach turn. I started for the door.

“I know how you can solve your money troubles.” My hand paused above the doorknob. “A girl as pretty as you shouldn’t have to starve. You certainly have the body to make sure that never happens.”

I dropped my hand and turned to face her. My eyes narrowed, and she smirked in return. “What are you talking about?”

“How many dead-end jobs will you have to lose or pointless interviews will you go to for you to realize that doing the right thing doesn’t pay?”

“Anna told you?”

“These walls are thin, girl. There are so secrets in a dump like this.”

“So, what would you suggest?” I wouldn’t take any advice Brandi dished seriously. I was merely curious. According to Anna, she brought home enough cash to move them out of this place, but her mother preferred spending her earnings on expensive shoes and trips out of town.

“Using what you got to get what you need.”

“My wits?”

She snorted. “Your wits are going to starve you, girl… Unless you add a little something on the side.” Her eyes raked my body making me shift uncomfortably.

“I’m not having sex for money.” Despite what I said to my father, I knew I could never do that. Selling my body to feed Caylen would mean nothing if I couldn’t look him in the eye every day.

Her trilling laugh broke the tension. “I wasn’t suggesting youfuckfor the money.” I cringed. Brandi could be harsh and crude. “Leave that to the big girls. If it wasn’t for that cute little boy, I wouldn’t believe you even knew what sex was.” She laughed again.

I gritted my teeth to keep from cursing her out. “So, what were you suggesting?” I managed to keep my tone even to mask my irritation.

“You dance for it.”

“Dance?” Understanding dawned. “You mean strip?”

She shrugged and set the bottle down. As she strutted forward in her stems, I watched her warily. “Yeah, honey. I mean strip for it. You take your clothes off, Iguaranteethey will pay.”

I shook my head and took a step back. “I’m not doing that.”

“You don’t have a choice.”

“Excuse me?”

“How are you going to put food on the table? Even if you get another dead-end job, the money is not as quick, or even as good, as taking your clothes off.”

She closed the distance between us and reached around. When I felt my hair shift, I realized she’d grabbed my ponytail. With a tug, the band slipped from the strands and tumbled free. “You’re so pretty.”

“It doesn’t change the fact that I won’t do it.”

“It’s not so bad. I bet you’d be really good at it. You’re young. Your body is still tight. The men will cream their pants and give up their entire paycheck just to get a peek at you.”

Another denial was poised to spew from my lips, but nothing came out. Why was I hesitating?

“I—I don’t even know how.”

Her fingers tugged at the button my shirt until it slipped free. “I could teach you.”