The moment they stepped outside, there was a blinding flash, then another. Nadine slid her sunglasses over her eyes. A lone photographer was snapping photos from a few yards away.

  Bella raised her middle finger directly between his camera and Nadine’s face, blocking his next shot. “You’re about five hours late for a world exclusive. So, not only do you have a scumbag job, you suck at it.” She whispered to Nadine, “Don’t let him get to you.”

  Nadine walked quickly to her car, staring straight ahead. As she slid into the driver’s seat, she realized she was okay. Her breathing was steady, and her hands were still. She wasn’t nearly as shaken as she had been when the TV reporter found her earlier in the day. The difference was Bella. For once, someone had stood beside Nadine and defended her.

  As she drove behind Bella to the bank, warmth trickled through her belly. She recognized the feeling—trouble.

  Surely it was no more than a natural reaction to the situation. Bella was the only person in this strange new workplace who made an effort to be kind. And she was undeniably gorgeous. But she was almost certainly straight, given her penchant for heavy eye makeup, pink lip gloss, and sparkly nail polish. Gay women didn’t care about that girly stuff, right?

  Not that it mattered. Nadine’s life as a world-famous felon meant that, once again, a meaningful relationship was off the table. The reasons were different, but the reality was the same.

  Chapter 6

  Bella spotted him right away—a slim white guy wearing a T-shirt with a Confederate flag. She watched as he canvassed the aisles, barely glancing at the merchandise. He wasn’t there to shop. He was there to start shit.

  Ever since the news had broken about Nadine’s new job, the store had been plagued by gawkers hoping to catch a glimpse of her. They were bad enough. But employees also had to contend with a handful of people who came looking for a confrontation.

  Luckily, Nadine was in the stockroom, where she worked most days.

  Bella hoped she could get rid of the guy before he even saw Nadine. “Hi there. Can I help you find something?” She used her chipper salesgirl voice.

  “No.” He flinched and moved away.

  Bella got right back in his face. “Let me tell you about our specials today. Hand towels are 30 percent off. And decorative flowerpots are on sale too—buy one, get one free.” That was all bullshit, but she knew he wouldn’t check.

  “Okay.” He tried to walk away, but Bella kept pace beside him.

  “Do you like scented candles? We’ve got some new fall and winter scents: pumpkin spice, gingerbread, and peppermint. They smell delicious—”

  “I’m just looking.” His eyes were pale and angry.

  “Oh, you’re not a candle guy. That’s cool. But I hope you check out the flowerpots because…uh.”

  Bella saw Nadine walking toward them, pushing a shopping cart full of merchandise. Crap.

  The guy followed Bella’s gaze. Then, he broke into a wide, wicked smirk. “Hey, Nadine!” He strode toward her. “Are you enjoying minimum wage?”

  Nadine froze in place.

  Bella scrambled after him. “Hey! Leave her alone.”

  “How was prison, Nadine?” He was almost directly in front of her now, his posture menacing. “Were you someone’s bitch?”

  Bella beamed silent messages at Nadine. Walk away. Go back to the stockroom.

  Nadine either didn’t get the message or didn’t care. She remained silent, her posture indicating she had no intention of retreating.

  “Sir, you need to leave.” Bella caught up with him and reached for his arm, breaking his stride. “We don’t tolerate abuse of our employees.”

  He shook her off. “Back off. This is between me and her.”

  Customers were gathering, but no one moved to intervene.

  Bella’s heart pounded. This asshole was not going to hurt Nadine. Not on her watch. She pushed in front of him. “I am the third key. This woman is my employee, and if you want to mess with her, you’re going to have to go through me.”

  “Bella, don’t,” Nadine said softly.

  “What the hell is going on?” Jason rounded the corner, trailed by Kenny.

  Bella pointed. “He’s threatening an employee.”

  Jason rolled his eyes. “Just go to the back. Both of you.”

  “You’re scum,” the guy spat at Nadine. “You should be deported.”

  “I agree with you, man,” Jason said, “but this ain’t the time.”

  Bella glared at them, then turned to Nadine. Her eyes were fierce and unrepentant. She still hadn’t moved.

  “Come on.” Bella tugged on Nadine’s arm.

  Finally, Nadine turned and followed her to the stockroom. The metal doors swung shut behind them.

  “Fuck.” Bella sank onto a box. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” Nadine sat across from her, rubbing her arms as if she were cold. “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “Of course I did. He can’t just come in here and harass people.”

  “He came to harass me. I don’t want you to get hurt trying to defend me. You don’t deserve it.”

  Bella heard the unspoken words. Like I do.

  “We don’t allow harassment at the store,” Bella said firmly. “I won’t stand for it.”

  Nadine looked at her curiously. “You know, when you told him you were the third key, you said it like you were the president of the United States.” A smile played on her lips. “Surely you know nobody knows what that means?”

  Bella grinned. “Well, I thought if I sounded confident enough, he would think it meant something badass.”

  Nadine shook her head. “You’re really something.”

  Bella wasn’t sure what Nadine meant by that, but at least they were both calming down. “I wonder how long we should stay in here. I’m getting hungry.”

  “I have granola bars.” Nadine pointed to a canvas satchel on top of another box. “They taste like cardboard, but you’re welcome to have one.”

  Bella wrinkled her nose. “Thanks, but I’m going to need something more appetizing after what just happened. You should get something good too.”

  Nadine rubbed a spot on the floor with her shoe. “I don’t like to go out for lunch. Especially not since the media found me. I get recognized even more now that people know where I work, and it’s easier to stay back here.”

  “Oh gosh, I didn’t think of that.” Bella tried to imagine spending the entire day in the stockroom, knowing that if she showed her face, it could trigger someone’s aggression. “Hey, what if we went together? There’s a deli at the end of the plaza, and the booths are pretty private. I could even order for both of us.”

  The words spilled out before she thought better of them. What am I doing?

  A few weeks ago, Bella would never have invited Nadine Bayani to lunch. Standing up against workplace bullying was one thing, but lunch implied actual friendship. How could she be friends with the woman who had plunged her country into a four-year nightmare?

  Nadine appeared caught off guard. “Oh. Hmm.”

  “No pressure,” Bella said quickly. “It was just an idea. You don’t have to come.”

  “It’s just that I…hmm.” Something flickered in her eyes, a mix of vulnerability and longing that broke Bella’s heart.

  She wants to say yes. The realization filled Bella with shame. Who was she to think she was too good to be friends with Nadine? She had no right to judge someone who had served her time, someone who had never been anything but nice to her—well, except for the day they met, but now Bella understood Nadine’s distrust of strangers.

  “Come on. It’ll be okay,” Bella said. “I bet you won’t be recognized if you’re with someone. And if anyone tries to mess with you, well, I’ll…”

  Nadine raised an eyebrow. “You’ll drop your credentials?”

  “Damn right.”

  “Okay.” Nadine’s lips curved into a tentative smile. “Let’s wait a bit longer, though, to be sure our friend is gone.”

  “Sounds good. We can go in ten minutes or so.” Bella knew she had made the right decision. If nothing else, the gesture would cancel out some of the harassment Nadine received at work every day.

  Besides, coworkers went to lunch together all the time. It didn’t mean that Bella condoned Nadine’s past actions. It’s just lunch.

  So why did she feel so nervous?

  * * *

  When Bella and Nadine entered the break room, Jason was sitting at the table, gnawing on a chicken wing.

  “Hi, Jason. We’re taking lunch.” Bella strove for a casual tone as she walked past him to clock out, Nadine right behind her.

  “Both of you?” Jason narrowed his eyes. “You’re going together?”

  For a split second, Bella considered pretending it was a coincidence, but she didn’t want Nadine to think she was embarrassed to associate with her. After all, lunch had been her idea. “Yes, we’re going to the deli.” She swiped her ID on the time clock, then stood back so Nadine could do the same.

  “Huh.” Jason stroked his stubbly chin. “I’m surprised you’re associating with a convicted felon.”

  Bella pretended she hadn’t heard him. “Back in thirty.” After Nadine clocked out, they walked past him without a word and made their way to the exit.

  Outside, Nadine slipped on her oversized sunglasses, the ones she had worn the day she interviewed. They crossed the parking lot, Bella keeping close to ensure anyone watching saw them as a pair. That way, anyone who recognized Nadine would think twice before engaging. She’s not alone today.

  They arrived at the deli without incident and snagged a booth in the back corner.

  “I’ll order,” Bella said. “Just tell me what you want.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  Nadine studied the menu, then pointed to the plain turkey sandwich, the cheapest item on the menu. As she walked up to the counter, it occurred to Bella that Nadine hadn’t received a paycheck yet. Maybe she ate granola bars for lunch because it was all she could afford.

  Bella ordered the sandwiches, along with chips, fruit cups, and sodas. She piled everything on a tray and returned to the table.

  Nadine’s eyes widened. “Did the sandwich come with all that?”

  “No, but don’t worry about it.” Bella split the items between them. “Lunch is my treat.”

  Nadine shifted. “You didn’t have to do that. I brought money.”

  “I know, but I’m the one who invited you to come. Besides, I’ve got a little side hustle going, and business has been good lately.”

  “Side hustle?” Nadine raised an eyebrow.

  “Yeah, I draw. Portraits, characters, stuff like that. People send me requests, and I get paid commissions.”

  “Interesting.” Nadine unwrapped her sandwich. “You must be a good artist.”

  “I’m okay. And it’s not much, but anything helps. I’m trying to save money to go back to school.” Bella raised her sandwich to take a bite but then paused. “Not that I’m anywhere close to having enough.”

  Nadine tilted her head. “I imagine you’d qualify for aid, considering the pittance they pay us.”

  Bella had flunked out and didn’t qualify for financial aid anymore, but she didn’t want to explain that to Nadine, a graduate of Yale and Northwestern. “Aid doesn’t cover everything.”

  They ate in silence for a few minutes. Bella searched her mind for something to talk about but came up empty. If she were out with Raelyn, she’d ask her about work, dating, and television shows, but she already knew Nadine’s work life was a disaster, and Nadine didn’t seem to have a personal life.

  Just as Bella opened her mouth to say something, Nadine slid her sunglasses over her eyes. Bella turned to see a customer walking toward them. He passed their table and continued to the restroom, never glancing in their direction.

  Bella pierced a piece of pineapple with her fork. “It really sucks that you have to live like this. Do you think it will ever get better?”

  “No.” Nadine looked down at her food. “There’s something about me… It’s hard to explain, but it’s more than what I did. People want to see me suffer. It’s not enough that I went to prison. They want me to pay and pay and pay.”

  Bella thought about the man who had accosted Nadine in the store. White, male, brimming with rage. “Maybe it’s because you’re a woman. Plus an immigrant and a minority. That could be part of it.”

  “I suppose.” Nadine resealed her fruit cup and folded the bag of chips, apparently ready to go.

  “I’m sorry.” Bella didn’t know what else to say.

  “Don’t be.” Nadine balled up her sandwich wrapper. “I deserve it, right?”

  There was that word again. Bella didn’t understand or approve of what Nadine had done, but the bullying Nadine endured at work wasn’t helping anyone. It certainly wasn’t justice.

  They tossed their trash and returned to the store. Ashley stood near the only open register, absorbed in her phone. She looked up and waved hello before returning her attention to the screen. If she had an opinion about Bella and Nadine taking lunch together, it didn’t show. The break room was empty when they clocked back in.

  “Well, see you later.” Bella turned toward the main floor.

  “Wait.” Nadine stopped her. “I just… Thank you for lunch. For the sandwich and for going with me. I appreciate it.”

  “Of course. It was fun.”

  Nadine nodded and returned to the stockroom.

  Inviting Nadine to lunch had been the right thing to do. Despite her past, Nadine was a person with feelings—a person Bella was surprised to find she actually liked. And the more she got to know her, the more Bella realized the countless ways Nadine continued to suffer the consequences of her crimes.

  There was no harm in being kind to her. In fact, it was good to have compassion for ex-offenders. Bella hadn’t been to church in years, but she recalled that Jesus had advocated something along those lines.

  Chapter 7

  Nadine woke up groggy and stressed. It was her day off, but she had to deal with something almost as bad as work—looking for housing. She was over two months into her three-month stay at Renn House, so she couldn’t afford to waste a day.

  Nadine dragged herself out of bed, catching a glimpse of her face in the small mirror on the otherwise bare wall. Her eyes were puffy, and her hair lay flat on one side. Her T-shirt and boxers were a far cry from the pricey pajamas she’d worn in a previous life, but they were infinitely better than what she had worn as a prisoner.

  Downstairs, she had the kitchen and living room to herself. Jenna slept late, and Jodie was gone. The new suitemate, Kendra, was a skittish young woman who spent most of the day in her bedroom.

  Nadine brewed grocery-store-brand coffee in a single-cup brewer, then sat with her mug at the shared desktop computer to check her email. Since starting work at Overstock Oasis, she had applied for every apartment and room offered for under five hundred dollars—and there weren’t many. Her email contained the depressing results: a few rejections. Otherwise, silence.

  Maybe she should start applying under a false name. If she could visit in person, she might make a good impression before they realized who she was. But if the reactions of managers and customers at the store were any indication, that would probably end in disaster too.

  Nadine swiveled around at the sound of creaking floorboards. Jenna was making her way down the stairs in yoga pants and a sweatshirt. Her blonde hair was tied up in a loose bun.

  Jenna nodded sleepily. “Hey.”

  “Good morning. You’re up early.”

  “Yeah. I have a job interview.” Jenna couldn’t hide her shy smile.

  “That’s great. Where?”

  “At a hotel. You know, cleaning the rooms, changing the sheets, stuff like that. My caseworker set it up. And they already know I’m a felon, so I might have a real chance.”

  “Sounds promising.” Nadine hoped the job worked out; Jenna was a good person who had been working hard to turn her life around. She deserved a break.

  Jenna reached for a coffee mug and powered up the single-cup brewer. “What are you working on?”

  Nadine glanced back at the screen. “Just sifting through rejections from landlords.”

  “Oh, that sucks. Even studio apartments are so expensive these days. I’m probably going to have to move in with my ex.” Jenna mimed a gag.

  “Your ex-boyfriend?” Nadine sipped her coffee. “Are you on good terms with him?”

  “I guess.” Jenna shrugged. “But I know he’s going to want me to fuck him as long as I’m staying there. And if he gets a new girlfriend, I’m out on my ass.”

  Nadine clenched her jaw. She wanted to say, No! Don’t go there. You deserve better. But it wasn’t as if she could offer an alternative. She couldn’t even find housing for herself. “Talk to your probation officer. They’re supposed to help with housing. Maybe if you—I’m not saying to lie, but if you imply the situation would make you more likely to end up homeless or even to reoffend, they might be more willing to help. Your ex isn’t a convicted felon, is he?”

  “Nah. I’m the only one who got caught.” Jenna retrieved her mug from the brewer and added powdered creamer.

  Wonderful. “Well, maybe you’ll get this job, and maybe it will pay enough for your own apartment. You never know.”

  “Thanks. I hope things work out for you too.” Jenna touched Nadine’s shoulder, then walked back upstairs with her coffee.

  That was the nice thing about talking to other felons. Most of them didn’t feel entitled to judge others, something she had learned to appreciate.

  * * *

  Nadine was powering through a set of push-ups in her bedroom when her phone buzzed. Panting, she sat back on her heels and checked the screen. It was her sister calling on Skype.