Chasing Jillian: A Love and Football Novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

people’s castoffs look fresh and new.
    “Okay. If you really want to apply to the voc-tech, I believe Treehouse can cover the application fee. I want you to apply to the School of Apparel Design and Development at Seattle Central Community College, though. If you’ll apply, I’ll pay your application fee.”
    Chastity’s eyebrows shot up. “You would?”
    “Yeah. When you’re a famous designer, you can pay someone else’s fee.”
    Chastity seemed like she didn’t know what to say but then blurted out, “Absolutely. Thank you.”
    Jillian pulled her checkbook out of her purse, wrote a check for the amount payable to the community college, and handed it to Chastity. “That should cover it, but if you need additional application fees, please let me know.” Jillian noted the check and the amount in her check register and glanced up at Chastity again. “How’s everything else going?”
    “My cousin has a new boyfriend.” She wrapped her arms around her midsection. “He wants me to move out.”
    “What does your cousin say?”
    “She says I can stay, but she’s not going to let me stay if he says he’ll leave.”
    This was the hardest part of the work for Jillian. She couldn’t take anyone else into her five-hundred-square-foot apartment. She knew she couldn’t offer everyone a home, everything they needed, or even a sense of belonging, but that didn’t prevent her from wanting to. The worst thing about being a foster child wasn’t the fact that you didn’t have a lot. You got used to that. It was the fact that no matter how hard you tried, every bit of security you’d worked so hard for could be ripped away in a matter of moments.
    To this day, Jillian had a change of clothing and some emergency money in a backpack in her bedroom closet, just in case. She realized a therapist would have a field day with her reasonsfor doing this, and she wondered how long it would be before she could unpack that change of clothes and put the money back in her checking account. Other people had someone to rely on—a family member, a friend, a spouse. She had nobody but herself. Well, she had her friend, Kari, who would try to help if Jillian needed her. Ultimately, though, Jillian was on her own.
    Chastity wrapped her arms more tightly around herself, and Jillian felt her own stomach knot in fear. If Chastity could stay at her cousin’s for a while longer, she could go to school. Her chances for a somewhat successful adulthood would only increase with education and a stable living environment. Jillian pulled in a breath, despite wondering if her lungs would let her do so.
    “Your cousin knows you need a place to live. She wouldn’t kick you out over some guy,” Jillian reassured her.
    They both knew the truth, but sometimes it was easier to lie—Chastity’s cousin wouldn’t kick her out. Nobody’s family member would ever decline to take them in or steal what little any foster kids had or abuse them. They’d all grow up to be healthy and successful adults. It was the lie they told themselves to get through another day, another foster home, another reminder that they didn’t fit in.
    Jillian patted Chastity’s upper arm. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
    Chastity glanced up from a long examination of her chipped fingernail polish. “Yeah.”
    Jillian picked up the forms. “Let’s get these into some envelopes, and I’ll mail them on my way home. Want a cookie or something?”
    “I’d like that.” Chastity and Jillian headed off down another long hallway to the office area.

Chapter Four
    T HE EARLY S EPTEMBER sun was sinking on the horizon as Seth walked through the front door of his parents’ house a day after he arrived home from San Francisco. The Sharks had annihilated the Miners in their season opener, so he had today off.
    He liked not grabbing for his keys when he stopped by to visit, but he wasn’t so sure his mom’s front-door-unlocked policy was a great idea these days. The vast