Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Thirty seconds later, with a ding, the notification sound chimed.

Mamie swiped back to her phone's home screen, glanced at it, and sure enough, it was a deposit alert.

On the other end, Duke messaged, "Sweetheart, did you get it?"

"Yep, got it, got it."

Not a million, but one and a half million.

Wowza- Duke had tossed in an extra half a million!

"Don't skimp on the good stuff, eat well, drink well, and if you ever run short, you just holler at Duke, got it?!" "Yep! Got it, Duke!"

Call ended, she pocketed her phone.

Turning around, she caught Scales and Roseanne staring at her.

Blinking in confusion, Mamie asked, "...What? Just because I got money, you're giving me the eye?"

Scales narrowed his eyes slightly, arms crossed, "Mamie, you're not being straight with us."

Mamie was puzzled.

"Living in a small town?"

Mamie replied, "Yeah, we're smack dab in a vibrant area, surrounded by business districts and upscale residences. It's lively, to say the least!" Scales just sighed.

Roseanne questioned, "Your folks are out of work, managing a building?"

buildings, they're all Duke's. He's all about that rent life. Tenants have any issues, like a burst pipe or a tripped fuse, they call him. He's basically property management." She was, in essence, working

Roseanne was speechless.

"And this

my mom loves throwing parties on the yacht, and my dad's all about

Yacht...What an exotic word!

"So... your family

surprised, "Why would you think

gave her a once-over, finding

T-shirt, shorts, flip-flops...

she was rocking flip-flops like they were

don't really look...

was incredulous. Where was

you, Caley! That's summer attire where I'm from. My dad wears flip-flops all year

Scales exchanged looks, opting

a pair of flip-flops had set their imaginations

we've got the

device?" Mamie's eyes

we going

sparkled.

"This is a group project, we can't let you foot the bill

it three ways." Scales had been

Roseanne nodded, "Sounds fair."

Mamie blinked, then suddenly

"And

I was, thinking I was t