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?"

like a burst pipe or a tripped fuse, they call him. He's basically property

Roseanne was speechless.

this fishing out

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

Yacht...What an exotic word!

"So... your family isn't

surprised, "Why would you think we're

a once-over, finding it

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

she was rocking flip-flops like they

don't really

Where was the

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

and Scales exchanged

of flip-flops had set their imaginations

we've got the money,

device?" Mamie's eyes

going shopping for

sparkled.

thought for a moment, "This is a group project, we can't let

ways." Scales had been eager

Roseanne nodded, "Sounds fair."

Mamie blinked, then suddenly

"And

I was t one. Turns