Another Day....or not?
1332 Words
Jude
I unlocked the door to my sad one bedroom apartment. My bachelor pad. Ha! Bachelor pad!? More like a sad divorcee last resort. Allison some how manged to get the house, her lawyer took me to the cleaners. oh how glad I am that I introduced them. Note the sarcasm.
Walking into the living room I dropped my work belt by the door and kicked off my shoes. Stripping my clothes off as I headed to the shower to wash away the day.
The bathroom is small and an ugly yellow. There isn't a tub just a shower, a stand alone sink amd a toilet in-between with a medicine cabinet hanging above it.
I turn on the water as hot as it will go, which is barley hot enough. My thought drift to memories of V. We used to talk and joke around all day. If we were at work we'd make faces and throw things at each other.If we were off, we texted constantly. She was married and I had just met Allison but it wasn't anything serious yet. Her husband would get so mad that she was always talking to me. I fell so hard for her, everutumng about her made my body sing. Her laugh, her facial expressions, the sound of her voice, the feeling of holding her in the tight bear hugs she gave me. I thought we were headed somewhere, but then she got pregnant, by her husband and I knew she wasn't going to leave him. Of course I never told her my true feelings, so she didn't know how heartbroken I was when she announced her bun in the oven.
Getting out of the shower I dried myself off, wrapping the towel around my waist. Standing in front of the mirror, I took in my reflection. My dark auburn hair was longer than I usually kept it, but unfortunately it was thinning, thanks dad. A messy dripping mop on the top of my head. My red beard is fully grown in. Allison hated my beard, so it's only right I stopped shaving it off when she kicked me out of my house. What can I say, small petty victory. I smiled recalling her face when I showed up to divorce court with it growing in. The bags under my deep green eyes were dark due to the lack of sleep and extra stress I've been dealing with. Basically I looked rough. I sigh as I hit the light and leave the bathroom.
I walked to the bedroom, grabbing sweatpants and slipping them on. I guess I should eat something, so I head to the kitchen to scrounge up dinner. I don't have much, but I found a frozen dinner I don't remember buying in the freezer. Guess we got a winner winner. I open it and throw it into the microwave to heat it up.
I take my “gourmet” dinner to the couch and flip on the TV.
This is my life now. How pathetic? At least I get my daughter on the weekends. Kira is the light in my life. The best part. I cherish every minute I get with her. She's 6 years old and full of sass. She got my hair and eye color, but her mother's olive skin tone. She is beautiful and a total daddy's girl. As soon as I move into a better living inarrangement, she'll get to stay with me more.
I start to plan our weekend. I think I'll take her to the zoo and maybe out for ice cream. There's a new park in town that just opened, I know she'll be excited to go check it out.
I noticed it's already past eleven, time to head off to bed, morning comes fast and I got to meet Kade at the office at 6am.
~~~~~~~
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
I f*****g hate that alarm.
Opening my eyes I glare at the red numbers flashing at me to get my ass out of bed. Time to start another day. After a couple deep breaths I roll out of bed, heading for the bathroom.
After freshening up I head to the closet and get ready for another day. I get dressed and grab a granola bar from the kitchen cabinet and my tool belt from the floor, double check I got my wallet and phone, grab the keys from the hook and I'm on my way out the door.
Pulling into the office parking lot, I notice I beat Kade this morning, a rare occurrence. I was starting to think the dude lived here, or at least slept here multiple times a week.
Getting out of the car, I grab my work belt and head into the office.
I wave at Katy, the office manager and Kades daughter.
“Good morning, Jude. Would you like some coffee?”
“Good morning Katy. Don't worry I can get it myself.” I greet her as she stands behind her desk.
“Nonsense.” She smiles as she heads to the kitchenette.
The office is fairly small, there's Katy's desk by the entrance and some chairs off to the side, the kitchenette is in the hallway that leads to Kades office. It's got a fancy coffee machine, a sink, and a microwave. On my first day Katy bragged that the coffee machine was her demand to work for her dad.
Katy walks back into the room and hands me a hot cup of coffee, her fingers lingering on the back of my hand and she stares into my eyes. I've already addressed this..issue with her. I'm not interested, she is my boss's daughter and like half my age.
“Katy, we've talked about this. I'm flattered, but no thank you. Now where is your Dad? He's never late.”
She pouts out her bottom lip. I hope she doesn't think that's cute. She just stares at me, so I raise my eyebrows expectantly.
“Why not? We'd have so much fun." she bites her lip and winks at me as she runs her hand down the front of my shirt. "Just give me a chance" she whispers as she wraps her finger around the waist of my jeans, give them a slight tug.
"No Katy." I grab her wrist and remove her hand from my clothes. "You're my bosses daughter." I tell her.
"I'm not a child." she leans in and whispers in my ear.
"I just got divorced, I'm really not interested in anything right now." I try a different approach.
"It's not like I'm asking to be your girlfriend, it could just be for fun." she tries to touch me again but I take a step back out of her reach.
"It's not going to happen Katy."
"Just come out with me and my friends tonight. I know I can change your mind." she attempts to touch me, pouting again when I take another step out of her reach.
That looks must get her what she wants a lot, but it isn't going to work on me. The thought of hanging out with a bunch of drunk people who are barley old enough to drink does not sound fun on any level.
"Maybe if I was 10 years younger" I shrug, "Now your dad's never been late, is everything alright?" I change the subject.
Katy stares at me for a moment, then walks back over to her desk.
"He had to stop by Vics house. She called, so he went running.”
“Vic? Whose Vic? A client? " I ask.
Katy laughs, "Oh no! Shes daddy's special friend." she winks before turning to her computer screen
"Wait.. Victoria?” A rush of panic surging through my chest along with another almost painful feeling. “What's wrong with Victoria?”
"I don't know!" she scoffs. "Do you know her?" jealousy leaking into her voice.
Jealousy? Was that the other feeling?What does she mean "special friend"?
- Writer
