Addiction

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

A smile crosses my face.

Who wouldn’t smile when faced with bright, colorful balloons?

“What are all the balloons for?” I ask.

“To say I’m sorry for being a jerk. I never meant to hurt you or anything like that. It’s just, well...I never felt the way I feel about you for any other woman. Women have only ever wanted money from me.”

I look him over and motion for him to come into the house. He follows behind me with all of the balloons in tow. “Have a seat on the couch.”

He takes a seat on the couch and I sit beside him. “You have to know that I never meant to offend you or hurt you.”

I sigh. “Yeah, I’m starting to see that.”

“So will you give me a chance?” he asks.

“I don’t know. I don’t like to date dudes with money.”

“Why?”

“Because... I don’t know. People with money just make you feel less than them.”

“How about if I date you in your world?”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning I won’t do anything regular guys won’t do. We can get a burger, go to the movies, and go eat pizza or anything like that. You won’t ever hear a mention of money. What do you say?”

I look at him and smile. “That wouldn’t work.”

“Try me.”

“Okay... I’ll agree to that. But no extravagant gifts or anything like that.”

“I’ll only get you flowers wrapped in newspaper,” he says with a laugh.

I stick my hand out. “It’s a deal.”

“So can we go out today?”

“Sure...come pick me up around 7.”

“I’ll be here at 7 on the dot.”

“Okay, I will see you then.”

He gets up from the chair and kisses me on the cheek. “See you later.”

I smile and wave at him as he walks out of the door. I look at all of the balloons and they all say ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘I miss you’.

I have to give it to him - he has style.

I take all of the balloons and carry them down the hall into my room. I hear the door open and close again and I know Rose is home.

“Marie, where are you?” she yells.

“I’m in my room!”

Her footsteps come down the hallway and then stop. “Whoa! Who gave you the big bouquet of balloons?”

I smile. “Garrett.”

“See, I told you he has the hot’s for you. What was he doing here?”

“Well, at first, he came here to drop off the envelope from my Mom and then he came back to apologize to me for being an ass and ask me to give him a chance. My Mom even seems to think I should take a chance on him.”

“So are you going to?”

“Yes, he agreed to date me on my terms so I am going to give him a shot.”

“Oh, my gosh! I’m so excited for you. Wait! What do you mean, ‘your terms’?”

“No fancy restaurants. No extravagant gifts so he can flaunt his money. Just regular restaurants for us regular people. And normal nice gifts.”

“I should’ve known you would say that. Any other woman would want to be spoiled and treated like a princess.”

“He can still do that without spending a lot of money. I just like the simple things in life.”

“So what are you going to wear on your date? You know you have to knock his socks off.”

“I don’t know. I don’t even know where we’re going.”

“So you may want to dress casual? You could borrow something out of my closet.”

I shake my head. “No, your clothes are too flashy. I’ll find something in mine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. I think I know exactly what I’m going to wear.”

“Well, whatever it is, I am sure you will knock his socks off. So did your Mom give you enough to cover bills?”

I nod my head. “She did that and then some.”

“A lot, huh?”

“Double what she gave me last time.”

“Geez! I wish I had your Mom.”

“A lot of people do, but she knows I would only come to her if I absolutely needed it.”

“It kills you to even do that. You may want to go put it in the bank before you go on your date.”

“I am. Do you want anything while I go out?”

“No, I’m good. I’m just going to go to sleep until it’s time for me to go to work.”

“What time do you go in?”

“9. What time is your date?”

“It’s at 7.”

“Well, I’ll wake up at 6:30 to help you get ready for it.”

“Thanks Rose.”

*