I WAKE EARLY THE NEXT morning feeling a little better about myself but not too much.
My phone has a few missed calls from my Mom and some from a number I don’t know. I ignore it and go into the kitchen to cook Rose and myself some breakfast.
I open the refrigerator and see that we have eggs, bacon, and some pancake mix. As soon as I start to cook breakfast, Rose appears from her room, looking refreshed.
“What time did you get in last night?” I ask her as I place some pancakes on the plate.
“I got in at around three. It was a slow night though. Nothing but drunk idiots who didn’t want to give up any money but annoy every girl in the club,” she says as she grabs a piece of bacon and bites it. “How was your mom’s anniversary party? I wish I could’ve come I like the parties. Plus, I know the food was delicious. We don’t eat that top notch stuff here.”
I fix both our plates and sit them both on the table. “I had s*x with Garrett in the kitchen at the party.”
She chokes on her bacon and looks at me. “Are you serious?”
I nod my head.
“And you did this while the party was going on?”
I nod my head again as I bite a piece of bacon.
“Wow, you’re bold. Anyone could’ve walked in and seen you and I know your Mom and Stepdad have kitchen staff. That’s wild.”
“Too wild for me. I’m not that girl.”
“Besides, I thought you hated him. Why would you have s*x with him again?”
“I do hate him, but it seems like every time I’m around him, I lose myself in him. The bad part is, he’s not even my type and it’s not like me to get caught up over a handsome guy. I just don’t know what it is. I mean, we were arguing in the corner and the next thing I knew, he was kissing me. Then I argue with him some more and storm off and then he follows me into the kitchen. Next thing I know, he has me up against the wall and we’re having sex.”
“Wow,” Rose ponders her thoughts, “Do you think, deep down inside, you like him?”
“I doubt it. There’s nothing inside of me but deep disgust.”
“You can’t be too much disgust if you’ve slept with him twice.”
“Technically, no sleeping was involved. It’s just strictly sex.”
“So do you want him as a s*x buddy?”
“I don’t want him as anything.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’ve never been surer about anything in my life. And to be honest, that’s not even the worst part. When we had s*x last night, he didn’t have on any protection and he came right inside of me.”
“Whoa, what? He what? You what? Are you on birth control?”
“No, I wasn’t having s*x so I didn’t see the need in taking any.”
“So he could’ve possibly gotten you pregnant?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“Well, he didn’t say anything about that but when I told him that I was worried, he assumed that it was because I thought that he gave me something and that he should be the one concerned, considering that I have the promiscuous job.”
“He said that?”
“Yes, he did. The guy’s an ass and I just want to forget about him.”
“Well, what if you’re pregnant? You will have to deal with him forever for the sake of your child.”
“I’m just hoping we did it the wrong time of the month because I do not want to be stuck co-parenting with that jerk.”
“Oh dear... Do you work today?”
I shake my head. “No, I don’t go back in until next week. I took a few days off after seeing Garrett that one night, besides, I need to get my head together. No way would I be able to concentrate with all this going on.”
“I don’t blame you. I would take a few days off as well. Okay, maybe a day, because you know I love money. I wish I had some rich guy chasing me.”
“He’s not just some rich guy. He’s my stepbrother.”
“Oh yeah,” Rose smiles.
I pour some syrup on my pancakes and start to eat. Rose eats her food as well but I still can feel her eyes on me. I look up at her and I see her smiling.
“What are you smiling about?”
“I was just thinking Miss Goody Two Shoes and Miss Always Doubts Herself has a handsome, rich guy chasing after her.”
“He’s not chasing me. He’s annoying me.”
“Sure, whatever you say, but if you ask me, he’s chasing you.”
I laugh. “So what are you going to do today?”
“Well, I was going to go get my hair and nails done. Do you want to go? My treat.”
I eat the last little bit of my eggs and look at her. “Sure, anything to get out of this house and get you know who off my mind.”
“Okay, well, get showered and dressed, we’ll be leaving in a little bit.”
“Alright.”
“I got the dishes,” says Rose as she picks up the plates and puts them in the sink.
I get up from the table and go into my room to pick out an outfit to wear out with Rose. I settle on a pair of black shorts and a white shirt. I like dressing simply.
My phone starts to ring from this same number I don’t recognize. I ignore it and grab my keys and purse and head out to the living room. I see Rose sitting on the chair and she is dressed in a cute summer dress with some white sandals on her feet.
“So, you ready?” she asks.
“Yes, I am.”
“Well, let’s head out.”
I smile and link my arm into hers and we head out the door.
We take her car to the nail salon first and we both get French manicures done.
Then we go to the beauty salon and I get my hair highlighted and cut a little shorter than usual.
The style matches my face perfectly and I am really happy with the new look. It always feels nice to refresh a look.
Rose and I got home but as soon as I arrive in my room, my phone starts to ring again. I look at the caller id and see that it’s my Mom.
“Hi, Mom,” I say into the phone.
“I see you are feeling a lot better than last night,” she says.
“Yes, I guess I just had a touch of the bug or something.”
“Or were you just trying to avoid staying long? I could see something there had made you very uncomfortable. Do you want to talk about it?”
“No, Mom, I really wanted to be there. I just got a little sick, that’s all. Nothing was bothering me. I was actually going to come see you pretty soon. You know, visit outside of a special occasion and get some real mother-daughter time in.”
“That would be nice, dear. I would really like that. We haven’t spent any real time together in a while. I miss my Marie.”
“Me, too, Mom, and I know.”
“Well, I was just calling to see how you were doing. Oh, and by the way, I gave Garrett your number. He wanted to check on you because I told him you were sick. He’s such a nice man.”
So that’s the weird number I didn’t recognize.
Damn it, Mom.
“Uh, well, I didn’t get any phone calls, maybe he’ll call later,” I say, hoping that she doesn’t catch onto my lie.
“Okay, sweetheart, take care of you.”
“I will, Mom.”
“And call me if you need anything.”
“I will, Mom.”
“Okay, I love you.”
“I love you, too, Mom,” I say as I hang up the phone.
I go to the weird number in my phone and add it to my block list.
Garrett Walker would not be getting any more of my time.
No way.
It was time to cut the craziness off and focus back on my life.
He was a distraction and right now, that was the last thing I needed.
If I were to get involved with a guy, I want to have a real relationship, not one where we argue all the time or the guy was a shallow jerk. I don’t need that.
No way.
I need someone who will ask me about my day and actually cares about me as a person.
I want a real man. That’s what I need. A fireman or someone.
Not a billionaire’s son.
I couldn’t go through the heartache of dealing with Garrett. Not him.
I don’t know what his intentions are but I do know they aren’t pure so I needed to leave him alone.
With any luck, I wouldn’t run into him anytime soon because I don’t know how I would handle it.
I don’t need him.
No way.
*
* * * *