Chapter 3
three
Phoebe – Five Months Later – Current day
I walk out of class with the biggest smile and an A plus on my animal disease paper. I thought I flunked it. Yesterday was supposed to be my wedding day, and I struggled all day, my heart missing what could have been.
A month after I left, I found out that the woman in the video, Mindy, was bullshitting, but it still doesn't change the fact that he was fucking her, and he'd been sleeping with my sister, too. I've been trying to move on and move forward, and it's behind me now. I've done well to keep my mask in place, and I will continue to do so because I'm learning to live my life for myself now, not my so-called family and a man who decided to destroy everything we had. Now, I can actually celebrate tonight with friends that I made. I grin stupidly to myself; there are only five and a half more years until I get my dream.
"What are you grinning about, Missy?" Abby, my roommate and friend, questions me as she approaches me with a large caramel latte.
Yes! I could kiss her.
In fact, I do. I land a big, old, sloppy one on her cheek and say, "Thank you. I've been dying for this all day." She laughs out loud, shaking her head at my antics. I hold my result sheet and say, "Guess who aced the test." She squeals and hugs me, nearly knocking my drink out of her hand, causing me to growl and giggle simultaneously, making her laugh louder. Then I take my drink before she almost drops it.
"We have to celebrate tonight!" she states, and I nod. I wasn't too sure about her at first, especially with what happened with my sister. I figured out that she was using me for our grandmother's money. I just wish I'd realized sooner, but I won't make that mistake again. Abby, though, is different. She's loud and proud, and she gives no shit to anyone, with her hair dyed in rainbow colors. She's curvy, with dark brown eyes, just an inch taller than me, and the best person I know.
"I was thinking we hit up Kevin's in town."
She nods, and I chuckle. She has a crush on the bartender, James.
She scowls at me. "He will notice me today. I'm going to wear the skimpy, black dress that just covers my ass, and my dark red heels. He'll be eating out of my hand, you watch."
I shake my head at her before I notice Brent, the guy who keeps trying to ask me out, out the corner of my eye, and I quickly link my arm through Abby's, pulling her toward the parking lot.
She hasn't noticed him, which is good, because the last time he approached me, she turned crazy and started threatening him, and as much as I'd have liked to see her kick his ass, I have a persona to keep.
We head to my Buick, which's still going strong, and go home. We carpool every day because we share most classes together. She wants to become a veterinary nurse, while I want to become a vet, so it's perfect.
The ranch I bought under my grandmother's name is amazing. I have yet to buy any animals, but I will once my course load lightens. The ranch house itself is one story. It's a white building with red trim around it, and a white wraparound porch.
It has an open-plan living room and kitchen, three bedrooms, and two and a half baths. The two main bedrooms have a full bath attached, and the third one has a shower and toilet across the way from it. That room I gave to Ares, well, he took it, more like. It's technically a guest bedroom that he stole, but I don't mind. He's five years old now and very chunky, and he loves it.
After I moved here and went to register for classes, I bumped into Abby in the office. She was screaming at the administrator about how her roommate was into orgies and offered for her to join in. I felt bad and offered her a room at my ranch. She nearly toppled us to the ground when she rushed and hugged me. She's been working her way into my life since. I even helped her decorate her room in pink and green. It already had a queen-sized bed, a walk-in closet that was just a little bit smaller than mine, and a dresser. We went to Target and got her some green sheets and artwork for her walls. Then we sat down and went over the bills and groceries that we decided to cut in half, because the ranch was fully paid off.
As I pull up to the house twenty minutes later, I lose it in laughter, making Abby look at me like I have lost the plot. I quickly put the car in park, grab my phone, and get my camera app up, hitting record. Abby is still looking at me, not noticing what I have seen until she turns her head, and both her hands come up and cover her mouth.
"Oh my God," she states before bursting out in laughter.
Currently lying on the ground, wiggling around, is my friend/kind of boyfriend Oliver, who is trying to kick the goose from the farm across the road away from his ass, as it has a good grip on it with his beak.
He looks up, notices us, and scowls at the tears running down my face.
"Are you seriously sitting in your car recording this? Fucking help me, babe," he shouts, and I lose it again while Abby clutches my arm, struggling to talk through her laughter.
"F-fuck, t-this is the funniest s-shit I have e-ever seen."
I nod in agreement.
"Babe, please!" he bellows, and I pass my phone to Abby and head out to help, all while still laughing.
"I'm glad you find this funny, babe, but remember, paybacks are a bitch." He sneers at me, and I start laughing hard again, making him roll his eyes before he screams out in pain as Goosy, the goose, bites down harder. I quickly but quietly walk up behind him and catch him by the neck. I don't have a net, so this method will have to do. I pull the bird close to my body. I reach down and wrap my arm around his body, holding the wings in place, and grasping both legs with one finger between them.
I gently pull up while Oliver quickly gets out of the way, and I try to hold back my laughter but fail, because he glares at me as Abby gets out of my car, still laughing.
I gently stroke my index finger against Goosy's neck and ask, "Are you okay, baby? Did that mean man hurt you?" I coo to the bird, and Abby loses it again while Oliver glares at me. I just smirk, then walk the bird over to my pond. He'll head back home when he's ready.
After I place him on the pond, I head indoors. As I walk in, I go stand next to Abby to see what she's laughing at now, and end up using her as support, not able to hide the sheer amusement of Oliver using my frozen peas on his bare ass. He's pulled the back of his pants down while he ices himself. We end up on the floor, tears running down our faces, and he scowls again.
"Alright, laugh it up, and here I was, being the nice guy I am, coming to see my girl and ask about her test results, and this is the thanks I get: a bird attacking me, biting my ass, and you two recording it." He shakes his head at us, and we lose it again.
He pulls his pants back up and places his hands on his hips, glaring at us, and I chuckle a little before calming down and walking over to him. He softens, opening his arms, wrapping me up in them, and I place my head on his chest and sigh in disappointment—no butterflies or tingly feelings.
We've been in limbo for about four months now. I met Ollie through Abby after a month of living together. He works with James at Kevin's despite having his parents' money. He's got the boy next door look with blond hair, blue eyes, and a swimmer's body. He's been incredibly sweet, kind, and patient with me. I mean, we've made out a couple of times, but we haven't gone further. I struggle every time he tries to get intimate. My mind drifts back to Alex, and I instantly feel like I'm cheating on him, which is fucking ridiculous because I know for a fact he's not living like a monk, which is why tonight is the night. I'm moving on with my life, and I think I can be happy with Oliver, so I've decided to give him my virginity. I just need my body to play ball.
"Fancy coming to celebrate with us at Kevin's tonight? Seems as though I got an A plus," I ask as I look up at him, and he grins widely before he lifts me up and spins me in a circle.
"I fucking knew you could do it, baby; I never doubted you." I grin back. "Okay, baby, I'm going to head out. I'll shower and change, and be back in an hour and a half to get you girls, deal?" I nod as he bends down and places his lips on mine. They're soft and warm. He licks the seam of my mouth, and I grant access, his tongue tangling with mine. He slows the kiss, then pecks my lips again before heading out, and I sigh out loud.
"Still no spark, huh?"
I groan, banging my head on my kitchen counter. Abby chuckles softly and rubs my back.
"Are you sure you want to lose your V-card with him tonight, Phoeb?" she asks gently, and I lift my head to look at her, glaring.
"Yes. I think once we get there, the spark should be there, too, right? I need to try. I cannot keep moping for someone who doesn't give a crap about me. We'll use lube if we have to," I state, and she gives me a sad smile, then drags me to my room, where Ares has made himself comfy on my king-size bed. I walk over to him and pet him, making him purr, and I smile.
"Right, missy, leave the pussy alone and go shower. Wear your short, purple, lace dress, with your silver heels, your hair down in waves, and light makeup. We'll meet out front in 45 minutes," she commands, and I chuckle.
I stroke Ares and head to my double-en-suite bathroom to get ready. I shave everywhere, because tonight, I will finally lose my virginity, and Alex will not be in my mind. Right?