4. Red Light Situation at the Donut Shop
Chapter 4
Red Light Situation at the Donut Shop
Simone
It took willpower, but I left Steel sleeping in that hotel room bed. The blackout curtains were closed which was a bummer because I’d wanted to drink in his body and tats in the morning sunlight. It wasn’t to be, though. While he cleaned up following the last time – even better than the first because he’d been so damned gentle – I’d gathered my clothes and tucked them close to my side of the bed so I could dress quietly and quickly.
I hadn’t done many walks of shame, but note to self: wearing dressy clothes makes it easier. That was until my neighbor across the hall opened her door just as I was unlocking mine.
“Simone,” she said, chipper as could be. After she gave me a once-over her tone down-shifted. “Oh, you must have spent the night at Jordan’s new place. Are you moving, too?”
For the life of me, I couldn’t remember her name. It happened every time I saw her, and I was too embarrassed to admit I’d forgotten her name.
I shook my head while pressing my lips together. “Nope. I’m here for a while.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you getting a new roommate?”
With luck, I’d be getting a job at the firm I’d interned at this past semester, but that wasn’t her business.
I smiled. “Probably, but it’s up in the air for now. You look like you’re going to work out, I don’t want to keep you.”
She pointed a finger at me. “Before I forget, there was a man here yesterday looking for Jordan. I let him know that he moved.”
That got my attention. “What kind of man?”
Her head tilted with her grimace. “I’m not sure. He was older, forties or so, but I didn’t ask him why he wanted to see Jordan.”
I paused. “Was he wearing leather, like a leather vest with lots of patches on it?”
She frowned and shook her head. “No, but he had fantastic tattoos. He left before I could ask who he was.”
I nodded. “Thanks for letting me know. I’ll pass it along to Jordan.”
Only half of what I said was true. It was good to know because with Jordan’s inability to communicate, maybe he had a debt collector calling on him. However, the last statement was a lie. If I had anything to do with it, I wouldn’t see or speak to Jordan again.
Inside the apartment, the emptiness hit me like a slap in the face. With nobody else here to talk to or distract me though, I couldn’t ignore my feelings. It hurt that he’d pulled one over on me, and I couldn’t believe I’d missed the signs. After living together for so long, his suggestion of moving out was an alarm bell like no other. Yet… I’d fallen for his excuse that he needed to focus on his studies and I was a distraction. For all of my book-smarts, I’d certainly let my heart get stupid.
I grabbed a tissue and wiped the tears from my face. After I blew my nose, another realization hit me. Tennyson lived in the same complex as Chet.
My stomach lurched at the idea that they’d already been together. No, that went too far. Jordan wouldn’t do that. Still, as close as she stood to him and the way she held the door for him like a loyal puppy, they were definitely involved in some way.
The anger and betrayal I felt forced me to get my shit together. I wasn’t going to cry any more for him. It might hurt every now and again, especially at nights – but I was better off without him.
And who knew, maybe I’d look for someone older than me in the future.
“Are you shitting me?” Alexandra shouted.
I had just told her about Jordan’s crappy stunt yesterday evening, and I pulled the phone from my ear a moment before she blew out my eardrum.
I put the phone back to my ear. “Wish that I were.”
“But, but… in front of all your friends?”
My lips twisted to one side. “Pretty sure their actions… or inaction, says they were always Jordan’s friends and not mine.”
She scoffed. “That isn’t the point. Nobody does something that shitty.”
“Jordan did.”
“And he oughta pay,” she muttered.
I loved Alexandra’s ruthlessness, and I often wondered if it came from Uncle Cal or Aunt Mallory. Odds were it came from them both, but the viciousness of her tone… I suspected Uncle Cal played a big role in her protectiveness of me.
“As Mom would say, it’s his loss.”
She sighed and kept quiet for a moment. “I get the feeling you’re leaving something out.”
For whatever reason, I couldn’t tell her about Steel. It wasn’t that I was embarrassed, I just wanted to keep him to myself for a day or two.
After a beat, I said, “I am, but I promise to tell you soon.”
She gasped. “Soon? How soon? Oh God, you’re gonna have me quoting one of my mom’s favorite songs. Just tell me what else happened. Jordan’s clearly a jackass.”
I wheezed with laughter. “You’re absolutely right, Lex. You had his number from the jump.”
After a lengthy pause, she said, “I should hold off on this, but now that he’s moved out, when can I move in?”
“Commencement is on Tuesday. The next day, I’m coming home for Christmas and staying until just after New Years. So, I guess any time after the second. Does that work?”
“You betcha. Bonus, you’ll be in town for the big Christmas bash. The Biloxi brothers always come out for that.”
The holiday party was in full rip-roaring swing. I came out of the tiny bathroom tiny bathroom only to dodge a new prospect leading a woman down the corridor.
“Simone,” Abby called from the end of the hall.
“Auntie Abs,” I murmured, and trudged toward her.
She grabbed my hand. “You okay?”
I nodded.
“I heard you’re done with Jordan.”
My brows arched. “I didn’t realize Alexandra had told you, but yeah.”
She gave me a wry grin. “At least you can make a fresh start in the new year. You didn’t need him anyway.”
My eyes widened at her. Seemed everyone had an opinion about him except Dad. Then again, he never had opinions about my boyfriends.
He’d once told me, “An asshole puts a ring on your finger, I’ll pay closer attention.”
He wasn’t fooling me, though. He paid very close attention to everyone I dated, and especially the man I’d lived with for two and a half years.
Abby eyed me for a moment. “You look… different.”
I grinned. “It’s the look of being single.”
Her head shook ever so slowly. “No, it’s something else. You’re not as torn up about him dumping you as I would have expected.”
Alexandra wandered up to us, handing me another beer. “That’s because something else happened after he broke it off, but she won’t tell me. I’m dragging her to Mom and Dad’s tomorrow for mimosas, brunch, and Sunday gossip. If she met someone, we need all the deets.”
Abby glanced from Alexandra back to me – her eyes assessing. “You had a fling, didn’t you?”
How was Aunt Abby so damned intuitive about relationships… or lack thereof?
Alexandra gasped. “Oh my God! That look says that she can’t believe you figured it out.”
I shook my head. “No, this isn’t the time—”
Abby gave me a pointed stare. “She doesn’t drag you to Cal and Mallory’s, I damn sure will.”
I survived Sunday brunch and felt like I got one over on all the ladies since I just glossed over the fling with Steel. Bonus, Mom wasn’t there and neither was Dad – which meant they hadn’t found out.
Though, I suspected Aunt Abby would spill to Mom soon since I'd been back in Gainesville for over a week. It was Monday, and Alexandra had moved in this past weekend.
Someone knocked on the door and through the peephole I saw my landlord standing in the corridor wearing a big heavy toolbelt, which was unusual unless there was a problem.
“Hi, Mr. Brown. Is everything okay?” I asked.
“I thought I’d stop by and meet your new roommate,” he said, pulling a screwdriver from his belt and fiddling with our doorknob.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“I’m changing your locks.”
My brows drew together. “But I have Jordan’s key, we don’t need new locks.”
He leveled his stern hazel eyes on me. “He left his key for you, but that don’t mean it was the only key. I met your dad, he’s a good guy, and smart as heck. I woulda thought he’d have taught you that.”
I didn’t expect Jordan do anything psycho, but I supposed a girl could never be too careful.
While he put finishing touches on the new locks, he said, “Besides, Ines across the hall told me about that man showing up looking for Jordan. You don’t know if that boy got into some trouble before he left you.”
Ines was her name .
I still knew I’d forget it in ten minutes.
I nodded. “You’re right, Mr. Brown. I wasn’t thinking. Thanks for taking care of things.”
He handed me two new keys and put his tools away. “You’re welcome, and remind your new roommate, no blocking the dumpster – ever.”
“You got it.”
Alexandra had gone to the campus bookstore in case they had a couple textbooks that had been in short supply.
Half an hour later, she had to knock on our door since her key no longer worked.
“What the hell, chickie? You lock out all your roommates on their first day?” she asked when I let her inside.
I laughed. “Mr. Brown changed the locks when you were gone. Your key is on the counter.”
“Oh. That makes sense. So, what’s the plan for tonight? Are we hitting that pizza joint so you can pick up another older man?”
I gave her a dry look. “Why do I bother telling you things?”
She grinned. “Because I make your life better.”
“Let’s get sushi. I’ll show you the best place in town.”
“Fine, but I’m buying. It isn’t every day someone starts their first job in the real world.”
I made it through my first week of work without any problems – other than being dead-on-my-feet tired every single day. I’d heard that working for the man would tire you out, but this was ridiculous.
Friday night, I rolled inside at five-fifteen, hung my purse on my chair at the kitchen table, and went straight to the pantry for a box of cereal.
Alexandra watched me from the sofa. “Seriously, Simone? You’re having cereal for dinner again? What gives? It’s Friday night, we need to let loose. They’re having some big party since it’s the last Friday before classes start.”
I put the cereal box on the table. “I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t think office work would kick my ass like this, but I’m so freaking tired.”
She twisted her lips to the side for a beat. “Maybe it’s remnants of the bad sushi you had on Monday.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think that was bad sushi though. You didn’t get sick, right? It was probably stress or something.”
“But why are you so tired?”
I shrugged. “Some months my cycle’s really intense and I get tired just before my period.”
“Okay. So, are we streaming a new show or are we going with a comfort watch?”
I stifled a yawn as I pulled a bowl out of the cabinet. “Sorry, but I think I’m gonna crawl into bed. I hate that I’m not showing you all the ropes.”
She swatted a hand at me. “Don’t worry about that. Ines, across the hall, told me about this party. Maybe I’ll see if I can tag along with her.”
I nodded and dumped some cereal in the bowl. “Be careful though. I’m not tight with her, and some of these parties are cool, but there are still creeps lurking and waiting for newbies like you.”
“Okay, Dad,” she said in a deeper tone.
Talk about a knife to my heart.
Not because she’d called me out for being protective, but because it instantly reminded me of Steel. And how I’d wanted to say the same thing to him.
“Like I’m being parental right now. Besides, I know you’d obliterate any moron stupid enough to fuck with you.”
“Nice save. If you need anything, call me.”
“Goes both ways, Lex,” I said, pouring milk on my cereal.
She scoffed. “You’d never hear your phone! I yelled at the TV last night when the basketball game went into overtime and you didn’t even blink.”
“I was in bed.”
“On the couch,” she chided.
I crunched on some Honey Nut Cheerios. “You’re right, I’m sorry.”
Alexandra chuckled. “Woman, you’ve got nothing to be sorry about. I’m just giving you grief. I’m more concerned about what’s making you so tired. But tomorrow’s Saturday, so you sleep in, got it?”
In the morning, I found a note from Alexandra on the fridge.
Hey sleepyhead!
The party was a bust and I got in before midnight. Ines is taking me to her Zumba class this morning. I have my phone – let me know if you want me to bring back donuts.
I loved donuts, but then that’s why she’d offered. With a grin, I dug my phone out of my purse so I could text her.
Only if the donuts are Krispy Kremes. Otherwise, why bother, right?
She responded with a mind-blown emoji
Holy cow, you’re alive and awake!
Okay, smartass, that’s enough.
Need anything else? A latte?
The idea of coffee turned my stomach, and that, too, was strange. Nothing went better with a Krispy Kreme than a cup of java. I opened the calendar app on my phone. Then I plopped onto the couch.
My period was over a week late.
How was that possible?
Maybe it was stress.
No, it had to be stress.
We had used protection. Hell, the sight of Steel rolling a condom on his cock had replayed in my mind on the daily for the past four weeks. My vibrator failed at delivering anything close to the pleasure Steel gave me.
I should have woken him up that morning, but I hadn’t been thinking about how difficult it would be to find another man who could weave such a spell with his tongue.
We should have exchanged numbers.
Ugh. That was ridiculous.
I hadn’t wanted to jump into another relationship – that was outrageous.
Still, I hated when my period was late. It didn’t happen often, but when it did I found a new appreciation for clichés like ‘sweating bullets’.
My phone vibrated with another text from Alexandra saying she’d be leaving soon.
With a deep breath, I mustered some courage and called her.
“What? Are you gonna strangle me if I don’t wait for that magic red light to go on at the Krispy Kreme?”
“I was hangry that day,” I said in my defense.
She laughed. “If you say so. You never call, so what’s up?”
I sighed. “I need a favor and you have to keep your mouth shut. If you rode with Ines, you can’t let her know about this.”
“Geez, what’s with all the cloak and dagger?”
I bit my lower lip for a moment. “I need you to get me a pregnancy test.”
Other than random background noise, silence filled my ear.
“It’s only January, so this isn’t some early April Fool’s Day prank, right?”
My eyes closed, I shook my head, and I whispered, “Lex.”
“I know, it’s just… that is the last thing I expected, but I meant it, Simone. Anything you need, I’ll get it. Should be home in fifteen minutes – depends on the red light situation at the donut shop.”
Forty-five minutes later, it was the first time I didn’t want to eat Krispy Kreme.
Lex had brought home three different tests, and after reading the instructions, I used all three. Every one of them had the same result.
Positive.
Yeah, we should have exchanged numbers – Steel and I.
What the hell was I going to do?
Sunday morning I downed a yogurt with some granola, then vegged out on the sofa.
Alexandra curled up on the matching loveseat catty-corner to me. “We would have to take a road trip for this, since we live in Florida, but… you have choices, you know.”
I paused the show and tipped my head to the side to catch her gaze. “Do I, though?”
She heaved a heavy sigh. “He would never know—”
“I would know. I don’t think I can handle an abortion. I’d feel so much guilt.”
“You’re right, but you don’t know who he is.”
I gave a feeble shrug. “I haven’t tried to find him yet.”
“You said you never got his full name, just his last name. He’s not from here, and he wasn’t ever coming back. I don’t see you tracking him down. You’re going to do this all on your own? That’s scary as hell.”
I nodded. “Yeah, but at this point, it’s too soon for me to make any firm decisions. Deep down, I can’t see myself giving a child up for adoption, either.”
She nodded and we were silent for a while. Then she said, “Your whole life’s gonna change.”
I stared at the watercolor print on the wall. “Yeah, but it’ll be good… I think.”
“Your job might decide—”
“Pretty sure there are laws about that sort of thing, Lex.”
“Daycare—”
I found myself growing defensive. “You think Aunt Abby or Trixie won’t help me?”
She put her hands up in surrender. “No, no, they would all pitch in, but… they’re in Jacksonville. Where are you gonna live?”
That was a problem. I didn’t want to move in with Mom and Dad… hell, my younger brother Bobby hadn’t even moved out yet. Though he was away at college. The cost of rent was outlandish in Jacksonville – all over really, but the news had reported Jacksonville was tracking much higher than other cities.
I pressed my head back into the throw pillow. “I can’t make a decision today.”
Alexandra used a gentle tone when she spoke. “You can’t wait too long either, Mony.”
Damn, this was tough .
“One more thing since I’m playing the voice of reality.”
“Oh, boy. What now?”
She exhaled a silent chuckle. “If you used a condom, and you’re preggers… you need to get tested.”
I nodded. “Yeah, you’re right about that, too.”
This conversation drove home how Alexandra was mature for nineteen… soon to be twenty. It likely resulted from Aunt Mallory and Uncle Cal’s age when they had her. It still felt like she was my little sister, but it beat having this conversation with my mom.
I groaned.
“What?” Alexandra asked.
“I have to tell my parents. This is going to be so embarrassing.”