Chapter 11 Anna
Chapter eleven
Anna
“A
nna Banana!” Skyla shouts as I step into the fifties style diner they messaged me the details about.
Her auburn curls bounce as she rushes up to envelop me in one of her signature hugs.
I didn’t realize I needed it so badly, but I wrap my arms around my sweet friend and let the ribbons of red tickle my skin.
“I cannot wait to hear about all the fun I just know you had last night.” She pulls me through the place to meet up with our other best friends who are seated in a booth near the back of the restaurant.
The diner they chose to meet up at is super cute with teal and pink vinyl booths situated around large glass windows.
Tables with chairs padded in the same colors are strewn throughout the middle.
Black and white tiles adorn the floor in a diamond pattern, and the walls are covered in Elvis memorabilia, but also the cutest cat clock where the tail swings back and forth.
As I pass the jukebox, Jasmine and Penny stand up to greet us.
Giggles and shrieks make us a spectacle as my friends engulf me in unconditional love I didn’t realize I needed so terribly in this moment.
These girls are seriously the best friends I could ever ask for and I hate that I don’t see them more often than a few times a year.
Skyla and I met in college where we were roommates.
We immediately became besties. She is so full of life and can always put a positive spin on even the worst of situations.
She’s from the same hometown as Jasmine and Penny, who were rooming together.
When she introduced them to me, Penny was incredibly kind, but I had the strangest feeling that Jasmine absolutely hated me.
Turns out, that’s just Jaz. Her exterior comes across pretty rough, but she’s truly one of the sweetest people I know.
Penny is a good blend of Jaz and Sky. She struggles badly with anxiety, but she knows how to have a good time and let loose.
Our unexpected, but immediate friendship means the world to a girl who grew up without any true best friends.
I mean, I hung out with people and was nice to everyone, but I never had someone I always knew would be in my corner.
Thinking about the love my friends have for me brings the tears back and I begin shaking in their arms. Penny seems to be the first to notice.
“Anna, what’s wrong?”
“I’m okay,” I sob, “it’s just been a really shitty morning.”
They pull me into the booth and Skyla hands me some napkins from the dispenser so I can blot at my face.
“Who do I need to kill?” Jasmine demands.
Her dark hair is tied up in a severe ponytail, showcasing her high cheekbones and looking entirely like the badass I know she is.
Like the rest of our friend group, she’s bigger than the average woman, but Jasmine is solid muscle.
There is not a single doubt in my mind she can take down anyone whether it’s in a courtroom or otherwise.
“Before anyone goes on a murder spree, do you mind me taking your order?” An older woman who looks to be in her sixties appears at our table.
Her abundant bleach blonde curls are stacked on top of her head in a messy bun and she gazes at us with big brown eyes that tell me she’s lived a life full of stories.
After we place our orders, myself ordering a slice of chocolate pie for breakfast, because why the fuck not, Jasmine looks over at me. “Spill.”
“I hate men,” I start out.
“Naturally. But explain. Be specific,” Jasmine continues.
Not wanting to exploit my naivete just yet, I opt to keep my story about Keaton under wraps for now and begin with the issues I’m having with my boss, Daniel.
I’ve shared other things he’s said and done with them before, so at least this is familiar territory.
“That’s so fucking gross!” Penny shouts after I tell them about the messages yesterday and then the video I received this morning.
“Anna, I know you’ve told me no in the past, but we need to file a sexual harassment lawsuit.
Hell, we could even pin him with sexual assault after that time in the workroom.
” Jasmine has been relentless about me pressing charges, especially when I told them about the time in the workroom when I was pulling a granola bar out of the cabinet and he pressed his body up against mine, poking his small, hardened dick into my backside as he reached over me, seemingly for the same thing.
“Do you feel this, pretty girl?” His hot breath made me want to gag as he pressed his body further into me and whispered in my ear.
“You come into this office dressed like a little slut and this is what it does to me. Do you want me to bend you over my desk? Is that why you wore this tiny little skirt? I’d love to hike it up and make you feel so damn good.
Come to my office and let me take care of you. ”
Thankfully we heard people making their way towards us and he stepped back and walked away before his hands could travel anywhere else.
My coworkers had come in before I could adjust my face and when they asked about me, I just said I thought I was coming down with something.
It wasn’t a complete lie, because when my body came out of shock, I rushed to the bathroom where I immediately got sick.
I sank to the tiles of the floor and hugged the toilet, choking out sobs.
I had been so excited about wearing the outfit I had chosen that day.
Penny and I had gone shopping and found this adorable pleated black skirt.
I don’t typically like showing off my larger legs, but the way it hit just above my knees made me confident instead of self-conscious, so I decided to purchase it.
I had paired it with a soft pink v-neck sweater because I’m always a bit chilled in the office and threw on a pair of black kitten heels to finish the look.
As soon as I got home, that skirt I loved so much was thrown into the trash.
“I know, Jaz, I really do. And I want to, but I can’t afford to lose this job right now. Plus, he’s my dad’s best friend. It’s just going to cause more issues. I can keep ignoring him.”
Skyla leans over on my shoulder, “I love you, Anna, but it isn’t healthy to ignore this. These are serious acts he’s committing.”
“We just want you safe and happy,” Penny continues. “You are the best person ever and don’t deserve to be harassed. Do you think if you told your dad what was going on, he’d put a stop to it?”
I snort. My relationship with my father is complicated, at best. He’s never been downright mean to me, though he does like to make little digs about my weight more often than not. I do believe he loves me, but I’ve never come first, and there’s no way he would choose me over his best friend.
“Absolutely not,” I say with a shake of my head. “He and Daniel Brenner have been friends for years. There’s no way he would believe me over him.”
“But you have proof,” Penny suggests, gesturing to my phone.
“I know my dad, guys. He could watch it happen and he’d blame me for it.
I think I’m just going to start looking for other jobs.
It seems like that’s the easiest solution at this point.
” I don’t confess to my friends that I’ve already applied for one.
Something in me is scared to put it out in the world and risk losing it, even though it’s something I easily told Keaton.
Thinking of him makes a place inside my chest pinch.
I was really hoping to spend a little more time with him before seeing my friends.
My heart ran away and started dreaming up scenarios of this the older-than-me man with the sweetest smile wanting more than one night from me.
But as always, my heart was wrong. So very wrong.
“That’s not a bad idea,” Penny says, snapping me back to reality. “Maybe you can even look at doing something in photography. You’re so good at it and I know you love it so much.”
“Not sure I can afford that right now, but maybe.” It would be incredible to do something I’m actually passionate about, but I’m barely capable of paying my bills as it is, so photography will just remain a hobby for now.
Thankfully the conversation shifts to what our plans are for our time here in Vegas. No surprise it’s going to consist of a lot of pool time, casino time, and drinking. We finish up our breakfast, my delicious slice of pie long gone. As I stand to walk out, Jasmine grabs my left wrist.
“Anna, can you explain why there’s a fucking wedding ring on your finger?”