Chapter 18 #3
They both reply immediately, and I smile as I appreciate the two most beautiful friends any girl could wish for.
I remind myself to ask them about their stuff tonight.
I have been so self-absorbed lately I wouldn’t have a clue what’s going on with them or Jeremy or army guy.
It seems every time we talk lately, I’m rambling on about myself and my problems. I’m a bad friend.
I didn’t even talk to Bridge at Mum’s the other night.
I was too busy fighting with Mole Patrol to even notice poor Didge.
I make a pact to myself to not turn into one of those bitches that only needs friends when she’s single.
I hate those girls. I’ve had them as friends before.
They get a new boyfriend and, poof, you never see them again—they drop off the face of the earth.
I know I need my friends. They keep me sane and make me laugh. Mostly at myself.
As soon as I get home, I download the song ‘Dark Horse’ and send it through as a message to Josh’s phone.
I smile when I imagine him opening it. I frown as the thought that he might open it in front of someone crosses my mind—how embarrassing.
Surely, he wouldn’t be that stupid? It seems all this sexing up definitely wears a girl out and I shower and flop into bed for a well-deserved nana nap.
No doubt the frigging nymphomaniac will hit me full throttle again tonight… not that I’m complaining.
I awake with the sound of the keys in the door and smile that my beautiful man has surprised me with an early visit home.
I amble into the lounge room in my undies and tank top.
To my horror the face I’m looking at is Bruce Willis, my new bodyguard.
What the fuck. I scream and run back into my bedroom to cover up.
“Sorry, Natasha,” he calls out. “The delivery guy couldn’t get you and I was getting worried.”
I chuck on some clothes and return to the lounge, fuming mad. “Why do you have a key to my apartment?” I demand. He nods and moves to the side to allow a delivery man with a huge bouquet of red roses to step out from behind him. Oh shit, I’m a total bitch. I rub my forehead in frustration.
The delivery guy speaks. “Natasha?” I smile and nod.
“Can you sign here?” He pulls out a delivery docket and pen.
I sign and he passes over the biggest bunch of red roses I have ever seen and then disappears back out the door to retrieve something else.
I sheepishly look at Bruce, embarrassed by my rude outburst. I am not going to get used to this invasion of privacy—it’s doing my head in.
The delivery guy returns with a big black gift box with a beautiful satin cream bow.
I smile as I take it and put it onto the table.
“Thank you.” I smile, and he disappears down the stairwell. “Can you tell me your name please?” I whisper to the bodyguard.
“Max.” He smiles. “Sorry about barging in, I thought you might be in trouble.”
I frown, is this a joke? “What trouble could I possibly get into in my apartment, Max? I was having a sleep.” He nods, also feeling a little embarrassed. “Max, I don’t need a bodyguard. Josh has officially lost his marbles.”
He smiles and steps back. “Excuse me for talking out of line here, ma’am, but I have been guarding Mr. Stanton for four years and if you are close to him, you are in danger, and you do need protection.”
“Danger, what kind of danger?” I frown.
He shrugs as he walks toward the door. “Speak to Joshua, Natasha. I can’t elaborate.
” I frown as I close the door behind him.
How very odd. Talk about dramatics. I turn to the table and pick up my roses—they are beautiful with the biggest buds I have ever seen.
And the perfume…I inhale deeply. They smell divine.
I put them back on the table to remove the card written in Joshua’s handwriting.
Yes, I want to play with magic X
I jump up and down on the spot like a five-year-old.
This is the first time in my life that I have received flowers from someone that I actually love.
He wants to play with magic. He must have liked the song that I sent him.
I clap my hands together in glee while feeling very proud of myself.
He sent me roses. I feel like I am sixteen again, actually no, I don’t.
I feel like I’m seventeen since that was the last time Joshua made me feel like this.
I turn my attention to the gift box. For some reason I feel nervous about opening it.
He has never bought me anything before…it feels weird.
I slowly undo the ribbon and inside is thick cream tissue paper.
I slowly unwrap the contents. My heart stops.
Inside is the most beautiful black satin corset, suspender belt, stockings and the briefest satin and lace underpants.
They are stunning with a cream satin ribbon entwined through the lace around the top and bottom of the corset.
Tiny cream ribbon bows are around the tops of the sheer thigh-high stockings and up the boning in the corset.
My eyes drop back to the box and I pull out a gorgeous black evening dress that does up at the front with a trail of intricate black ribbon bows.
He’s dropped a pretty penny on these babies.
I swallow a lump in my throat. OK, so he wants to play with magic, and I think I am supposed to wear these.
A sudden thought sends panic through me.
Shit. I grab my keys and run out the door.
I had better get myself to that Beautiful Behinds salon like now.
And I don’t give a flying fuck if Max is following.
5 p.m.
I am at Oscar’s waiting for the girls. I’m excited to see them. I have news and it’s good news. Bridget and Abbie arrive fifteen minutes late and walk over to our low sunken leather lounge deep in conversation.
“So, then what did you say?” Abbie hunches her shoulders.
“Hi, what’s going on?” I ask. Abbie flops into the lounge, blows out a breath, throws her head back and closes her eyes.
“What’s going on?” I wince.
“Tristan wants to be exclusive.”
“Huh, who’s Tristan?” I frown.
Abbie points at me. “Exactly,” she snaps.
Bridget does wide eyes at me. “Army guy,” she snaps.
“Oh, of course.” I frown. I probably should have known that. “What happened?”
Abbie pulls a sad face at me. “He said he wants to be exclusive or he can’t see me anymore.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “And?”
She throws her arms in the air. “You know I can’t do that.”
Bridget and I frown at each other.
“OK,” I whisper.
“Why in the hell not? You can’t fuck around for the rest of your life,” Bridget snaps.
Abbie scowls at Bridget. “Watch me.” We all fall silent as the waitress comes over and takes our order.
“Change the bloody subject. I’m not discussing this.”
Bridget rolls her eyes at me and I nod.
“So, what’s happening with Mr. Stanton?” Abbie smiles.
I lean back onto the lounge and swoon. “He’s amazing.”
Abbie pulls a disgusted face at Bridget. “He’s not that amazing—he slept with TC.” I shiver at the mention of her name. “What did he say about that?”
“He ’fessed up that he slept with her.”
“Fuck off,” Bridget snaps.
I nod, “I know, gross huh.”
Abbie fake-punches her hand. “I swear I am going to take that bitch down. First James, now Joshua. Who’s next? Jeremy?” We all nod and agree at the disgusting turn of events.
“What did he say? Oh shit, that’s right, what did he say about his frigging mother?” Bridget puts her hands up to her cheeks.
“Nothing. He told her we are back on.”
“Holy shit,” Abbie whispers, wide eyed.
“We’ve decided we are going to try to make a go of it.” They both smile beaming smiles at me, which I can’t help returning. “He sent me roses and lingerie today and said I will be picked up at eight by my bodyguard.”
They both frown at me. “Fuck off,” Abbie snaps. “You have a fucking bodyguard now?”
I frown and nod. “Apparently, I need one.”
“This is James Bond shit and, trust me, you are no Bond girl.”
I laugh. “You’ve got that right.”
A little girl walks up to us while her mother orders.
“Hello.” Abbie smiles.
The little girl glares at us and walks off. Abbie hunches her shoulders and laughs.
“Getting clucky, Abbie?” I ask.
“God no,” she winces. “I don’t cluck, I fuck.” We all burst out laughing.
“What about you, Bridge? How’s Jeremy?”
She smiles and fake bats her eyelashes. “Perfect.”
Abbie does cross eyes and lurches to simulate throwing up. Hmm, I nod. How do you go from thinking a guy is cheating to being totally in love in the space of three weeks?
Bridget grabs my arm. “Oh shit, I forgot. What did Josh say about Ivy?”
I frown. “Who’s Ivy?”
Bridget rolls her eyes. “The frigging vet.”
I pull a disgusted face. “You mean Amelie.”
She nods. “Yeah, that’s her.”
I shrug my shoulders. “I didn’t ask him.”
“Why in the hell not?”
I blow out a breath. “At that point of our massive argument I was more worried about TC.”
“Oh shit, what did he say about her?” Abbie is seated on the front of the chair with bated breath waiting for my answer.
“I’m actually embarrassed to tell you.” I wince as I imagine their reaction. Too bad I’m not lying to cover his sleazy ass. “She’s an escort that he had sex with.”
“Fuck off!” Bridget snaps. Abbie’s eyes are the size of the saucers. “No way.”
“Unfortunately, yes.” The girls both sit in silence with frowns on their face. I sip my coffee, acting totally unaffected that my boyfriend uses escorts
“And you’re OK with this?”
I hunch my shoulders.
“Seriously, you need to change your job. You are so desensitized to this shit, it’s frigging scary.”
Is that true? I smile to myself—of course it is. Every second male I see is a sex addict who frequents escorts In fact, I think they do a great service to the community.
“As long as he is loyal to me now is what matters in this early stage of our relationship.”
Abbie rolls her eyes. “Who are you convincing—us or yourself?”