2. Cecilia
Chapter two
Cecilia
A s I’m slowly getting out of my car, a beater that I’ve had since high school, I take a deep breath and try to push my nerves back. This is my first job interview and I really need this one to go well. After moving out of my parent’s house, I went straight to living in the dorm at college. When I became pregnant, my parents disowned me, leaving me with few choices. Man, was I na?ve. I believed him when he told me he would take care of us. He promised I would never want for anything. Moving into his house was when everything changed, and I started to see the shackles.
At first, everything was wonderful. The whole relationship felt as if it was a fairytale. An older man, ten years older, that tended to my every need and want. As time went on, I noticed the way he demanded my attention more and more. Slowly, I became more isolated from others. He’d tell me which friends I could hang out with. Every time I mentioned getting a job, he would find a way to block it, only giving me a small allowance every week. If I needed more, I would have to ask his permission. I hated this. It always led to us fighting.
My fingertips skim my lips where I could still feel the ghost of his hand smacking me across my face. The first time he hit me for not listening, he busted my lip.
Michael was the sheriff in our small Texas town. Everyone thought he could do no wrong, so I had no one to turn to. No one was going to challenge him. I could’ve gone to my brother Bennett, or as some know him, Bear, but I didn’t want Michael’s attention to turn toward him and the Wild Hellions, the motorcycle club Bennett was involved with. A shiver runs down my back, the self-doubt rising as if it would consume me.
“You can do this. You need this job. Do it for Oliver.” I give myself a much-needed pep talk. “Who cares what Michael has said? He’s wrong. He’s wrong about everything. Remember, you’re amazing and a good person. Any job would be lucky to have you.”
With that small boost reminding me why I’m here and what’s important, I wrap my hand around the handle of Gary’s Place, pull it open, and force myself to take the first few steps toward the future.
Once my eyes adjust to the darkness of the room, I’m finally able to make out the bar. It’s like transporting yourself to a whole different time, though it seems to fit perfectly in this town. The walls of the bar are lined with dark wood paneling. A huge bar is the centerpiece of the room. It looks antique, but exquisite.
Looking deeper into the bar, I spy pool tables in the back left and an old-fashioned jukebox sitting against the wall, lighting up a small section. As my gaze returns to the center bar, I spot a small stage. Stools and tables of different heights litter the room.
“This is perfect,” I whisper to myself as a smile graces my lips.
“What’s perfect?” A deep voice from my left rings out, causing me to jump.
I turn toward the voice with my hand on my chest, my heart pounding against it. “Shit. You scared me.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m Ricky. I’m the manager of the bar. Can I help you?”
Still trying to recover, I breathlessly look Ricky up and down. He’s lean with brown hair that’s been pulled back into a man bun. He’s cute but nothing like the man from this morning. And yes, I exaggerated a little this morning when I told him I had already had an interview. I’m just really hoping that this goes my way. “My neighbor said you were looking for a cocktail server. I wanted to apply for the job.”
He says nothing. He looks me up and down as if he is assessing me, not in a sexual way, but I still squirm under his scrutiny, forcing myself to keep my hands by my side. I keep my eyes on him, not wanting to show him any weakness. That was one thing that Michael taught me, whether he knew it was to never show weakness in front of a man because they will use it against you. When his eyes come back up and meet mine, I plaster on the biggest smile I can give. He nods, as if deciding something. “Do you have any experience?”
I shake my head. “No. But I’m a fast learner.”
He shrugs. “Okay. I don’t have many options right now. We’ll do this on a trial basis. I’ll give you two weeks to see if this’ll work out. Can you start tonight?”
I let out a breath. Ms. Scottensburg said she could help with Oliver at night. I hope she can start right away. “Yes, I can start tonight.”
“Great. I’ll see you at eight. Crowd usually picks up around nine.”
I clap my hands together, smiling. “Thank you so much. I promise I will not disappoint.”
Bouncing on the balls of my feet, I turn and quickly make it back to my car, not trying to hide the excitement running through me. For the first time since Oliver was born, it actually feels like things are starting to fall into place.
Driving home, my thoughts run back to the sexy man I met this morning when I went to inquire about the classes at the gym. Mateo. The sound of his deep timber sent goosebumps down my back and left my nipples pebbled. I imagine what his beard might feel like in between my thighs. How the scruffiness would leave red marks along my skin as he slowly kissed up my leg. Would he suck on my clit right away, or would he tease me by flicking it a few times before plunging his tongue into my channel? I rub my legs together, seeking friction as I try to relieve the ache between them.
Beep. A horn sound behind me jolts me out of my daydream and I drive my car forward through the stoplight. Fuck, it’s been a long time since I’ve felt any type of attraction. Not since I met Michael and I’m not even sure I was really that attracted to him. Now, looking back, I think I was attracted more to the power he seemed to hold and how sophisticated he appeared. My hands tighten around the wheel as I push out a breath. Now is not the time to think about that bastard.
You’ve moved on and now it’s time to look toward the future.
As soon as I park the car, I hurry to my apartment. Grinning as the excitement of today fills me, I can’t wait to see the one person who makes it all worth it. It’s the first time in my life that I’m living on my own terms. I open the door to my apartment, and I hear the best sound ever, “Mommy.”
Our apartment is empty of material things, but I hope my son can feel that it’s full of love. Sitting in the center of the living room, there’s only a used couch I’d found at a local Goodwill. My neighbor and babysitter, Ms. Scottensburg, is sitting there with a delightful smile as she watches Oliver move from her to me. Turning toward my chubby sandy blonde-haired boy teetering over to me. I squat down in front of him, holding my arms out while he flings himself into them. I wrap my arms around him. “Hi, my baby boy. I missed you.”
I kiss his chubby cheek and come away with a bit of stickiness. “Did you just have a snack, buddy?”
“Mmm…yummy. Berries.”
Ms. Scottensburg stands up from the couch after watching our greeting. “Dear, were you able to get the job at Gary’s Place?”
I stand up too, smoothing my hands down my pants. “Yes. Ricky could give me a two-week trial and then we’ll go on from there.”
“That’s great, dear.” My retired neighbor smiles at me.
I don’t know why I’m so nervous about asking her if she could watch Oliver while I go to the self-defense class at the gym. She has only been kind to me, offering to help on the first day I moved into this apartment two weeks ago. I know she won’t have any problem helping me, but for some reason the guilt of leaning on her is strangling. Tears well in my eyes. She must see it because her eyes soften.
Thankfully, she changes the subject. “When do you start?”
“He wants me to start tonight at eight.” I chew my bottom lip, nervous about the last-minute need for her services.
“That’s great, Cecilia. I’ll be here at seven thirty to watch Oliver. Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”
I clear my throat. It’s now or never. “Do you think you could also watch Oliver at four for about an hour so I can do a self-defense class?”
Ms. Scottensburg knows about my past. The reason we left and ran to Rose Valley. It’s something that we found in common. When she was younger, she also had to leave a terrible relationship and wound up in Rose Valley. If anyone understood, it was her. “Of course. I think that’s a great idea. Just bring him over on your way to the gym.”
“Thank you.”
“Not a problem, I’m happy to help. I’m going to let you spend some quality time with this wonderful young man,” she declares as she gracefully makes her way around me and out of the apartment.
Sighing, I plop myself down on the couch. It feels as if some of the weight that’s been resting on my shoulders has been lifted. I just need to keep myself and Oliver hidden. Smiling to myself, I think this small town will be the best blessing.