Chapter Eleven
Mikayla
Soft lips, hmm. Warm, large hands move up my body. I moan as the scruff of his beard rubs against my neck.
He moves down my body, cupping my breasts, and I arch into his hands wanting more, needing more.
“Micky,” he groans before sucking my nipple into his mouth.
“Micky!” he yells.
“Micky!”
I bolt upright in bed and glare at my former best friend. That was the best dream, the same dream I’ve been having for months now! MONTHS! And she ruined it. It was just getting good!
“What?” I groan to Raquel, who is just staring at me from the doorway to the guest room.
“I made us appointments to get blowouts at six tonight and makeup at seven thirty,” she informs me.
I turn my head and see it’s eleven in the morning. I’d been up all night… until two studying.
“Why am I getting my hair and makeup done? Is there a prom I was unaware adults go to?” I say sarcastically
“No, bitch! We are going out to Club Silk.” My friend smiles at me like this is the best news ever.
“What the hell is Club Silk?” I’m afraid of the answer.
“It’s just like it sounds. They have acrobats who do tricks on silks that hang from the ceiling. Josh got us VIP passes and into the lounge!”
Josh is my replacement in Austin. I say this with all the love in my heart because I do, in fact, adore Josh. He and Raquel work together and have grown close in the last year.
When she first told me about him, I thought he was gay. I know that sounds bad, but hear me out. Raquel is gorgeous, blonde, tall and curvy. I mean, she doesn’t have my big ass, but she isn’t a stick figure. I’m straight, and I can say without any hesitation that Raquel is fucking stunning.
But Josh hasn’t put the moves on her at all. Since I got here, I’ve hung out with him almost every weekend, and not once has he hit on her, made a sexual advance, or even appeared jealous when another guy hit on her.
Once I saw his jaw tighten when a guy approached the table, but he had also just been hit on by another woman, so I couldn’t tell if he was annoyed with the girl or because Rock was getting hit on.
But he went home with another girl, which was evidence enough that he wasn’t gay.
I guess Raquel just isn’t his type, which makes no sense because she’s everyone’s type. I think my confusion is understandable.
“I don’t want to go to a weird stripper-not-a strip club.” I groan. Please don’t make me go.
Raquel glares at me with her hands on her hips. “Micky, you will go out. You have been here for two months and other than one other time, you have been a major sour patch kid.” That’s Raquel’s nice way of saying I’m a buzzkill. “You’re going out, and you’re going to kiss a boy tonight.”
I cringe. I don’t want to kiss a random guy! I hate random hookups. And besides that, all I can think of is a handsome cowboy I’m never going to see again. Not that he would date me, anyway!
The boards, that’s what I need to focus on!
But of course, she wins! Raquel is crafty.
Not only did she schedule our hair and makeup, but she also set up an appointment for me to go shopping at Maxine’s to buy a new outfit.
And she’s paying, so yeah, she wins. I’m not turning down a new dress!
I might not like going to clubs, but I’m not crazy!
I get up and shower, and once I’m dressed, Raquel gifts me with another surprise!
“What is this?” I ask my best friend as I look around her living room.
Two women sit with pedicure bowls beside the single chairs.
“You deserve to be spoiled for a change,” Raquel says. “You always take care of everyone else; today I wanted to do something for you,” she adds sweetly.
Like an idiot, my throat begins to constrict and tears well up in my eyes. Raquel walks over to me and puts her arms around me. We look ridiculous; she’s so tall next to me! But I love her so much.
“Thank you,” I whisper, not knowing what else to say.
My dad was the one in the family who always made time for me. He wasn’t a huge gift giver, but I’m also not very materialistic. Dad spoiled me with his time and attention. And I devoured it.
After he passed, and Mom started to really spiral, I made sure we had groceries; I made sure she ate; I ensured she got to bed.
I was angry with her, but I made a promise to my father that I’d try with Mom. And if I wanted to continue living in her house, I was expected to cook and clean. That was the mandate she set if I wanted to stay in my childhood home not two months after my dad died.
I never told Jack. I never told anyone. But Raquel knew.
“Micky, I need you to tell me when you’re not coming home for dinner,” my mom scolds when I walk through the front door with Raquel.
Some might think that, based on her words and tone, my mom is worried about me. Don’t be fooled by her words.
“I’m twenty-two years old, Mom,” I remind her.
“Well, I didn’t eat because of you,” she says bitterly, her hands resting on her slim hips. “It would have been nice if you would’ve at least cooked my dinner before you left!” she complains.
Heidi frowns at me and tosses her balayage hair over her shoulder before she scowls at me.
I’m not gonna lie and say my mom is ugly. She’s beautiful actually, she’s svelte and has always taken care of her body. Yes, she uses Botox, but she doesn’t overdo it. No, my mother isn’t physically ugly.
“Mom, last I checked you were completely capable of making your own dinner,” I answer back. “You also have apps on your phone that can get you food if you want it.” I raise my eyebrows at her in challenge.
“I had a long day and had planned to go out with friends. Had I known you weren’t going to cook dinner, I could have planned around it.”
My mouth hangs open. I can’t believe her. What am I, Cinderella? Seriously? “How is that my fault?”
“You have responsibilities if you want to continue living here rent-free,” my mother says.
“I’m your child,” I defend, my mouth hanging open.
Rent free? Is she serious right now?
“You’re an adult,” she says. “I expect you to clean the house and make sure my dinner is prepared every night. These are the expectations for me to continue to allow you to live here.” My mother’s eyes bore into me.
“Let’s go,” Raquel says softly, taking my hand and pulling me toward my bedroom.
Once in my room, my friend goes off!
“That was insane.” Raquel shakes out her head. I shut the door behind her. “You’re not her personal servant.” Raquel’s voice shakes with anger. She purses her lips as she paces the floor of my bedroom.
The following morning, both Raquel and I stop short when we walk into the kitchen.
“Hey,” says a blonde guy I’ve never seen before. “Are you Heidi’s sister?” he asks with a malicious grin. Oh, and did I mention he’s only in boxers?
“Who are you?” Raquel asks, her voice low.
“I’m Otto.” He eyes her up and down.
“Where is my mom?” I ask worriedly.
Otto, who couldn’t be more than five years older than me at most, smiles at me as though he wants to eat me. I step closer to Raquel, and we clasp hands.
“She’s sleeping. Daughter, huh? I’ve never done a mother and daughter before,” he says with a salacious grin as he looks me up and down.
My face heats and I feel a moment of fear before I hear my mom.
“My daughter is a prude. But I’m game for another round,” she purrs from over my shoulder.
I cringe. What the fuck? Who is this woman?
Raquel and I just stand in the kitchen in shock as Otto walks back to my parents’ bedroom. The room she had shared with my dad not two months ago!
I feel the dampness on my cheeks as Raquel holds me. And I pull my friend closer. I’m so grateful to her, having someone like her in my life. She means everything to me.
“I didn’t mean to make you cry!” she hollers when she pulls back. “Let’s get you a nice mani pedi, what do you say, doll?”
I nod and smile up at my friend through my tears.
“I got a few polish choices that I thought you might like. That way, if the polish chips, we can just reapply it ourselves,” she says, our feet in the little bowls of hot water.
These mani pedis are no joke. I practically get a full body massage over my shorts and t-shirt. I choose a light nude pink for my fingers and a hot pink for my toes.
The next surprise is lunch at my favorite taqueria. I get carne asada street tacos, and Raquel orders shrimp tacos. One of the reasons I love this restaurant is because they have a salsa bar with pickled veggies! They are spicy and delicious and amazing!
“Rock, this is insane!” I say when she pays for our lunch.
“I want you to stay. Figured a little bribery wouldn’t hurt.” She winks, giving me a grin.
“Well, I’m here at least until I take the boards,” I tell her.
“When do you plan on taking them?” she asks as we walk to her car.
“I’m thinking a month,” I say. “Is that long enough for you?” I ask. I’ve already been here for two months.
“You never need to leave as far as I’m concerned. You can always get a nursing job here and live with me,” she suggests with a toothy grin.
I’d considered it. But Austin is big and spread out. Plus, there’s no big lake or body of water nearby. I like being near the water. Always have. Even during the winter months in Seattle, I’d find myself sitting on our dock staring at Lake Washington.
And, as I predicted, Silk is a lot for me! Like a lot, a lot!
While the acrobats are amazing on the silks, it’s too sexual for me. Like it’s everywhere. The aerialists wear pasties and basically underwear. I’m not a prude, but this just isn’t my scene.
“Hey, I’m gonna head out,” I tell Raquel after I drink down my last Cosmo.
“You can’t go; you just got here,” says Felix, one of Josh’s friends.
I met Felix once before when he came over to watch movies with Josh. I think he thought I was gonna hook up with him because he kept trying to put his arm around me.
I laugh at the memory because that was never going to happen. Felix looks too much like my ex. So much so that I almost called him Cody. It was weird.
I look at Raquel and Josh and still do not understand their relationship. His arm’s around her shoulder, and she’s cuddled into him, yet… they both seem distracted by other people. I don’t get it.
“Sorry,” I say with a shrug as I put my glass down and stand. “I need to study, anyway. Thanks for getting us in, Josh.” He reaches over and gives me a hug. “Don’t let her drink too much,” I tell him.
“I got her,” Josh replies. “Text me when you get home.” He chucks me under the chin in a brotherly way, and I roll my eyes.
I give Raquel a quick hug and get the fuck out of there!