10. Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten
Lola
A nd done!
My outfit is perfect, my hair looks great, and my makeup is subtle but enough to make me feel comfortable and confident.
Now I just have to wait... three more hours before I can leave for my first day of work.
Oh, man.
I can’t even blame the nerves. I mean, they are there, don’t get me wrong. New job jitters are the worst. But this time? I have this ridiculous amount of excitement buzzing around inside of me.
I have a job. A fucking job! And it will leave me surrounded by books all day long.
“Sugar, if you keep shaking like that, Beckett’s Aunt is going to make you take a drug test. Good grief. My grandma had a dog that used to shake around like that. Poor thing died of a heart attack.” I stick my tongue out at Marina, and she laughs.
“Always such a lovely compliment when someone compares you to an eighty-year-old chihuahua. Thanks for that. By the way, love the mustache you’re rocking.”
Marina glares at me as she stomps off to the bathroom. No doubt to look for evidence of said mustache. She won’t find any, but damn, it is fun to poke her sometimes.
“The dog was only fifteen, not eighty. I don’t even think dogs live that long. And you have been awfully sassy since your date with Beckett. You know, the one you still haven’t spilled your guts about.” Marina’s voice carries from the hall bathroom.
Thankfully, the wall prevents her from seeing me cringe. It’s not that I don’t want to excitedly squeal over the events of my date, but it’s just... well... Beckett is her best friend just as much as I am. It’s a little... awkward. Or maybe I am just making it awkward? I don’t know. But I do know that my time to avoid it has officially run out. The last thing I want to do is hurt Marina by continuing to evade the topic.
“It was nice.” There. Quick, concise, and easy.
I hear the stomping of Marina’s heels back to the living room only seconds before I see her scowling face. She throws her arms up in the air as she practically screeches. “Nice?! What do you mean nice ? What did he do? Was he an asshole? Do I need to beat him up?”
I subtly glance around, trying to scope out an exit, but I’m not that lucky. Clearly, nice was not the correct adjective to use here. “I just meant it was fine.” She makes a scrunchy face, and I start panicking. “It was fun. Great. Really. Beckett was great.”
Marina cocks a hip and plants her hand on it. Giving me the same look my mother used to when I had put my foot in my mouth. I plop down on the sofa with a sigh. “I just don’t want to make anything weird.”
“Why in the hell would it make things weird? Lola, you are both my friend, and I want both of you to be happy. But you are my girl. I want to hear all the details. Just maybe when we get to the spicy stuff, I will picture him as Johnny Depp instead of Beckett. M’kay?” Marina sits down beside me and takes my hand, and I chuckle a little. This girl has had a thing for Johnny ever since that movie about the chocolates came out.
“Alright. As long as you promise.”
“Oh, sugar, I promise. Now spill those guts!” I laugh harder before I give her a quick run down. By the end, Marina is grinning like a damn fool and fanning herself. But she still doesn’t say a word.
“Well? What the hell do I do with all that?”
She smiles at me for far too long before she finally answers. “Well, sugar, the fact that you are even questioning what to do ‘with all that’ speaks volumes in itself. You do... whatever the hell you want! You have been through the wringer, and that battle isn’t completely over yet.” Marina coughs, and I hear a faint fucking twat piece of shit under her breath.
“Do whatever the hell I want. Well, that’s a tough one. I want to do Bec--er... JD, but I don’t know if I am really a love ‘em and leave ‘em type.” She pats my hand before standing up and heading towards the kitchen.
“Oh, sugar, you aren’t. No matter what you want to tell yourself. I think you are actually falling for this one. Just take a deep breath and enjoy the ride. You deserve it.” She disappears into the kitchen as my phone chimes. Time to head to work.
I stand up and snag my purse, feeling almost lighter after the chat with Marina.
Enjoy the ride. I can do that.
And you know what?
She’s right. After dealing with that Cuntyfucknuggetdickwad, I do deserve it.
Maybe the year of me means letting myself be open to anything.
If that happens to be a uniquely timed epic romance with a sexy nerd, then fuck yes!
“Thank you so much for shopping at the Book Nook. Happy reading!” I handed the sweet older man the cute little paper bag filled with three new books. He was shopping for his wife, who is recovering from surgery, and said she wanted some spicier books. I set him up with two of the more common authors and then one by my beloved Becky.
I am still unsure if Becky is truly an odd woman who loves her anonymity or if she is a facade for the sexy man I spotted walking in the door just now, but neither would impact me recommending her work every time I can.
Today has been a whirlwind. I fell into a nice groove at the store, and the past six hours went by so fast that I didn’t even notice.
This place just... fits. I was meant to work here. If that means I have to live with my best friend for a while longer since the pay and hours don’t quite equate to having my own place yet, I can be ok with that. Marina won’t say anything, but I know for a fact she hated living alone in that house.
She built it for her family, and she owes no mortgage or anything. It’s 100% paid for. She is just missing the husband and kids she desires to go along with it. So until one or both of those come along, I am comfortable being there with her.
Not to mention the support she gives me on the rough nights I have been having as of late; the nightmares are getting worse. Probably due to the letter I got from his lawyer yesterday morning with the court date.
Don’t get me wrong, I am beyond ready to be done with... all of this. But facing him again after months of feeling safe is terrifying. My mother has already declared she is going with me. Marina wanted to as well, but I talked her out of it. I don’t want a bunch of people coming with me and making him feel like this is an attack. If I do, he’ll put up more of a fight. That is the last thing I want. I want nothing from him except my freedom.
I want to be able to move on and forward with my life.
And Beckett.
Wherever that may lead.
However, I find myself thinking deeply about the man who has been the core of my recent desires.
Just what is it that makes him tick? What does he do?
I mean, I know that he writes articles for the newspaper, but that wouldn’t pay his bills. And he wears nice clothes, which would mean he is making more money elsewhere.
I just feel like Beckett Langford is an onion. I need to peel those layers back more.
What will I find Beckett?