Chapter Eighteen
Taking a week off work to grieve a breakup was far from the norm.
Especially in her current, probational position.
It was a miracle she hadn’t been fired. Clearly, Rogue knew nothing of her absence.
Most people gathered their trauma and moved forward.
Keely found it especially hard to move on.
Plus, her work ethic left a lot to the imagination.
Luckily, she had friends in high places.
When she’d asked Sloane for another few days off after her faux illness, it was approved without batting an eye.
It could’ve stemmed from her close bond with her manager, but she had a feeling Jared had played a role in it.
Whatever it was, she was grateful. She stopped in at the Bowery to grab a sweatshirt from her locker in the breakroom before opening hours. It was the easiest way to slip in and out without running into anyone. Or so she thought.
“That’s an interesting style choice.” The sound of Noelle’s voice was like nails on a chalkboard to Keely’s ears. My fucking nemesis. She usually had a witty comeback. Not today.
“Fuck off, Noelle.”
Her giggle had Keely balling her fists.
“Someone is in a bad mood.”
Keely slammed her locker shut and whipped around. “I know hate is a very strong word but I really fucking hate you.”
She playfully pouted, “Aw, Keely, I feel as though there’s some underlying jealousy. Does this have something to do with Caine?”
Keely stilled, narrowing her gaze, but remained silent. There were only a few people who knew about her and Caine. And Noelle wasn’t one of them.
“I’ve noticed you’ve been popping up whenever he’s around.
Kind of pathetic, don’t you think?” Noelle smirked.
“How many times does a man have to turn you down before you actually take the hint? I guess you’re into that, huh?
Embarrassing yourself over and over in front of him.
You know” —she paused— “I used to work with Caine. Spent some time together .” Noelle wiggled her brows. “He’s got an amazing body.”
Oh, you fucking bitch!
Keely lunged toward Noelle but abruptly halted when she heard the greeting from across the room.
“Hello, ladies.”
Keely jerked her head to find Penny leaning on the doorframe.
“What are you doing here?” Noelle asked.
Penny straightened, smiling as her eyes darted between her and Noelle. “Stopped by to see Dahlia. Heard you two and figured I’d come in and see if you needed a referee.”
Noelle snorted. “I think we’re both mature enough to handle one another without fighting.” Noelle paused and eyed Keely. “Well, one of us is.”
Keely whipped her head. “Jesus Christ, why can’t you just fuck off already.”
“Noelle,” Penny said and gestured to the door.
Noelle raised her brows. “Giving me orders now, Pen? I don’t work for you.”
“No, you don’t.” Penny chuckled. “But funny you should mention work. I heard an interesting story about you.”
Keely looked over at Noelle, whose confidence quickly faded.
“Yeah, I was visiting my man. Actually, just got home.” Penny glanced over at Keely, smiling.
“He loves gossip, maybe even more than I do. Though, I never miss the opportunity to listen. That’s the thing about gossip; one person tells another person then that one tells someone else.
Nothing stays secret forever. Interesting how that works, huh? ”
What the fuck is she talking about? Penny was speaking in riddles and Keely didn’t have the headspace to follow.
Noelle didn’t say a word but started to leave. I guess you do take orders, bitch! Just as she breached the doorway, Penny called her name.
“Oh Noelle, can you do me a favor? Tell Dahlia I’m looking for her.”
Noelle darted her gaze between Penny and Keely, then nodded and walked out. What the hell did she just miss?
“What was that all about?”
Penny smiled. “I’m more interested in hearing what you two were fighting about.”
Keely scoffed, pointing to the door. “She’s a bitch.”
That should’ve been explanation enough.
“Well yeah, but there’s got to be more to it. Let’s hear it.”
“She insinuated she slept with Caine.”
“Oz’s Caine?” When she nodded, Penny laughed. “Why the hell would she say that?”
“Because I’m sleeping with him!”
Penny’s jaw dropped.
“Well, I was,” she muttered and grabbed her sweatshirt from the table, heading to the door. “I gotta go.”
Penny hooked her arm through Keely’s. “You’re coming home with me.”
Keely shook her head vigorously. “No, I just want to go to my old ass shoebox apartment, crawl in bed, and sleep.”
“That’s not happening. But I will let you snuggle on my new couch, and I’ll order takeout, your choice, and I’ll even share my wine.”
“Penny,” Keely whined, but her friend refused to let up.
Then she spoke Keely’s love language. Something she couldn’t resist.
“I have a gift for you.”
“A gift?”
“Yeah, and it’s a really good one, Keels.” Penny squeezed her arm. “So fucking good.”
Sold!
*
Keely made herself comfortable on the couch while Penny got them wine from the kitchen.
She glanced around the living room. This was a goal.
Penny’s house wasn’t huge, but it was perfect.
Her style was a bit different from Keely’s, but it worked.
And most importantly, it was all hers. Keely wasn’t sure there would ever be a time when she didn’t have to share space with a roommate.
Penny walked into the room, handed Keely a glass, then made her way to the chair opposite of the couch.
“So? Where’s my gift?” Keely asked.
Penny tucked her feet under her ass and cupped her glass of wine. “First, I want to hear about Caine.”
Keely fell back on the sofa. “Why? It’s over.”
“Tell me anyway.”
Keely took a long sip of wine. She’d need it to relay this story.
She placed the glass on the coffee table, grabbed a pillow, and cradled it against her chest. “He spent months ignoring me, couldn’t even get him to say hi back when he saw me.
Then one night I was on a date from hell.
” She sighed. “I thought I was texting my friend Caite, but it turned out it was Caine.”
“Wait.” Penny cocked her head, clearly confused. “How did you get his number?”
Oh hell, no. She was already suffering enough from embarrassment. She wasn’t telling that story.
“Penny,” Keely punched the pillow in frustration. “Do you want to hear the story or not?”
Penny’s lips twitched. “Go on.”
“So, he picked me up and offered me a ride home, but he took me to his place instead. I slept with him, and then just kind of kept sleeping with him. I really thought we were getting closer, like beyond the sex. Then a few days ago, he said he was going to be out of town. I went to the bar with my friend and saw him there with another woman.”
“He was on a date?”
“I guess, but who the fuck brings their coworkers on a date?”
Penny knitted her brows. “What do you mean?”
“Ridge and Cyrus were there. I guess that’s why Caine thought he could use the lame excuse of working. Does he think I’m stupid?”
“So he told you he was working, and Ridge and Cy were there. And a woman?”
“Yeah, and then that asshole orders me to leave the bar.”
“He made you leave?”
“Yeah, and he was an asshole about it.” Rehashing the events had her anger rising. “That woman he was with? She spilled her red wine all over my white dress. It wasn’t an accident, Pen. I know she did it on purpose!”
“Why would she do that?”
“Obviously, to get me to leave so she could have Caine all to herself. And he was all on board with it because he ordered me to leave. Asshole!”
Penny settled back in her chair, eyeing Keely. “What did the woman look like?”
Keely fisted the pillow, heat racing through her veins. “Fucking gorgeous! Gah, why couldn’t he pick an ugly chick?”
Penny pointed at her. “Give me specifics.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanna know. What did she look like? Hair color? How tall was she?”
Keely shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe five six. Ridiculous body. Long dark curly hair and not frizzy like mine. She had the really pretty curls.” She slumped in the couch.
“And Caine told you, he was working.”
“That’s what he said.” Keely mumbled.
“Interesting.” Penny hummed, taking a sip from her glass.
Keely straightened in her seat. “Wait, do you know her?”
“No.” Penny shrugged then clapped her hands. “Okay enough about Caine being an asshole. Time for your gift.”
The swift change of subject had Keely suspicious. What the hell was going on? There was definitely something Penny wasn’t sharing.
“As you know, or heard, my man shared something with me. A story. Of course he made me promise I wouldn’t tell Dahlia, Sloane, Elle, Quinn, or Charley. And I’m not allowed to say anything to Noelle.”
Noelle?
“And when I make my man a promise, I always keep it. He knows that.” Penny grinned. “But he never said I couldn’t tell you .”
Keely hiked her brows. “Yeah, but he doesn’t even know me.”
Penny waved her hand. “Technicality. So, remember when all that shit was going down with Charley, and she had her brother’s dealer harassing her?”
How could she forget?
“Yeah.”
“Well, apparently it was a little more than that. He attacked her. Twice.”
Keely gasped, dropping the pillow to her lap. “What?”
Someone attacked Charley?
“Yeah, she was walking home to her apartment, and he cornered her, roughed her up. And that time someone actually witnessed it, but they never stepped in to help Charley.”
“Who?”
“Noelle.”
Just when she thought she couldn’t hate Noelle more. Her blood raced through her veins as her anger rose.
“I’m gonna kill that fucking bitch with my bare hands.”
Penny smirked and held up her hand. “No, you’re not.”
“Penny.” Keely ground her teeth.
“Let me offer an alternative. Because if you go after her, you’re the bad guy. If you simply share information? You’re just the messenger.”
“I can’t hit her at all? Not even a slap, or maybe trip her?”
Penny laughed, shaking her head. “No, but I do appreciate your spirit. You want to hear what I have in mind?”
I’m listening.
****