Thirty
Rory
The ride to Joey’s pub was without issue, and Babs was waiting for me with a plate of greasy chili cheese fries and a strawberry milkshake. The combination made my stomach hurt just looking at it. Babs stabbed a forkful of fries and looked at me, her brows furrowing as I got closer.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I quipped.
“The bestie senses are tingling. What happened?”
I scrunched my nose. “My body threw a tantrum and now I want carbs.”
She narrowed her eyes on me, evaluating me. “Bitch, what the fuck? I’ve seen you triggered. This looks different.”
My intuitive bestie could read me like a medical book. I exhaled heavily. “I got weird texts and they called me princess.”
“Who?”
I shrugged, grabbing the order of regular fries and the chocolate milkshake Babs ordered for me. “I don’t know. I blocked the number after almost having a panic attack.”
“Do you need anything?”
I dipped a perfectly salted fry into the milkshake before popping it into my mouth and smiled. “Just bestie time.”
“Great. Because I needed this, too.” She shoveled her forkful of fries and chili into her mouth, dripping chili onto the table and her shirt. “Sorry, your nibling is craving grease.”
I laughed, handing her a napkin. “Pregnancy cravings are already kicking your ass, I see.”
“I am an endless pit, and then I throw it all up. I’m either hungry or I’m nauseous. I need this kid to decide.”
“I’d say I wish I could help, but no thank you.”
She scoffed playfully. “You don’t want to be pregnancy buddies?”
Absolutely not. Kids were not in my future unless they were adopted, and I was not in the proper headspace to think about that.
Sometimes I wondered about fostering kids, but at the same time, I was scared that my own trauma would peek through and harm the child in some form.
Not physically, but emotionally. Or maybe I was projecting.
“I love you, but no. The maternal gene flew the coop in Nevada. I am ready to be the gay auntie and spoil them silly, though. So, did you talk to the dads?”
She sighed, drinking her milkshake. “They left campus before I made it back after getting the approval to finish the course at home. I can’t find them on social media.
I wasn’t smart enough to get their number after I let them knock me up.
Now I don’t know where any of them live other than Crestview, and I am not going there alone. ”
“My girlfriend lives there, so I’ll go with you.”
She blinked at me, pointing her plastic fork my way. “Bitch. Take a step back. Your what?”
“It’s not official or anything, but yeah. We both felt a connection when I went there the other day, so we decided to see what happens.”
“Oh, I’m loving this development. Tell me more.” Babs sunk another forkful into her mouth.
“We’re unofficially dating. She said she would do something special for me when she asks me to be her girlfriend. Babs, I like her, and it feels like I am on cloud nine.”
She fanned herself. “I love her already. She better treat my best girl right. Do you have a picture with her?” I nodded, pulling up the selfie we took on the beach. “Wow, she’s gorgeous. Damn girl. I take it none of the Vipers know?”
“Nope, and I plan on keeping it that way for a while. I don’t know how Cin will react.”
“Well, I want all the details. You deserve happiness, and I like that look in your eyes.”
I smiled, glancing back down at the photo. “Yeah.” I just wished I could have everyone I wanted.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched.
After I left Joey’s pub, I went to my shop to do inventory and work on sketches.
I wasn’t paranoid all the time, but there was something…
off. Maybe I was still shaken because of the text messages I received.
I hit play on my app and Motionless in White blasted through my speakers.
Sketching was something that helped me, too, when I couldn’t have sex or joy ride. And as much as I wanted to visit Hades, I had to get these designs ready for my next couple appointments. If I didn’t get ahead, I would ruin my routine.
UNKNOWN
Pink is a beautiful color, but I like red on you.
I remember how your skin looked with red. I always thought you were beautiful.
There was an alert on my Ring as I walked to the front of my shop.
No one was there, but there was a bouquet of blood-red roses wrapped in pretty pink paper.
I wasn’t playing this bullshit tonight. There was a note sticking out of the top, and with hesitance, I reached for it.
If someone wanted to kill me, they had a perfect kill shot.
I’ll be seeing you soon, princess
My breath hitched. I hated how much power one word had over me.
It was a written word, not spoken, but it made my skin crawl and my mind pulled me back.
I crumbled the note, my hand trembling slightly before grabbing the flowers and throwing them into the dumpster.
I went back inside and locked my doors, setting the alarm.
Normally things didn’t rattle me like this, but this was the second time someone left me flowers, but the messages were what concerned me the most. I blocked the number this morning. Did they download an app?
I needed to breathe. I knew Vesper wasn’t available, and I didn’t want to bug Cinder.
She would have a conniption if she knew about this.
She would search high and low until she found someone to blame for scaring me.
I didn’t know who it was, but I needed to make up an excuse so they wouldn’t send the cavalry and go on a wild goose chase.
ME
Can you come to the shop?
Was it bad that I knew she would answer immediately? She tried her best to hide everything, but I could see her emotions clear as day.
WIDOW
Is everything okay?
ME
Yeah. There were people around the shop and I didn't want to go home alone.
WIDOW
I’ll be there in ten. Do you want Cinder to come, too?
ME
No, just you, please. I don’t want her to worry, It’s probably nothing.
I wanted to believe it was nothing, but I was rattled. There was fear racing through my nervous system more than normal and I was scared. I hated to admit it, but I didn’t want to leave here alone.