Twelve
PEARL
I get up off the bed and take a shower. In ten minutes, Colton and I are going to my parent's house to talk to them about our relationship. To tell them we’re in love. I’m so excited. I have jitters in my stomach as the water runs down my body.
I think about the moments we’ve had together.
The dinner at my parent’s house when I sat there thinking about how I work as a phone sex operator and Colton is one of my customers.
I think about my fears from before. That he liked Minx more than me.
I know now he loved me, but the thought about this character I created and how Colton liked to talk to her on the phone bothers me.
I don't know if Colton knows it's really me.
I have to know. Before we make things official with my parents, I need to know.
I step out of the shower and dry off. When I walk out of the bathroom, I see my clothes on the bed. I reach out and grab them, and put them on. I look around Colton's bedroom and take it in.
It’s a square room with white walls and a beige bed.
There are shelves lining the entire room with books on them.
The floor is brownish wood like the rest of the house.
I walk out of his bedroom and down the hall to the living room.
It's gleaming and brown. The whole place is pretty much wood, and his living room has a lot of dark furniture and a fireplace.
A window looking out into the grass backyard is at the back of the living room. It's a beautiful house.
I walk into the kitchen, and it's more of the same brown, dark wood, and there’s gray and white kitchen furniture and a black oven.
Colton sits at the counter with a coffee in one hand and his phone in another.
I walk up behind him and place my arms around him.
I can feel his heat through his shirt and the ripples of muscles on his back.
“Hi,” I murmur behind him.
“Hi, baby,” he replies, puts down his phone and his coffee cup, and turns around. “You really tired me out,” he smiles, and I smile back. I sure did. We had sex two more times before falling asleep. It was now six pm, and we’re heading to my parent's house soon.
“Colton, I need to tell you something,” I tell him.
Concern covers his face, and he puts his finger under my chin so I look into his eyes.
“You can tell me anything, Pearl. I love you.” He gives me a kiss and then pats the chair next to him. I take a seat and a breath.
“It's about my job,” I say.
“Oh,” he says. Nothing else. So I keep talking.
“I have a very high-paying job, but not a job with a great reputation,” I continue, “I work as a sex phone operator for a place called the Red—”
“Velvet,” he finishes.
I gasp. “You know!” I yell out.
“Yes. I would know your voice anywhere,” he says calmly. As if he isn’t admitting to knowing this whole time.
I get up from the chair. Anger threatens to take me over. He knew! And he let me think his feelings were about me.
“You knew, and you didn't tell me. Do you like Minx better? Is that why you’re sleeping with me?” I yell and start to pace.
“Like Minx? No baby, I love you,” he says and tries to hug me, but I walk away.
I can't help it and start to cry. I’ve loved Colton forever, and now I think he doesn't love me. Colton hugs me tightly, and I fight him. I thrash in his arms.
“Get off of me! Let me go!” I scream.
“No. You’re mine, and I’ll never let you go,” he says in my ear.
I whine and have a fit like a child, and Colton holds me until I calm down.
I find myself sitting on the floor in Colton’s lap. He’s petting my hair and rocking me back and forth.
“I meant what I said, Pearl,” he says.
I look up at him. Sincerity is all I see. And love. He really loves me.
“You really liked talking to Minx, though. I could tell,” I mumble while playing with his shirt.
“I think I knew deep down it was you,” he says, kissing the top of my head. I close my eyes, savoring the feeling.
I sit there, loving the feeling of comfort washing through me.
Colton rubs my back, and I look up at him.
“You love me,” I say. Not really phrasing it as a question, but needing reassurance.
“Yes, Pearl. I love you,” he says, gives me a kiss, and it's all the reassurance I need.
With that, he gets up and finds a tissue to wipe my eyes
“I guess it's time to face the music. Off to your parent's house?” he asks.
“Yes,” I say, and together we shut off all the lights in the house and walk out the door to Colton's car.
He tells me he’ll pick up my bike and drive it to my parent's house later. The sky is almost pitch black, and the stars have come out. While sitting in the car, I pray that everything will be fine—that my parents won't freak out and won’t contest my relationship with Colton.