4. Chapter 4 - Regina
Chapter 4 - Regina
L ast night was a complete shit show. I have officially had enough of Jaygon Jones.
My phone died last night, so when I got home, I plugged it in to charge but didn’t bother turning it on. It only delayed the inevitable. As soon as I did turn my phone on, the messages started flooding in. Jay started with the text messages. When they went unanswered, he started calling. Deciding that I was a glutton for punishment, I listened to the first few voicemails. Each message got more and more hostile. Not wanting to subject myself to more verbal abuse, I just deleted the rest.
Being Jaygon’s arm candy for the night was one thing. Trying to pimp me out to his coworkers crossed a line. Under the guise of needing to use the ladies’ room, I slipped out a side door and hopped in a cab, making my escape.
Now that I have had my coffee and time to analyze my dating situation, I decide that I need a break from everything. Pulling my suitcase out from under my bed, I start tossing clothes inside. Work is a non-issue since I can do it anywhere as long as there is an internet connection, but I do have to change my in-person meetings to video calls.
A quick clean out of the fridge and an email to the post office to hold my mail only leaves loading the car.
Stopping to fill the gas tank, cash from the ATM, and some snacks, I am on my way. Before pulling out of the parking lot, I hit the number for my older brother. He picks up after the third ring.
“Yes, my dear sister,” Rafferty replies, sounding both sarcastic and humorous at the same time. “What can I help you with?”
“Just a courtesy call,” I start, preparing myself for the third degree. “I am taking a road trip, leaving town for a while.”
“What did he do? And where are you going?” Rafferty’s brusque tone has me cringing briefly before a smile overtakes my face. Raff knows me well.
“As to where I am going, not sure yet. As far as the first question,” I pause, knowing that Rafferty’s temper is going to get the best of him. “Before I tell you, you need to promise not to go after him.”
Rafferty is a sergeant in the police department. As soon as he finds out what Jay tried to do all hell is going to break loose. I can’t have him putting his job in jeopardy over something this petty.
“Mother…” Raff starts before cutting off the rest of that phrase. “What did the prick do, Regina?” he grinds out. The use of my full name shows how truly pissed off he is.
Resigning myself to having to tell him, I launch into the details of my evening.
“Jay had the idea to pass me around to his colleagues last night,” I say with a tired breath. “I left him there, catching a cab. He’s been blowing up my phone all morning, getting meaner with each message.”
Bracing myself for Raff’s reaction, I am surprised when he heaves a heavy breath. His tone lacks the venom I expected, but I know better than to take his restraint for apathy.
“I am going to pay him a visit. No woman should be treated that way…”
Cutting Raff off before he gets into a long-winded rant, my voice is harsh at first. “Raff!” I pause to make sure I have his attention. “I am going to call him after we hang up. He isn’t worth the hassle. He and I are D. O. N. E,” I continue, spelling out the word to emphasize my point. “Once I decide to stop somewhere, I will text you and let you know the result of our conversation. Then you can decide what happens, deal?” My voice turns sticky-sweet at the end, knowing how it trips Rafferty’s soft spot for me.
It takes him a moment to respond, no doubt weighing his options on whether to ignore me or not.
“Fine! Not that you are giving me many options. Jaygoff gets a reprieve, for now,” Rafferty finally agrees, buying me a little bit of time to handle this myself.
Chuckling at his play on Jaygon’s name, our conversation turns to other things. We speak a little more before ending the call.
Before my fingers move to call Emmalee, my best friend, Jay’s name flashes on the caller ID.
Rolling my eyes, wanting to get this conversation over with, I accept the call. Jay doesn’t give me a chance to say hello before he starts ranting at me.
“What the fuck, Regina? You just take off, leaving me holding my dick. I looked like a total asshole in front of all my coworkers when you bailed on me. Why did you leave?”
When Jay finally stops to take a breath, my voice is laced with venom.
“Jay, we are over,” I say with a slight wobble in my voice. Pushing back the anger, I continue. “You paid me the biggest insult last night when you started acting like you were my pimp.” I take a breath and deliver the final blow, “You will forget I exist and lose my phone number.”
My hands are shaking in anger, but somehow, I manage to keep my voice even.
“You have always acted better than everyone else, Regina. I will not be humiliated list this, you frigid bitch!”
Jaygon is screaming at me now. Refusing to stoop to his level, my finger hits the button, ending the call. I make a mental note to block him later, knowing he won’t let this go. Jaygon won’t take my rejection lightly, which is part of the reason I am leaving town for a while.
Stopping at a red light, I shake my hands out, wiping them down my pants leg to dry them off. Twisting my neck quickly to the left and right, it cracks loudly.
Pushing thoughts of Jaygon from my mind, Emmalee is my next call. As soon as she answers, a big smile crosses my face.
“What up, bitch?” Her snarky yet cheerful tone brings a smile to my face, chasing away the ill feelings left behind from my conversation with Jaygon.
“Oh, you know…dealing with asshole men who think they own you. How about you?” My words have a bit of an edge to them that Emmalee picks up on immediately.
“Hold the fuck on,” she orders. “What?” The single-word exclamation lets me know how pissed off she is on my behalf.
Once again, for her benefit, I run through the details of last night. By the time my story ends, Emma is ready to castrate Jay.
“Where are you running to now, then?” she asks with laughter in her voice, despite her irritation at my ex-boyfriend just a moment earlier.
“Don’t act like you know me.” My tone is light despite my anxiety.
Emmalee and I have been friends since junior high. Both she and my brother know me too well. When life gets too serious, I run.
“There is no destination in mind,” I say flatly, causing her to chuckle.
“All right,” she says with a sigh. “Let me know if you need to talk. Make sure you text me every once in a while so I know you haven’t gone over a cliff or something.” She says the last part with a giggle.
“Yeah, once I get to a hotel tonight, I get to let Rafferty off his leash It will make him happy. He was not the president of Jaygon’s fan club,” I tell her as if she wasn’t vying for that spot.
“That would be fun to watch,” she says, enjoying this too much.
“Yeah…all right, I am going to pay attention to the road. I will call you in a day or two to check in. Love you, babe,” I tell her, meaning every word.
“Love you too, G. We’ll chat soon. Be careful,” she says before hanging up.
Starting a new audiobook, my thoughts get lost on the open road.