7. Alexandra #2
“They’ll be here in two minutes.” James tucks his thumbs into his pockets like he has all the time in the world to help random females move couches.
“Who’s ‘they’?” I grimace at how bitchy that sounded. Taylor left a mark and it’s still bleeding internally, I guess. “Sorry, thank you. I’m just having a week.”
He smiles, and the way the gold flakes in his eyes are glinting in the late afternoon sun is not helping my insides at the moment. It’s like whiplash knowing I just got cheated on, but my insides are smitten with the idea of someone new.
“Don’t worry about it. My cousins are close by and willing to help. The guys you met at the club the other night.” He shrugs like it isn’t a big deal, but it definitely feels like a big deal.
“Ah, yes. I remember them.” I just hope they aren’t grumpy about helping me today, since they didn’t seem very happy during that meeting.
Just as Ash is about to jump in and ask him a million questions about God knows what, another black SUV pulls up to the curb next to my new couch wrapped in plastic.
I keep trying to sneak glances at James, but every time I look over, we make eye contact, and I quickly look away. He’s not making this easy on me.
“Your knights are here, my ladies. We take payment in beer and lap dances,” Ryder says, his lips pulling into a smile as he runs his fingers through already disheveled blonde hair.
The slightly taller dark-haired cousin, Alester, throws his elbow into Ryder’s stomach making him cough.
“I’m just kidding of course. Don’t mind him…
we don’t. Nice couch, where do you need it? ”
I rub my temples, but before I can answer, Ashlyn is stepping closer to Ryder.
“First, what are your names? You know, in case you all are actually insane and I need to file a report later? Second, lap dances can be negotiated after a job well done.” She’s down-right purring as she rakes her eyes over him.
“Ashlyn!” God I’m never getting out of this alive. “It’s the third floor. Thank you for your help, don’t listen to that one.” My face is burning and I’m sure the redness is really stark against my pale skin.
“Oh, I don’t know about that. I think listening to Ashlyn is my new favorite hobby.” His eyes practically sparkle. “I’m Ryder, and this tall drink of water is Alester.” Ryder smacks Alester on the back, but he doesn’t budge.
“We met at the club, but I’m Alex.” I gesture to Jaz by the couch. “This is Jaz, and you unfortunately ran full force into Ashlyn. I obviously made a grave error in not accepting the full delivery charges.”
James steps up to the end of the couch, nodding for his cousins to move into formation. “Not a problem, we’re happy to help.” His shirt is straining to hold the bulk of his arms in. That poor dress shirt. I definitely shouldn’t have let them help with each of them in suits.
“Yeah. I can add more to my workout regimen. This won’t be an issue.
” Ryder slightly flexes through his button-up shirt that’s already hugging his arms. Alester grunts, swatting Ryder in the chest, before going to the other end and lifting the couch like it’s a feather.
With James on the other end, also having no issues with my cheap new couch, Ryder ends up being the coordinator and comedian, yelling out directions through the stairwell and up through the door to my apartment.
Once it’s placed, Ryder starts to unwrap the plastic, ignoring me when I tell him it’s not necessary. “This is a nice couch. Why’d you get a new one? Did you never have a couch? I should probably get a new one for my place…” Ryder yammers on without taking a breath.
“Once you get a place, you mean?” Alester raises an eyebrow at Ryder who shrugs and jumps on the freshly uncovered couch, making himself comfortable.
“She found her ex fucking some chick on the last one, so we obviously had to burn it, figuratively of course, and go shopping.” Ash lets out as she’s looking through which snacks she wants to eat next, then stopping the search when she realizes what she just did.
“Ugh.” I wish I could bash my head into a wall right now.
Ash mouths ‘oops’ at me, while Jaz shakes her head. I can feel James’s eyes on me, but thankfully he doesn’t say anything, I’m sure he remembers the club incident .
“Yeah, that seems like a good reason to have a new couch. Too bad you couldn’t have done something to him, but I guess there’s always later,” Ryder says with his eyes closed like he’s going to take a nap.
Alester grunts his approval and moves to sit on the couch, throwing Ryder’s feet off of it to make room.
“Is he always like this?” I turn to James fully, and he laughs. The deep rich sound surrounding me like a cocoon and sending tingles to areas that should be ignored until further notice. They obviously can’t be trusted after Taylor.
James’s eyes light up, and he reaches a hand towards me. “Actually, I want-…”
“Oh! Our meeting!” Ryder runs a hand through his hair and bounces to the door. “We have to go, like now, this client was impossible to get a sit-down with.”
“Wait a minute.” Ashlyn stops him in his tracks. “You all work together? And you’re cousins…Is this a joke? You look nothing alike.” She’s not wrong, but I also wasn’t going to question the guys that just helped move that heavy ass couch like it was nothing.
“Uhhh…” Ryder looks to Alester, who shrugs, then to James.
“Our moms are sisters, but our dads’ genetics obviously took over.” I watch as James mulls over what he’s going to say next, running a hand through his hair. “We started working together in college and never stopped.” He shrugs. “We mostly like working together. Ryder gets a bit obnoxious. ”
“Hey!” Ryder yells and tries to dive for James, but Alester grabs him easily.
“Joking, joking. Kind of.” James turns to Ashlyn. “Not a huge deal, just family business.”
She looks unconvinced, but if they had grown up with parents like Ashlyn’s they’d understand why she doesn’t get the whole hanging out with and working with family. Still, she doesn’t say anything or voice why she doesn’t get it, so I keep my mouth shut too.
“I’ll go start the car, so we can get to the meeting,” Alester says and looks towards Jaz one more time before heading out the door with Ryder on his heels.
James turns to me, a slight brush of his fingertips on my arm. “Uh, I guess I’ll see you around, sorry. I wish I could stay and talk to you more, but this really is important.”
I struggle to suck in air, wishing my body would turn to stone and stop trying to lean into this man’s touch.
“That’s okay. Thanks for your help again.
We really wouldn’t have been able to handle moving that monstrosity as much as I wish we could.
” I awkwardly wave my hand and instantly regret it.
Why am I like this? “Thanks again…Have a good meeting.”
James smirks at me as he walks backward out the door. “See you around, Alex.”
My face is in flames as he closes the door. After watching James’s arm porn while he carried and gently placed the couch, I think I need a cold shower. I’m afraid to ask the girls if they were also that aroused, or if it’s just me and my newly single mind.
“Holy shit! I think my ovaries just sang to me!” Ashlyn says not a moment after the door shuts behind them.
Jaz shushes her. “What if they hear you!”
“Oh! You like one too? Good. Maybe they’ll come back if they hear me!” Ash yells louder at the door, ready to run over and whip it open at a moment’s notice. I have a feeling the guys are long gone with how long their strides are.
I laugh, watching them go back and forth, making my way to my new couch.
I plop down on the cushion; it doesn’t have as much bounce as my old one because I didn’t have the funds to splurge on another expensive piece.
Especially given that I just quit my job.
I’ve been saving a lot over the years I’ve been working, so money won’t be an urgent issue for a little bit, but I definitely need to find a job soon.
I run my hand over the rough fabric and smile.
“What are you smiling about?” Jaz sits next to me, bouncing up and down, testing the seat.
I sigh, leaning back. “Just happy I don’t have to look at the other couch and think about how shitty Taylor is.”
“Yes, he’s trash. There’s much hotter fish in the pond…like James.” Ashlyn arches her perfectly sculpted brow at me as she crosses her arms.
I scrunch my nose at her. “I don’t think that’s… ”
“Shit!” Jaz jumps off the couch. “I forgot I have class. Ashlyn, can you drop me at campus?”
Ash grabs her purse. “Ah yes, your chauffeur awaits. Enjoy the new couch, and maybe break it in sometime.” She winks at me as they run out the door.
I really wonder how James and his cousins got into the work they’re doing.
Honestly, what the hell do they do that they were in Club X for a business meeting?
Especially for a company like Edward Corp.
It doesn’t make any sense. I shake my head.
Not my business. I try to focus back on myself.
I need to figure out my next steps. W hat am I going to do for work?
If it was up to Mom, I’d just find a man to take care of me and start a family, but that’s not what I want. Not right now, anyway. I want a purpose and I need income. I’ve always dreamed of selling my art, but my parents were always quick to tell me to be practical.
Practical isn’t making me happy. I need to take a risk. I guess quitting on the spot wasn’t a great idea. Ugh.
I need to get out, clear my head, dive into my art, and see if that’s something I can do. I’m going to need examples if I’m going to find companies to pitch myself to.
Time to get my life together.
Shit.