AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Generally, I’m pretty good at knowing how to comfort people in these moments. This is different though. Jay isn’t wrong. He’s my person too, and it would be hell on earth to live without him. When your person is hurting, you take on that hurt too. It becomes hard to know how to comfort someone when you’re feeling the pain alongside them.
“Jay? Look at me.” I’ve come up to face him.
He slowly turns his face towards me, and I’m taken aback to see the tears hovering at the edge of his eyes. In our nine years of friendship, this is the closest to tears I’ve seen him in a long time.
“You’re not going to lose me. Nothing is going to happen.”
I pull him in for a hug, but selfishly I need to feel him against me. To find the sense of comfort and safety his closeness brings me. I didn’t even realize how much I need this, need him, until my body is pressed against his own and I’m safely in his arms.
“How about I come over tonight?” I lean back and brush a stray lock of his dark hair behind his ear. My fingers settle at his jaw, and I trace his features absentmindedly. “You go home and get us some food. I’ll finish up here and come over. I’ll text Rosie and say we won’t be in until the club opens tomorrow at five. We can hang out, veg, or whatever. Spend the whole day together. Today was a lot. I get it. But it’s one day, right? There’s always tomorrow.”
“Yeah, right. Sounds good.” His head falls to my shoulder, and I soak in the scent of his spiced shampoo.
“Okay. Well, go home, and I’ll meet you there in a bit.”
Rosie pops her head into the office. A curious look crosses her face before she speaks. “Hey, I’m headed out. Do you need anything else before I go?” She’s standing by as I let go of Jay, then he crosses to her.
“I’m good. I have a few things to finish before I close up, but I’m sending Jay off with you. Oh, and we’re gonna be in late tomorrow. Probably not until closer to when we open. Kay?”
“Ooh, date night. Love it! Well then, have fun with your shit. I’ll see you tomorrow, babe! Come on, Jay Bird! You have a lady caller to get ready for!” Rosie calls as she skips away.
Jay’s distraught face haunts my thoughts as I go about my tasks. It really has been a long day, but it feels like something more is going on. I’m just not sure what yet.
Cash deposited into the safe, I go to grab my various bags and car keys to head out.
Things have come so far since I first inherited Bliss. It leaves me with a sense of accomplishment to see the place empty like this but teeming with an energy speaking of uncontainable life and a fair share of lust. As concerned as I am about Jay, these last moments when everyone is gone are my favorite and I savor the quiet.
Darkness follows me as I make my way through the club turning off each light one by one. I step outside and feel an odd chill come over me. I shake off the feeling and turn to lock the door to the club.
A sudden sharp pain in my neck is the only warning I have alerting me to danger before a firm hand goes around my throat. One moment I’m there with keys in my hand, and the next, I am drooping to the ground, slowly losing consciousness. The loss of control is startling, and as my vision begins to darken, my anxious pulse starts to rise.
No. No. No, no, no.
“Now it’s your turn, bitch.”
Those are the last words I hear before everything goes dark.
