“Definitely,” I tell her. “Like I said before, it could not be more over.”
“What about Blake?”
“Blake…” I start. The thing is, I don’t know how to answer her question. I still don’t know how Blake really feels about me. I know he loves me, but does he love me enough to give me the life I want. Do we want the same things?
“I don’t know. For the time being, I’m sticking around with you gals.”
“Yes,” Corrie cheers. “I like the sound of that. Let’s go out dancing tonight.”
I smile. Corrie loves to go to clubs, dance and flirt with men much too young for her. She’s such a feisty little cougar, and I love that about her. I haven’t been dancing in forever, but it might just be what I need.
* * *
I chatwith Momma on Facetime as I get ready for a night out. I’m wearing the same outfit I wore that first night at The Spot, the night I sat on Blake’s lap, and he looked like he wanted to do wicked things to me. That was so damn hot. I dab on some lipstick. I’ve already done my smoky eyes, just the way Corrie taught me.
“You look a little provocative,” Momma says. “Are you sure you’re okay. Don’t go out and catch one of those nasty STDs now.”
By ‘provocative,’ she means ‘slutty.’
I laugh. “Yes, Momma. I promise I won’t have sex with anyone.”
“Keep an eye on your drink too,” she tells me. “You don’t want to be drugged and end up naked in some man’s bed the next morning, wondering what happened and how you got there.”
Now she’s freaking me out…yes, that would be awful. “Yes, Momma. I promise to keep an eye on my drink, and Corrie’s too.”
I’ve already told her all about Chicago, and my decision to not take the job. She never said it out loud, but I could tell that she was happy. “How’s the job search going? You can find something around Burlington, I’m sure,” she says. “Who knows? You could even take over for me here at the store,” she adds. “We’re looking for a replacement.”
I laugh. “And work for Blake? I don’t think so.” Although, I must admit that the idea of a daily storage room fuck makes me a little giddy. Every time I think about it, I get hot. “Seriously, that’s crazy.”
“Really?” she says. “Is it crazy to be close to your family, the people who love you the most in the world?”
“That’s not what I meant, Momma. I just can’t picture myself working in a convenience store for the rest of my life.”
Her mouth drops. “Oh, well, apparently, it’s fine for me, but not good enough for you.”
I desperately try to backtrack. “That’s not what I meant, Momma. You know that… it’s just…” I feel horrible. Sometimes really stupid things come out of my mouth. I really should think before speaking.
“Well, I should let you go,” she says.
I can tell she’s still hurt. “I love you, Momma,” I tell her. “To the moon and back.”
She smiles. “Me too, sweetie. To the moon and back.”
* * *
I wakeup with a hangover and fuzzy memories of creepy men and immature boys hitting on me all night. As promised, I kept an eye on our drinks, but I failed to monitor how many we took in. I don’t know how Corrie manages this because she’s smaller than me, but the woman can hold her liquor. Me, not so much.
I feel a bit nauseous, but I know that after a tall glass of water and toast, I’ll be fine. I pet Hyde and fill his bowl. He looks at me sideways. He always does this when I’ve gone out for a while, almost as if he’s saying, “How dare you go out and leave me here by myself?”
Just as I sink my teeth into my peanut butter covered whole-wheat toast, my phone pings. I quickly check it because curiosity always gets the best of me.
My stomach goes topsy-turvy when I see a text from Blake.
Get your cute little freckled face over here. Now.
I want to show you something.
What?! I love surprises. Blake was always full of them when we were growing up. It could be a snapping turtle by the creek he spotted, or a new ice cream flavor his mom bought, or even one of those candy necklaces I loved so much.
What is it?I type feverishly.
I can’t tell you. You’ll have to come and see it. If I could bring it to you, I would, but I can’t.
Wow! It’s something he can’t bring to me. I may literally die of curiosity.
You’re so cruel,I write.
I know. :)
