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“I got you laughing. So how rude am I now?”
“Touché. Want to go see a movie or something? I could use a night of distraction.” I pull out my phone and check to see if Theo has messaged me, but there is nothing. After he left last night, it’s been silent. I’d been expecting him to at least tell me when we would see each other, but nothing. Work must be that busy. Or he realized he had a lapse in judgement and wants out of this whole thing.
Negative thoughts—shut them down, Hanna, I inwardly scold.
“Yes! There is a new horror movie. You like them?” Brenda claps her hands.
“I’m not the biggest fan, but I can try it out. Is it more slasher or psychological thriller?” I ask, slipping on my brown knee-high boots.
“Thriller, which is scary to me,” she admits.
“Agreed. All right, let me feed the pups, then we can go.”
“I won’t be sleeping tonight. So that’s fun,” I admit as we step out of the small theater and onto the main street sidewalk. I like this small town at night, lots of people walking around, neon lights flashing. People sitting and sipping drinks while taking up benches. It’s like New York, except you aren’t shoulder-to-shoulder, and everyone knows everyone. It’s not just people passing by without a care in the world or without worry of what the other passersby are doing.
“I knew it was him the entire time. I’m good at this stuff.”
“What stuff?” I reach into my purse and pull out some gum for the both of us.
“Guessing the plot and knowing the ending. I used to narrate movies while we watched them as a family, and I swear it used to get under my brother’s skin so bad.” She laughs, and suddenly my mind is back on Theo.
I don’t mind that he hasn’t called. That’s not what this is. But he did go radio-silent and then nothing. Am I anxious to start this thing with him? Yes, but I’m also ready despite my fears. The way I craved his harsh touch after he slapped my ass—it’s all I’ve thought of since.
“Yeah, I’m terrible at guessing things. Most the time, I’m wrong about how the movie is going to go.” I don’t bring up Theo. I skirt so far around her mentioning him, because truth be told, I don’t want to make her uncomfortable or worry we are going to take this to a point where she may have to get involved.
No strings attached.
“I’m a Libra, the most powerful sign,” she says as explanation, and I snort. She nudges my shoulder. “What?”
“Nothing. That’s just such a Libra thing to say.”
“Oh really, and what are you? Oh, let me guess, a Pisces!”
“Not even close. I’m Scorpio.”
“Fuck off. No way, that is impossible. You don’t read like a Scorpio.”
Brenda isn’t wrong. I don’t have one ounce of bravery in my bones. But maybe being here, that will change. I’m hoping it will. In fact, I’ve set out to make this a thing. I want this to work.
There was a life before Cherry Hill that I never want to remember. Reinventing myself sounds like the perfect thing to do. New friends, new job, new life, and a deviously handsome man who wants to please me in a way I will most likely never experience again when we grow tired of one another?
One would say I’m halfway to this reinvention.
“I’m too nice.” I shrug.
“I mean, you’re nice, but I wouldn’t say too nice.”
Scoffing, I climb into the car after she unlocks it. Once we are both inside, I respond, “I’m sure you could basically call me a pushover.”
“No, see? I hate that shit. Women can be kind and still be bad-ass. People are always mistaking our kindness for weakness. You ever seen a kind person snap?” When she turns the key, the engine starts.
“No.” I snap my seatbelt. “What’s that like?”
“Lethal. Keep the kindness, but don’t be ashamed of it. You will stick up for you when you need to.”
“Ah, such a Libra, all about lifting others up.” I sigh in a teasing manner.
“Yeah, but I’m also a fierce one. I have a little sassy streak. It gets me in trouble a lot.”
“Oh, I bet. I wouldn’t want to be caught in a brawl with you.”
“Exactly.” She winks.
We share a small conversation before she drops me off, and we call it a night. I have an early shift to go in and help her with payroll, so an early bedtime tonight is just the thing.
Stepping into the bathroom to shower, I then put on an oversized T-shirt and some panties. For some reason, I feel emotionally, mentally, and physically drained. I walk out of the bathroom, flip off the light, and stop.
I look around the room, and my eyes land on the bed. I haven’t slept in it yet, too afraid it will be weird. But my hell does it look comfortable. There are guest rooms I’ve slept in, but the beds are as hard as a rock, making me favor the couch. Tiptoeing to the bed, I approach it as if it’s not an inanimate object but more like some sort of animal that may get spooked if I step up to it too fast.
