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“Damn it, why the hell do I have to have a reporter for a roommate?” I hiss.
She closes the fridge door and then comes to sit on the sofa with me, giving me her gorgeous, sweet smile as she takes my hands. “Sorry, girl. You’re stuck with me, so spill it.”
“There’s no guy in my life. Just stress at work. Remember when my boss got his ass beat? The guy who I believe did it winked at me before leaving the restaurant.” It’s not the full truth, but maybe it’ll get her off my back and it will make me feel less guilty.
“Oh, shit. Are you scared of him?” she asks, hugging me closely.
“No, that’s the thing. I’m not. Well, not completely scared of him like I should be. Lately, I feel like someone’s watching me, but there’s no one around, and Randall’s creepy as hell ass makes matters only worse.”
“Do you want to call the police?” she asks, leaning back while clinging to my biceps.
“No,” I shout.
“Whoa, whoa. Chill. So you’re not scared of him.” Her eyes change from concerned to humorous. “Wait. Do you like this guy?”
“Like?” I push out of her hug and stand. Pacing back and forth, I say. “It’s hard to say what I feel because I know that I blush when I see him. It’s definitely lust. Lust plays a part, but he’s a criminal in a designer suit.” What if he doesn’t come around again?
“Are you afraid you’ll never see him again now that he’s already beat up your boss?” Instantly the words send a pain through my chest, lancing me. Yes, I’m more afraid of losing a chance of never meeting the stranger than the threat he brings.
“Damn, you are way too perceptive.”
“Honey, you look lost. You’re a freaking soap opera waiting to happen. A Jacobean tragedy. You lose your parents young, have to raise a sister so your boyfriend dumps you, and you give up your college dreams, sending you to work a crappy job and a cheaper education in a crummy apartment, only to work for a perverted boss who deals with shady characters, only to have gotten the attention of another shady character while you earn a criminal justice degree.”
“Thank you for laying it out like that.”
“Maybe I should become a writer instead. This reporting isn’t going according to plan.” She lets out a long sigh, but then her eyes light up with a thought and that makes me nervous. “Although you’ve just given me a new tip on Coleman. I can find out who these guys are for you.” She claps her hands together with excitement.
Shaking my head like a madwoman, I press my hands on top of hers, and say pleadingly, “Oh, no, don’t do that. It could be dangerous.”
“I’d only observe the restaurant as a patron. Come on, I’m no ninja spy.” She rolls her eyes at me, stands up, and goes to get another coffee. She’s addicted to the stuff. I serve so much of it that I can’t stand it.
“Get your fix and leave it alone. I promise everything is fine. You don’t need to spy for me.”
“Bullshit. Please, girl. I know you, and things are not fine. You have one more week at that place before you can tell him to shove it. I have to work early tomorrow and then I’m leaving on that stupid work trip, but I’ll be back home before you’re done working at that stupid diner.”
“I wish you wouldn’t bother with the story.”
“Wishes are for bitches. You want something, you make it happen.” She sticks her tongue out and I lunge over the sofa at her to reach for it, but she’s too fast.
“Twat,” I hiss.
“You love me.”
“You’re lucky I do,” I huff playfully before plopping back on the sofa.
“Yes, I know. Now I need to find a man that does too because I need to get laid and not just read about it.” Tell me about it. I’ve been so lonely, I’m fantasizing about a man who is more than likely a criminal— sophisticated, sexy, but a criminal, nonetheless.
“So what time do you leave?” I ask January.
“I’ll be gone probably before you get home from work. We have a long drive down to the Ozarks, so he wants to leave at like four in the morning from the station. Which means I have to be out of here like at three. I am not that much of a fucking early bird.” She rolls her eyes and sighs. I can’t blame her because being off your schedule isn’t a joke especially when you have to deal with a prick like her boss.
“Ugh, the jerk can’t even bother to pick you up from here?”
“Nope, apparently, it will add to his already grueling drive and he doesn’t trust me with the rental since I’m not twenty-five and they didn’t get the added insurance.”
