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My smile felt pathetic but I kept it in place as I gave him a thumbs up and turned away. It was silly but since I’d decided to pack my things and leave, I felt like the hounds of hell were nipping at my heels. I packed my bag as fast as I could and made sure I hadn’t left anything behind before I tore a sheet of paper out of my small purse notebook and jotted down a note for the guys. I didn’t want to be rude and leave without a goodbye.
I ordered a car from my phone and then hurried back out of the bus and over to the guard. I handed him the folded piece of paper and smiled, probably an even more pathetic smile. “If they’re not busy later, will you give this to them?”
He frowned. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
I nodded. “Yep. I’m fine. My vacation’s over, though, so it’s time for me to go home.”
He took the paper and put it in his front pocket. Patting it, he stepped back against the door and smiled once more. “I’ll make sure they get it. Be careful on your travels.”
I lifted my hand in a wave and went around the side of the building to get to the street out front. Within minutes, my car was there and I was on my way to the airport.
When I got there and managed to catch the next flight out without any delays, I knew it was meant to be. I was supposed to be going home. No other time in my life had I ever been able to just show up at the airport and get on the flight I needed without having a ticket or having to wait. I was already in the air by the time the guys were nearing the end of their show.
I landed at LAX and knew that they were finished with their show and probably already knew that I was gone and had other women in my place. I just hoped they washed the sheets for the new women.
I’d left my car in long-term parking at LAX and I had a hell of a time finding it. After walking around the entire parking lot, I finally found my car, just to realize my key fob was missing from my purse. Feeling close to tears, I ordered a car from right where I was standing in the parking lot and sighed. I told myself that I was just feeling the post vacation blues, despite never having been on a vacation as an adult. It wasn’t the guys. It was just the real world.
It was during the ride to my apartment that I had a moment of clarity. The driver glanced back at me through the rearview mirror and laughed. “Girl, you look like someone just stole your dog. You okay?”
I looked up at the older woman and nodded. After a beat, I shrugged. “I don’t know. Yes? I guess.”
“It’s about a man, isn’t it?” She laughed boisterously when I nodded. “That sort of frown usually is about a man.”
I leaned forward in my seat. “I’m going to be honest with you. I spent the last few days with someone sort of well-known. The sex was on another level. Super nice guy.”
She clucked her tongue. “Ah. He’s married?”
I nearly choked. “No! No. Well known commitment avoider, actually.”
“So, you caught feelings?” She met my eyes for a beat and nodded. “Yep. You caught feelings.”
“He’s nearly twice my age.” I was not going to admit to her that there were three men. Not in a million years. “It’s not like I’m actually having thoughts of tying him down, you know? I’m too young for that, anyway. I only met him after finding my boyfriend cheating on me. Clearly, I’m not in a good space. He was just a moment in time that felt perfect. That’s hard to not want to capture.”
She sniffed and swore. “You’ve got me feeling emotional, girl! Also, screw your boyfriend.”
I laughed, feeling better for some strange reason. “I think I just needed to talk about it. I feel better already. I was crazy to think that I, a woman barely in her mid-twenties, could hold his attention for very long. Women who are much more experienced and way wiser than me have been trying for years. It was fun while it lasted, though.”
“Age doesn’t always equal wisdom.” She turned onto my street and turned to face me once she was parked in front of my house. “Who knows? Maybe something will happen with your man. The world is a wild place.”
I tipped her on the app and grinned. “It is. I, however, live in reality. Nothing like that happens here. Reality is the place your boyfriend cheats on you after being shit in bed for three years.”
She high-fived me. “That’s my reality, too, girl. I’m just hopeful for you. You’re still perky; you’ve got hope.”
I grabbed my bag and nodded at her. “I already tipped you. You and I both know that perky is a stretch.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “I hope I see you again, girl. In the papers with your man.”
I waved goodbye to her and walked up to my apartment. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that she was more likely to see me in the paper for murdering Matthew if he wasn’t careful.
16
Layla
MondaymorningLaylawasa whole different person. She was professional as hell with a pencil skirt and respectable heels. She had her coffee and fruit before making it to work and she was always on time. Her hair was in a perfectly neat chignon and her makeup was subdued. She was efficient and could control an office while pretending the orders were from her boss without breaking a perfectly professional nail. Monday morning Layla and vacation Layla were the angel and devil.
As I walked into my office with my blouse buttoned up to my throat, I missed vacation Layla terribly. That was behind me, though. I had to put on a professional face and pretend I didn’t want to stab Matthew when I finally saw him. I couldn’t waste anymore time daydreaming about three perfect dicks. That wasn’t professional, at all.
A sticky note was stuck to the middle of my desk and when I saw the scribbled note, I swore under my breath. “Asshole.”
