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.I’m beginning to think a marching band could come through here and she still wouldn’t wake.I turn down the covers, pick her up and set her back down on the sheet.I hop in behind her and pull her back to my chest.I sigh.My body warms and I’m instantly relaxed.I smile, shut my eyes, and fall asleep.***I wake to find I’m in bed alone and there is a note on the pillow beside me.I’m so sorry for passing out on you last night.Glad to see you’re wearing your new jammies, though! Thank you for taking care of me.You’re the best.Love Tina xxxxxxxxxx P.S.Cake in the face is a tradition in my family…now you’ll have good luck for a whole year :)Cake in the face is a family tradition? I smile.I’ll have to get her back on her birthday.And I got ten kisses that time.Nice.I wonder what she thought when she woke up seeing I’d undressed her.She didn’t sound angry in the note.She even thanked me for looking after her.I smile like an idiot.It’s Thursday.Poker night tonight.Can’t wait to see her.***It’s eight thirty-ish.The Thai restaurant I’m at is really nice.I caught a cab over so Nat could take my car home then to Nik’s.I’m sitting across from Chad the Accountant who is telling me about his stamp collection.He says I can come see it some time.He just needs to make sure his Mom isn’t home.If someone were telling me this, I’d be in fits of laughter.But it’s not so funny when you’re a part of said funny story.Merlin’s beard…How did I get in this mess?“So, you work at a clothing store?” he asks while picking at his food.I look up and smile enthusiastically, “Yeah.I own the store.It’s called Safira.I work with my best friends.I love it.”He looks thoughtful then asks, “Would there be any changing your mind about your profession?”I lean back in my chair and try not to glare at him.Instead, I inquire, “What do you mean, Chad?”It’s such a shame.He’s a great looking guy.But when he opens his mouth and the verbal diarrhea shoots out at you, you realize why he’s still single.Well, that, and the stamp collection…and still living with his Mom at thirty eight.He smiles at me and says, “Well, I don’t know if I could be with a woman who spends all her time around clothing.There is a huge problem in America regarding women who obsessively shop.I’d like to know that wouldn’t be an option with my wife.So, would changing your profession be an option?” He raises his eyebrows expectantly.Say what? Oh, hell no.Buying myself some time I reach for my water and sip at it.This guy who I’ve known all of two seconds has asked me to change my profession and basically proposed to me?Sweet Baby Jesus!I need to get out of here.I need Nat.Emergency bail time.***I don’t believe what I just heard.Rage boils in the pit of my stomach.I clench my hands together by my sides and stop myself from punching something.I planned to spend the day avoiding Tina.It worked out fine when she instant messaged me to say she was a little busy to do lunch today.Perfect, I thought.I planned on kissing the life out of her tonight and putting myself out there.I want Tina.It was as simple as that.I made the decision that tonight is the night.Or it was.The guys came to the house a little earlier to set up the Poker table and the girls arrived shortly after eight, minus Tina.I could see Nat avoiding making eye contact with me and thought that was a little odd.She looked really uncomfortable, too.Then a few minutes ago when Max asked Nat where Tina was and all the girls stiffened, I knew something was up.Nat tried to brush it off with a small shrug.She said, “Sorry guys, Tina sends her apologies.She had some last minute plans and had to bail on us.”Max stood up taller looked at her with brows bunched and uttered, “What’s more important than Poker night? It’s family night!” He noticed her stiffen even further and said firmly, “Okay, guys, where is Tina tonight?”Nat looked down and played with her earlobe.She whispered so quietly I could barely hear her, “She’s on a date.”Silence enveloped the room.A date?A fucking date?I have a thousand questions to ask but can’t bring myself to begin.Does she even know this guy? Where did they meet? How long has she known she’d be missing tonight? Aren’t these things friends tell one another?This guy could be dangerous for, Christ sake!I can’t help but wonder if this rage I’m feeling is a result of jealousy.I come up with the following reason for my reaction – Tina is a good friend who could be out having dinner with an axe murderer!This brings us to now.I ask, “Does anyone know this guy?”Nat, Meems, and Lola shake their heads at me.Nat says, “She met him at Winnie’s the other day.All I know is his name is Chad and he’s an Accountant.”Chad.The name of an axe murderer.Definitely.Mimi looks around and offers, “Well, what did you expect? Tina’s a fox, Nik.She’s a great catch for any guy.The perfect catch.”Lola nods her agreement and softly finishes, “And you guys are just friends, right?”Rather than answer them, I walk down the hall into my room and shut the door.Once I’m in I walk over to my bed and lay back on it.Calm down.Everything will work itself out.I hope.***After expertly avoiding answering Chad’s extremely invasive questions, I excuse myself to use the ladies room.Once inside, I take my cell phone out of my purse and text Nat.Me: This guy is a fruitcake! Emergency bail procedure in T-Minus ten minutes.Nat: Gotcha.Turn you cell phone volume up.I walk back to the table with a bright smile and sit.I answer some of Chad’s less invasive questions then my cell phone blasts ‘Thrift Shop’ by Macklemore.Show time [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]