He smacks his knees and stands up, “I will let you be for the night, get some sleep.” He starts out the door.
“Derrek?”
He stops and turns in the door way, “Yeah?”
I look down at my tea and peer up through my lashes, “Thank you. For everything.”
He nods once, “No problem.”
He closes the door behind him and I set the tea on the night table. I pull back the blanket and sheet and climb into his bed. I keep seated up and pull the blankets onto my lap. I grab my tea and finish it in a few sips. I turn off the light and settle into the bed. I pull them up to my face and there’s that glorious fabric softener. I smile and close my eyes and fall fast asleep.
I wake up to the sound of my phone ringing. I reach for it and when I don’t feel it under my finger tip like I usually can, I remember that I am not in my own bed or home. I sit right up and grab it from my purse, it’s Mrs. Brown. “Hello Mrs. Brown.”
“Margot my dear where are you?” She asks slightly concerned.
“Oh, I’m so sorry I forgot I had to be in this morning. My place was robbed last night and I am at a friend’s place…”
She gasps on the other end, “Oh dear! I’m so sorry to hear that! Are you alright? You weren’t there when it occurred were you?”
“No, I wasn’t thankfully. But the place was torn apart so that’s why I am at a friends and I guess I over slept. I will be there as soon as I can.”
“Nonsense. Take a day to rest, call it a personal day. Just come in when you feel ready, Take care.”
“Thank you so much and I am sorry again. Bye.” I toss my phone down and let myself fall back onto my pillow. Shit! What time is it anyways? I grab my phone again and look at the time, it’s one in the afternoon. I must have been tired. I climb out of the bed and I open the door, when I do I’m greeted with yummy scents.
I reach the kitchen and Derrek has some fast electric music going and he is dancing with it as he stands with his back to me at the stove. I stand there and watch him do his thing and I bite on my thumbnail as I watch him. He turns to go to the sink and he looks at me quick then away, as if he didn’t even realize I was there and then he jerks back, laughs and looks again. He grabs his phone and turns off the music.
“No, don’t turn it off for my sake.”
“Sorry, I just assumed you weren’t into that kind of music…”
“What did you assume I liked?”
“Uh, honestly? Taylor Swift.” He winces at the sound of her name.
I smile, “Well I do like her, but as of recently I have found a new passion for rock.”
He turns off the sink and wipes his hands on a towel, “Is that so? Well, have you ever listened to techno or metal or even a combo of both?”
“Can’t say I have, sorry.” I walk to the table and sit down in one of the chairs, his eyes following me.
He turns the music back on and it’s very fast, “This is Powerman 5000, they have been around for a while and this is their new stuff. In fact they’re going to be in town for a show soon, would you like to go with me?”
We are both quiet for a moment as I listen to the fast, but clear words about invading and destroying, then not accepting defeat. It’s very energetic and gets your blood pumping that’s for sure. I start to tap my foot to the fast temp. “I like it. Sure I’ll go, it’d be a new experience. “
A surprised look crossed his scruffy unshaven face, “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh!” His eyes pop open and he darts to the stove and quickly removes a pan. He pulls out two plates and in a couple of moments he is back with plates of food. “I don’t know what you like, so I made a few different options.” I look down at the full plate. There’s bacon, scrambled eggs, fruit, and waffles, then he comes back with a container of yogurt. My eyes grow large at the amount of food. “I know there’s a lot, but don’t worry if you don’t eat something. I am a believer in leftovers.”
“No, it all looks and smells amazing. Thank you! I’m starving.” I dig right into the bacon and then the waffles. “This is all so delicious.” He is sitting back, not touching his food and he watches me eat. “What?” I ask shyly.
“Oh, nothing. It’s just nice to see a girl eat for once.” He sits up and start to eat his just as large plate full.
I can smell coffee percolating, “Can I have a cup of that coffee?” I ask him looking in the direction of the half full coffee pot.
“I can make you a tea if you would rather?”
“No I will try some coffee.”
He stands and reaches the counter, pulls down two mugs and pours the pitch black liquid. He returns to the table and goes to the fridge and comes back grabbing a sugar dish and a quart of milk. “Here, this will take the strength down a notch.” He smiles.
“I’ll try it black first,” I boldly state. I bring the hot mug to my lips and take a small sip. “Holy crap! What is this?” I gasp out. It is definitely a strong cup of coffee.
He covers his mouth with a hand and laughs, “I told you it’s strong. It’s my favorite actually. It’s from a company called Death Wish Coffee.”
“The name is appropriate,” I laugh grabbing the carton of milk and sugar. “Don’t you have to work today?” I ask.
“I called my father and explained everything and he just asked that I come in for the dinner crowd.”
I nod my head, “Well I will get a start on looking for an apartment.”
“Margot, I was serious about you staying for as long as you need. There’s no rush.” He grabs my hand.
I look from our hands to his green eyes, “I know and I appreciate it, but I can’t make you sleep on your sofa. It doesn’t even look big enough to have me laying on it.”
“It’s no problem Honey Bee. So, what do you have on your schedule?”
I take a spoonful of yogurt from the container and mix in my fruit, “Well I was supposed to go to the library this morning, but…”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah … But I have a shift at the diner tonight, I have to be in at four, so I think I will rest some more here if you don’t mind beforehand…”
“No problem.”
“Oh crap! My car!” I remember that I left it at that gas station and Derrek took me to the ER.
“It’s in the driveway.” He informs me.
I stand up and look out the widow and sure enough there it was. “How?” I turn and look at him shocked.
He shrugs, “I had my sister stop and grab it. She lives right near there and she owed me a favor.”
“Tell your sister thank you for me!” I return and lean over and give him a tight hug. I pull back still bent over slightly and his gaze isn’t on my eyes, “Um…” I get his attention.
“You, uh…” He stumbles over his words and then gestures to his own chest pointing from one peck to the other. Confused I just raise an eyebrow. “Your shirt is loose around the neck and well…”
I shoot straight up and throw my hands to my shirt collar. I can’t believe that I just flashed him. Oh, my God. “I’ll go change!”
“Oh please don’t!” He jokes and laughs as I go to the room to change. I ruffle through my bag for a clean bra and T-shirt. I can’t believe that just happened. Hold your head high and march back out there.
“Sorry about that…”
“Oh, please don’t be!”
I throw a blueberry at him and laugh.
I help him clean up after having breakfast for lunch and I go lay back down until my shift. I could hear him cleaning up and watching TV out there. It wasn’t distracting really, but I was curious. I set the alarm on my phone and eventually I let my mind wander and I slip away.
I look at the time on my phone and I need to get going in ten minutes. I change into my black shorts and white tee and slip into my gray Converse. I finish up in his bathroom and return my toothbrush and toothpaste to my bag.
I make my way out to the living room where the front door is and I find Derre
k stretched out on the leather sofa, passed out. I guess the recent events wore him out too. I stop at the side of it, where his feet are and I look him over for once. He can’t make me shy away while he is sleeping. He has his basketball shorts on, they are dark gray and have a lime green stripe down the sides. I can see the waistband of his boxers and that damn teasing tattoo on his hip, leading down…I would like to find out how long… Knock it off Margot, this isn’t like you. You just literally got out of a relationship. Well, kinda didn’t I? I mean Yes, I walked in on them together, but never said the words we are done did I? The night is such a blur. I touch my forehead to make sure my bandage was still in tack. I follow my gaze up his shirtless body and he has abs and veins popping out, oh my. A few tattoos on his chest and upper body. I find myself leaning to get a closer look and as I do his eyes shoot open and he jumps up scaring the crap out of me.
“What’s wrong with you, scaring me like that?” I yell and slap his chest. My heart rate maxing out.
He is holding his tight toned stomach and laughing. Laughing so hard I am waiting for him to pee. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help it!”
“I thought you were asleep!”
“I was, but I felt someone watching me and I woke up. When I figured it was you, I thought that I would let you have your look over and then I would let you sneak out. But I couldn’t pass up on this opportunity.” He is smiling from ear to ear.
“You suck.” I try to steady my tone.
He starts to jumps back and forth on each foot, then pushes his fists up in the air and continues to laugh, “I got you good Honey Bee!”
“Yeah, yeah. I gotta get to work. I hope you enjoyed your peep show and scaring the living hell out of me. I am going to go gray living here…” I purse my lips shut for a second and he stops jumping around. “I mean staying here for a few days, not living…”
“Margot,” He reaches for my hands, “It’s fine, and please stay more than just a few days. I mean where are you going to go? You can’t sleep in the library.”
He has a point, but I don’t want to come off as that pathetic, to have him think that I have no one to turn to. When in reality that’s exactly the truth. “But that’s where all my boyfriend’s live,” I joke with him. I don’t think he finds it very funny, because he doesn’t laugh. “My uh, book boyfriend’s,” I clarify.
He shakes his head and smiles, “I was gonna say…”
I slyly smile at him “I have to go,” I pull my hands from him and I walk out the door. When I reach my car he’s on the porch, taking a seat on the white swing.
“I’ll have a key made up and leave it under the mat for you. I don’t know when I will be home from the restaurant tonight.”
I start to pull out of his drive way and I roll down my window, “That’s okay, I get off at eleven. I’ll be back shortly after.”
“Have a great night at work Honey Bee.”
At the diner I stride through the back door and punch in. I go into the little break room and I find Joe there with his wife Sofia. “Hey sweet girl! How are you doing? Feeling better?”
“Hi, and yes I am. Thank you.” I fix my hair over my bandage, hoping no one would notice. I was wrong.
Joe steps in and tilts his head, “What’s this?” He point to my forehead.
I roll my eyes and fake laugh, “Oh, nothing just clumsy me. I ran into a door jamb.”
“What are we going to do with you girl? Put you in a bubble?” Sofia jokes and I know she means well. Although a bubble sounds nice, at least that way I can control who gets let in.
“Yeah, maybe.”
I close up and head out to my car. There I find Josh standing there with a bouquet of white roses. I lock up the door and I walk slowly over to him. I stop and look at him, he is leaning up against the driver’s side door, and so I can’t get in and leave as much as I want to. “What do you want Josh?” I cross my arms over my chest.
He drops the flowers to his side, “Wanted to talk about last night.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. You were fucking my friend. That was pretty clear.”
His jaw drops open slightly, he’s never heard me angry or swear like that before. “I know and I feel like shit about it…”
“No, you only feel like shit, because you got caught. So how long has this been going on for?” I urge him. I deserve an honest answer.
He holds the flowers out for me to take and when I don’t move he grumbles, he’s not used to me giving him a hard time. “Not long. It was only a couple of times…”
“When did it start?”
He steps away from my car and comes closer to me. I feel like my skin is going to crawl right off my body if he gets any closer. “I don’t know…”
“When?” I raise my voice.
“A year ago. The first time was a year ago.” He reaches out for me and I step back. “Come on, we can work this out…”
“No. No we cannot and I don’t want to. You did nothing but control me and use me when you found it appeasing to you and your precious schedule. God forbid you were spontaneous or went out of your way to make me feel slightly special. Then you go and screw my best friend!” I lay it out, all of it. The way he made me feel or lack of. He was never truly there for me. Did he even really listen when I opened up about my upbringing? Oh no, wait he only throws the sex stuff in my face when he’s been drinking. And how bad I am in bed. I can feel hot anger fill me like a hot spring ready to blow. I have kept so much in for so many years and I am reaching that breaking point. “I never thought that I was good enough for you and I think you thought the same. I was always an embarrassment and that’s why you never took me home to meet your parents and when I did, I most definitely didn’t fit into their country club setting now did I?
“I was never spontaneous, because you told me too much of the unknown freaked you out.” He throws back at me. “And we had a thing before you told me just how fucked up you really were. I am willing to drop the threats if you just let this go and come back to me.”
I have no idea why he would even want to have me back, maybe he just likes torturing me and gets off on watching me tiptoe.
“But you never tried to help me either. You put me up on this shelf and only took me down to play with and God forbid I do or say something you didn’t like…” My stomach is turning and I just want to go home.
But I have no home.
I put my hands up, “I am done here. We are done here, I know I have a lot on the line, but...” I go for my car and as I am reaching for the handle he grabs my arm, tight. I wince at the amount of pain and pressure he has on me. “Let me go Josh.”
He pins me to the car and I want to yell for help, but no one is around and my phone is in my bag which is now on the ground. “I say when this is over. You seemed to forget who is in charge here. I call the shots. I’ll tell you when we are through.” His teeth are gritted as he speaks. “And for that guy you were with, that’s over too. I knew you were cheating on me. You had to be getting it on with someone else, because it sure as fuck wasn’t me.” He has been drinking again, I can smell the hard liquor on his breath when he is this close to me. “You’ll do as I say or…”
“Is there a problem?” I hear a male’s voice from behind Josh. When Josh doesn’t reply the guy asks again, “I don’t think you heard me. Is there a problem?” His voice now raised. I feel a rush of relief knowing that someone is here and seeing what is going on.
Josh turns and spits at the guy.
Next thing I know Josh is being pulled away from me. I see a hand on his shoulder and he gets pulled straight back, right on his ass. I’m watching Josh’s face go from shock to rage, but he has been drinking so when he goes to get up he stumbles. Funny thing is, if he were sober I don’t think he would have the gusto to sit on a guy he doesn’t know. When I look to see who my savoir is this time, he is backlit from the lot light and I just see a strong build.
Then I see Josh on his feet and he is coming back at the guy, “Wat
ch out!” I warn him. He turns fast and decks Josh right in the nose with a single blow and he is down again.
“Are you okay Margot?” I hear my savoir ask me. He knows who I am, but who is he? I move so I can see his face finally.
“Justin?”
“Yeah, are you alright? Is that your boyfriend?” He is holding his thumb up over his shoulder pointing back at Josh as he shuffles on the ground, holding his nose and mumbling profanities.
I shake my head no, “No… Yes? I don’t know.”
He gives me a confused look and shakes his head, “Why was he on you like that? What happened?”
“I would really like to just go and get away from him please…”
“Yeah of course want to go somewhere and talk? Are you hurt?” He asks looking me over.
I touch my arm and it’s a little sore, but nothing I can’t handle, “I’m fine.” In fact I think I was about to use one of the things that Dax had showed me, but once again a hero rides in.
“Okay as long as you are alright.” He tightens his jaw. “I’m not leaving until you are in your car and driving away safely and this asshole isn’t going to follow you home.”
Home. Funny.
“Thanks and I will see you then. Thank you so much.” I kiss him on the cheek and then slid into my car and off I go. I don’t want to bring any more people into how sick this situation is.
I head back to Derrek’s house and when I pull in, sure enough he is home and the porch light is on. When I climb out of the car I eye that temping porch swing. There’s a light end of summer breeze and I can see it swaying ever so slightly. I sneak up the three white steps and peek into the window to see if he is in there watching for me. When I don’t see him I back into the swing and just melt back into it. I take in a deep cleansing breath and give myself a little push. I close my eyes and let the recent events swing away. I hear the door open and I lift my head to find Derrek holding two glasses.
“Welcome back,” He hands me the cold glass, “I made some plain iced tea, I hope I did it right…”
“Thank you,” I take a sip. “Not too bad,” I wink.
About Time Page 23