Noah

by Justine Elvira

  I feel an Eat Me and Drink Me Wonderland reference is needed...but I'm sure you're in no mood for my jokes. Take the aspirin and drink up so you'll start feeling a little better.

  –Noah

  Oh God. How embarrassing. He must have had to tuck me into bed.

  The night slowly starts coming back to me and Noah tucking me into bed is the last thing I should be embarrassed about. I threw up...several times...and then I had to listen to them talk about Caleb and me, and I wasn’t even able to defend our relationship.

  Caleb’s a good guy. They're jumping to conclusions.

  He loves me.

  After drying off and throwing on sweats that I plan to lounge in all day because there is no way I'm working, I heat up a few slices of frozen pizza in the fridge and sit down on the sofa to try and relax. This hangover needs to go away. I'll have to call both of my jobs with some excuse on why I didn't show up and pray to God I don't get fired.

  Last night is a mixture of clear memories and foggy images after I started drinking heavily with Kendall. The part I do remember, the memories that are etched in my brain, is dancing with Noah and enjoying every movement our bodies made together. Being so close to him, just like we were the other night on the couch, ignited all those old feelings I used to have for him. Feelings I should no longer be having because I'm not single. I've been with Caleb for almost six years and he doesn't deserve me harboring feelings for Noah.

  And what was with Noah last night anyway? He was a lot bolder. Usually if we're out and our song comes on he'll just come over to me and we'll talk and dance with a foot or two of dance room between us, while laughing about my small booty. We never touch or grind up on each other. It was unexpected and I can't help but think the only reason it happened was because Caleb left. It's messing with my head. I know what my feelings for Noah once were. I was in love with him, so I shouldn't put myself in situations where I confuse my old feelings with new ones.

  There are other subjects I should be thinking about, like the fact that Noah was talking negatively about his best friend in the taxi. Sure, Kendall brought it up by voicing her hatred towards the man I love and I don't remember most of the conversation, but I remember them insinuating I'm an idiot for trusting him. It hurts to know they think I am so naive. I always knew how Kendall felt and Noah's hinted his concerns a few times, but there's a bro code. Noah should have Caleb's back, especially since everything they said isn't true.

  Caleb works hard. He went to school for eight years because being a successful lawyer is his dream. Unfortunately, when they hand you a degree the hard work isn't over. You have to start somewhere and Caleb had to start at the bottom. That means the partners at his firm can call on him whenever they want...and they do. That's not Caleb's fault.

  It isn't.

  Grabbing my phone off the couch cushion next to me I send Caleb a quick text so he knows I'm thinking about him.

  Me: Missing you today. I'm spending a lazy day on the couch and I wish you were sitting next to me. XOXO

  When he doesn't text back immediately I set the phone down and scroll through my Netflix queue until I settle on watching Scandal. I've heard this show is amazing but until now I've never given it the time of day.

  I'm halfway into the first episode and just starting to understand a little bit of what Olivia Pope does when my phone vibrates next to me. Thinking it's Caleb I pause the show and grab my phone and I'm a little disappointed when it's Kendall on the other end instead.

  “Hey, Kendall," I mutter into the phone as I munch on the remaining piece of pizza crust on the plate in my lap.

  "Hey, how you feeling this afternoon?"

  "Like I've been run over by a bulldozer and left for dead. How about you?"

  "This morning was rough but after some pain reliever, a tall glass of orange juice, and my Pilates class I'm feeling like a brand new woman."

  "Ugh," is all I can manage to groan through the phone. I wish I had her energy and enthusiasm after a night of heavy drinking. "Did you call to gloat about your chirpy mood or did you need something? I have some more hangover wallowing to do."

  "Actually, I need a favor. It's more like a huge favor and before you say no and turn me down, remember that I'm desperate and no one will know that you're doing it."

  If she has to prep her favor like this I'm already worried about what she might need from me. "Spit it out, Kendall."

  "Reese called in sick tonight and my on-call, Erin, can't come in so I'll be manning the office and phones all by myself. You know how crazy the calls and requests can get at night. It may be a Sunday night, but between all the different services Forbidden Desires, Inc. offers, there is no way I can handle the phones by myself. I'll screw it up and send an escort where a stripper is supposed to be, or worse to a house that was supposed to only be receiving a call from one of our girls like you.

  "I'll fuck the whole thing up, Skye, I know it. Noah will fire me and in a week time I'll be out on the street and forced to sell my body so I can get a decent meal. I need your help."

  I pause before answering to make sure she's done rambling. "Kendall, I'm sorry you're short staffed but the only phone calls I'm used to involve a lot of sighing and moaning. I don't know how to handle what you and Reese do over at the office...and what if Noah was to walk in? He'll flip his shit seeing me answering phones in his office. It's not only a risk of him finding out I'm helping you tonight, but I'm risking him finding out he employs me as a phone sex operator."

  "He'll be at the bar all night, Skye. They're short staffed tonight, too, so Noah's bartending until close. We close up an hour before the bar does so you'll be out of the office before he could ever find out."

  "I can't–"

  "Please, Skye. I need this. It could be fun, the two of us working together, and it means more money in your pocket."

  That line about money was clever on her part. She knows I need cash right now.

  "All right, okay, but just tonight. This is a one-time thing and Noah can never find out I was in his office. When I screw up one of these calls, and I will screw up, you have to take the blame for it because he can never know I was there. Do we have a deal?"

  She's practically giddy on the other end of the line. "We have a deal. I'll pick you up at five and we'll go over together."

  Looking down at my outfit I don't want to have to change into regular clothes. I'm too comfortable. "Do I have to change or can I wear the sweats I'm wearing now?"

  "You have to change, Skye. Sometimes we have clients come in and book appointments in person. They look through a book to pick out an escort or stripper for the night. Because of that Noah wants us dressed professionally with a hint of sexy."

  "God, you're making me want to take it all back and tell you no. I'm comfy in my sweats, Kendall. I shouldn't be forced to put on real clothes."

  "Think of it this way. I'll owe you a favor that you can cash in at anytime with no restrictions."

  "Okay, I'll be ready at five. And Kendall?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Expect to pay me back with one monumental favor."

  ***

  "Then there was Kevin. You can't skip by Kevin."

  "Oh right, Kevin," she murmurs. Kendall almost forgot about the guy we met at a Knicks game. "That lasted less than two weeks. Every time he talked to me he talked to my boobs instead of my face. At first I thought it was cute, but it got old real fast."

  "Maybe he thought your nipples were your eyes."

  We burst out laughing as I spin around in the black office chair at Reese's desk. It's just past eleven and in less than an hour we'll be out of here and I can go home and slip back into my sweats.

  Tonight wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. After getting a hang of the phone system, I was taking calls and scheduling like a pro. I got calls for everything tonight. One guy wanted to hire a stripper to come out to his hotel room for a last minute divorce party. I had a few calls from men–and one angry wife–wanting to dispute the c
harges on their credit cards for webcam services we offer. There were phone sex calls with men wanting to be set up with a "hottie" and one even asked for me by my fake name. I told him Nora wasn't working tonight.

  My most exciting phone call was from a man who claimed to be the assistant of a very famous NBA player who was in town for the night and wanted an escort for the evening. I scheduled him with our most popular escort so that hopefully he'll continue to bring business to Noah.

  The only bad part is I had to change into a skirt, heels, and dressy top to help Kendall at work tonight.

  In between phone calls Kendall and I talked and goofed around. Our latest conversation is about her string of bad choices in men.

  "I dated that barista you used to work with for a couple months. That was a decent relationship."

  "You dated that barista...really, Kendall? What was his name?"

  "Umm...Carter?" she guesses, looking over at me puzzled.

  "Phil. His name was Phil and it was not a relationship. You were screwing him and that's all. He never stood a chance."

  "Why do you say that?"

  "Because he made minimum wage and was addicted to his PlayStation."

  "God," she groans as she leans back into her chair and her straight black head of hair falls down the back. "Why can't I meet one decent guy? It shouldn't be hard to find someone who doesn't live at home, or play make-believe for hours with strangers all over the world via a game system."

  "It'll happen, Kendall. You just have to give it time."

  "That's right, I forgot. I'm talking to a relationship expert. You and Caleb are practically married."

  The mention of Caleb's name makes me cringe inside. He never responded to my text from this afternoon, and he hasn't called me since he left me at Noah's bar. He could be mad at me and ignore my calls, but something tells me that's not it.

  Something else is going on with him.

  I refuse to believe it is anything related to what Kendall and Noah's suspicions are about him. Caleb would never screw around on me. He loves me too much. After six years together we have built a strong foundation to our relationship based on love and mutual respect. We may not come from the same type of upbringing, but that doesn't matter to him as much as everyone thinks it does.

  He wants to be with me and he wants to take care of me. Sooner or later he is going to call me and have a perfectly reasonable explanation to why he hasn't texted me back.

  "Is that right, sugar bear?" Kendall flirts. At first I think she's talking to a client but then I spot the cell phone in her hand. I don't hear what "sugar bear" says back, but she giggles and then whispers, "I'll see what I can do," before ending the call.

  "Soooo..." Kendall's looking at me with desperate, wanting eyes and I just know I'm going to hate what she says next. "It's slow...and we close up in thirty minutes...and I was thinking maybe you could do me a favor and close up alone tonight? I kind of have a date waiting."

  “Kendall!" I sigh out annoyed. "I'm in the middle of the last favor you asked me for and I don't know how to close."

  "It's easy and I wouldn't ask if it wasn't really important."

  "You having sex tonight isn't that important."

  "My vagina feels differently."

  This is so typical Kendall. I love her dearly, but she's ruled by her hormones. "What's your latest regret's name?"

  "Gavin," she replies, wiggling her eyebrows and making a crude gesture with her tongue and two fingers.

  "Make sure to let Gavin know you owe me two favors now."

  "You're going to close up for me?"

  "Yeah, I guess I will. I was already planning on being here until close anyway."

  "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you," she screams, flying out of her chair before pulling me up with her as she jumps up and down in excitement. "You don’t know how happy you've made me. You don’t know how happy you've made my vagina."

  Scrunching my face in disgust I shove her off me. "If you don't stop talking about your vagina I'm going to take it back and you'll have to close up yourself."

  Lifting one of her hands to her mouth she makes a motion like she's zipping her mouth shut and then walks over to her desk to shut everything down as she hums Ginuwine's Pony.

  "At midnight shut the phone system down, turn off the computers and lights, and lock up. It's that easy. Noah will have one of the bouncers at the bar waiting outside to stay with you until you're in a cab. He takes security very seriously."

  Okay, I'll turn off the phones, shut the computers down, and lock up–easy.

  "Got it. Now go have fun and call me in the morning so I know you're okay."

  Kendall grabs her purse and hands me the keys before leaning in to give me a peck on the cheek. "Will do. Thanks, doll."

  The next half hour passes quickly. I get two more phone calls, one to ask when Bar Forbidden closes and the other to book an escort for Saturday night. When it's time to lock up, I shut everything down and grab my purse, ready to head home and throw my sweats back on.

  I never discussed with Kendall how exactly she was going to pay me for tonight since she was working, too, but I know she'll figure something out. She wouldn't risk my cover being blown. She knows how important it is for Noah and Caleb to never find out I work for Forbidden Desires, Inc.

  Forbidden Desires' office is on the second floor of the building across the street from Bar Forbidden. When I step out onto the outdoor walkway on the second floor and lock up, no bouncer is out here waiting for me like Kendall said there would be. He could be running late and I know I should wait for someone, but I'm too anxious to get home. I can walk myself downstairs to the curb and hail a taxi all by myself.

  The walkway is dark as I hold onto the metal railing to feel my way. When I reach the stairs, I'm able to see the steps in front of me as they're lit from the streetlights below. When I reach the bottom and take a step towards the curb two unfamiliar arms grab me from behind. I try to scream but whoever's behind me is too fast and covers my mouth with his dirty palm.

  I twist and turn, trying to get out of his reach, but this just makes him angry as he pulls me harder until I'm behind the stairwell.

  I'm going to die. I just know it. I haven't spoken to my parents in over a week, I'll never get to thank Noah for taking care of me last night, and I never got to clear things up with Caleb and tell him I love him.

  I try biting down on my assailant’s hand but he must have a strong threshold for pain because he doesn't falter.

  Are these going to be the last few moments before I die?

  The large man behind me finally lets go and throws me down in the dark space behind the stairwell and I take my brief moment of freedom and scream, "Fire," at the top of my lungs.

  Back when I was in school we had a police officer come in and talk to us all about safety. He never told us why we should yell fire, but I remembered if I was ever in a dire situation and needed help that was the magic word.

  "You stupid bitch!" he yells. I've angered the beast.

  I continue to yell and he falls on his knees in front of me. His large frame leans over my petite one and then I feel a sharp pain in my stomach, and then a crushing pain spreads across my cheek. My head falls back against the cement floor and throbs from the impact. My vision begins to blur and I scream out one more time as my assailant’s hands start to lift the bottom of my skirt up.

  Stupid Kendall for making me dress nice tonight. I bet if I looked like a hung over slob he would have left me alone.

  His hands are on my knees, pushing them to the side, but then suddenly they're gone. I look up and all I see is a blur of punching and kicking. My attacker and Noah are in an all out fight to the death. I should get up and help Noah, but I'm paralyzed on the ground, too traumatized to move and really understand what is happening before my eyes.

  My attacker lands a clean hit to Noah's ribs, but then Noah decks him with a hard right hook and my attacker falls to the ground. He's knocked out cold.

&nb
sp; I begin to shiver, the fear taking over my body as reality of what almost happened starts to hit me. I was attacked tonight and could have been raped.

  I feel a hand caress my swollen cheek and I flinch away, scared that my attacker woke back up, but then I focus and Noah is crouched in front of me. His light brown eyes expressing love and concern and I know I have nothing to fear anymore.

  "Did he...hurt you?" he asks as he hesitantly lifts his hand to stroke my injured skin. "Other than your face, are you hurt?"

  "Just...my stomach.” My voice trembles as I turn and try to sit up. The movement causes my belly to ache even more. Noah wraps an arm under mine and helps me up. I wobble on my heels and Noah holds me tighter, making sure I don't fall over. Noah's scent mixed with his comforting hold is exactly what I need right now.

  "I should take you to the emergency room."

  "No, I'm fine. I swear. I'm just a little banged up."

  "A little banged up! That man attacked you. If I hadn’t come when I did who knows what else he would have done. What are you doing out here anyway?"

  Oh shit. I know I should be worried about a million other things, like if my cheek bone is broken or if my attacker is going to wake up before we call the police, but the only thing I'm worried about is Noah finding out why I'm under the stairwell of his office building complex.

  "It's not important right now."

  "Like hell it isn't. I'm going to call 911 and when the police arrive I need to escort Kendall to a taxi, although, when she sees you down here she's not going to want to hop in a cab."

  "Kendall? Why are you going to get Kendall?"

  "Because I'm short staffed tonight and my bouncer couldn't leave to escort her out of the office so I came to do it, and thank God, I did. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you, shorty."

  Fixing my skirt I lift a hand to my cheekbone to assess the damage. I feel a small cut where the bastard on the ground broke skin with the force of his punch. I wince as I touch it because it burns.