The Girl in Apartment 1203

by Paige Parsons

  Saturday was supposed to be a fun and relaxing evening. Instead, she was spending it in the corner staring at a weird, stupid dent in her wall, hoping Jack hadn't taken what he'd heard all the wrong way.

  Eleven

  Jack

  His head nearly exploded. It was as though their conversation that morning had not happened. The look on her face read one hundred percent guilty and completely busted. She resembled a five year old caught with her hand in the cookie jar, a kid pinched for lifting candy from the corner store, or a student nabbed with a cheat sheet. This wasn't a twenty-one year old standing before him. Jack knew he needed to calm down and mentally sort through what he'd heard and seen. Kid was in a web of deceit. He was getting a much clearer picture surrounding her hesitation to come clean. She was juggling a wagon full of tales, both big and small.

  He never said a word to her but only moved a pile of random clothing from the best corner in her room he could find and escorted her to it. She kept glancing at him, but Jack was having none of it. If Keila wanted some sort of reassurance, she wouldn't find it until they talked and she paid the piper. The urge to call her mother, himself, and clear up the whole mess was at the tip of his brain and on the tip of his tongue, but she had to do it.

  "Keila."

  Was she actually hesitating to turn around and come to him? Jack was seconds from crossing the room and getting her.

  "Keila, do not make me come and get you. Turn around to me."

  This time, she complied, but there was something distinct in her eyes that didn't resemble remorse or shame or even an ounce of humility. Perhaps they both needed her to be in that corner a little longer. If she was about to present any type of defense, he really thought he might need something stronger than his hand to drive home the point of the truth. For now, she still had the chance to explain herself.

  Jack had moved one of the chairs from her table set into her bedroom. There was no accidental cuddling about to take place. She needed to know he was more serious than he'd been in all the time she'd known him. He was prepared to take the next step with her, steps that had been scaring him for more than a decade. He couldn't let her deceit tank what he knew they both wanted.

  "Wow, are you so done with me that you can't sit next to me?" Keila asked.

  "I will not be sidetracked with snark. This is about whatever you were up to in that closet. It's about whatever lie was rolling off of your tongue with the ease of an expert charlatan. I cannot believe all of the things I took myself through today in order to prove myself and my commitment to you, and while I was doing that, you were digging a ditch you couldn't possibly pull yourself out of. If I were you, I'd be thankful I got caught. How much longer do you think you could keep this up?"

  She was still standing beside the bed looking down at him, the gravity of what he was saying clear on her face. He could tell by her back and forth glances between him and the floor that she was unsure of what to say to him. Honestly, he wasn't sure what she could say that would squash down the sickness of uncertainty that had taken up residence in the pit of his stomach since catching the tail end of her conversation.

  Eyes cast down, Jack heard her timid voice float up to his ears. "Do you really want me to answer that question? Jack, I don't know how much of what you heard, but please believe me that it had nothing to do with you. I know it doesn't feel that way, but the wheels were already in motion on some things. I couldn't just start pulling the plug or plugging up the holes. I don't even know what I'm saying anymore. I just hate the way you're looking at me."

  "Not much that I can do about that right now. If I'm looking at you with disappointment or sadness or irritation, you pretty much brought it on yourself. Now, Keila, sit down." Jack could see her physical reaction to his curt, harsh tone. She shook like a chill had just run down her spine.

  What she did next stole his breath and almost put both of them and the chair on the floor. His arms were suddenly filled with one hundred and fifteen pounds of twenty-one year old. The ferocity of her mount and clutch nearly toppled him and his chair, which only confirmed her intensity, because taking him and a chair down was no easy feat.

  "This isn't what I meant by sit down," uttered Jack.

  She had her head buried in the crook of his neck and he could feel the tears running down his pulse, beneath his ear lobe and beyond the collar of his shirt. Keila Soriano was going to be the death of him and his so called resolve. He started rubbing her back, providing comfort he felt certain she didn't deserve. She was in a misery of her own making. All of this was happening in his head, but in his heart, she made him weak.

  "Keila, don't mistake my loving you for acceptance of your latest web of lies."

  "I didn't lie to you. That's what I wanted to say."

  "You didn't lie to me, but you lied about me and I reckon it wasn't the first time. It is going to be the last, though."

  Her silent streaming tears keened a bit higher and turned into a wail. There was no way a single threat of a spanking had her unraveling in this manner.

  "Talk to me."

  "You're going to go away, leave me because I don't know how to be good. I can't do things the way you want."

  He needed to see her, and he needed her to see him. There could be no mistaking his words. As he turned her side-saddle on his lap so her bottom rested on one thigh while her legs dangled off his other, he placed two fingers under her chin and looked her square in the eye.

  "There isn't a single, solitary thing bad about you or in you, and I am not going anywhere. Keila, I'm not going anywhere. You don't think I have a fear that one day, I'll come back and you'll be gone. I'm the one twenty years older than you. You could find someone whom you have a whole generation of things in common with and decide that this rigid old man isn't worth the time or all of his rules. What we have is built on love and, most importantly, trust. That's why what you did is so hurtful."

  "Won't sorry make it better?" Keila asked in the sweetest voice possible.

  Jack threw his head back and laughed. Her shenanigans would keep him on his toes and keep him young. Her emotional faucet ran hot and cold at will. He might be in love and more of a pushover than he wished, but she wasn't getting away with anywhere near what she thought as she watched him laughing. She was wiping her tear stained face on the back of her hand and making moves to stand up.

  "Where do you think you're going? This conversation is hardly over. We haven't even made a dent."

  "Jack," she called his name in sing-songy voice.

  "Not a chance. I've decided your punishment. This is on top of the spanking you have coming and not in lieu of it. I will give you a choice, though."

  "I choose no spanking at all."

  "Not an option on the table."

  "I should have known. Go ahead. I suppose I deserve it." Seeing his scowl, she quickly amended, "I absolutely deserve it and am happy to do whatever you say."

  "Don't make false promises just yet."

  "That sounds ominous."

  "You and I are taking a trip, Kid."

  A tiny part of him felt like a heel. She was probably thinking something tropical and spring break related, but it wasn't what Jack had in mind at all.

  "You might not be as excited as you think, when I tell you our destination. Next weekend, we are going home to New York."

  Keila looked at him like he just announced they were going to board a spaceship to Mars.

  "Why are we going to New York together?"

  "Easy. I think it's time for both of us to make a few introductions. I am going to meet your mother and grandmother. No. This is not something I'm going to negotiate with you. This is happening. You are going to pick up that phone, put it on speaker, and make sure they will both be there. Then we're going to visit Julia's gravesite. New York isn't really home anymore. I don't visit the way I used to, and I want to explain why, tell her about you, and say goodbye. There's a good chance I won't be back for a while."

  "Oh, my God, Jack, are you
serious? I can't go with you to Julia's gravesite. That's way too personal. I mean—she was the love of your life. Your wife. It wouldn't be right."

  "I thought you would think it was weird or morbid. How can it be wrong if I'm going to take you? You also need to know that I spoke with her parents this morning and told them all about you."

  "Everything?"

  "I wouldn't tell anyone everything. Some things are just for us; plus, I know how much it embarrasses you."

  "I'm not—"

  "Keila, isn't that the real reason you don't want your family to meet me? They'll have questions, and you're ashamed about the fact that you considered the sugar bowl, that our relationship started as an arrangement, and what a big part money played in the whole thing."

  "When you spell it out like that, I want to throw up. You'll be lucky if Grams doesn't try to have you arrested."

  "I can be quite charming."

  "Not that charming, believe me."

  "We aren't going to debate that. Are you ready to hear about your choice?"

  If she didn't stop squirming, Jack knew he was going to have to split his focus. Half would go on keeping his erection at bay, and the other half would be on this conversation. He needed to bring this back around to what he needed to say.

  Popping her on her backside, he said, "Keep yourself still."

  "Someone's moody."

  "That must translate to, yes, Jack."

  "Yes, it does." Keila clamped her lips together tightly.

  "You are not off of the hook. I talked to you about this web of lies you created long before you moved in here, long before our official arrangement, repeatedly over the last nine months, and just this morning. Your habit of slipping in a comforting lie, whether it's for your comfort or someone else's, has to stop. I aim to drive that point home in the most efficient manner I know. Now, I know this trip is going to stress you out. I know thinking about this trip is going to fry your nerves, so I'm willing to give you a pass—rephrasing, I'm willing to give you a temporary pass. We can deal with your spanking once we get back from our trip. However, if you earn anything while we are on this trip, it will not negate this one. The other choice is you get it over with now. But, please know that if we don't deal with it now, it won't matter how the trip goes, we will revisit this when we get back."

  "The trip could go very well, for me. I'm telling you, after a couple of days with she-cudas, you'll be offering to buy me anything I want as a thank you for keeping them out of your life for as long as I have."

  "I doubt that. What's your choice?"

  "Don't I get any thinking time?"

  "No. I'm happy to make the decision for you."

  "I don't see that working in my favor."

  "Neither is procrastinating. Count of ten—my hand on the phone or my hand on your ass?"

  "Depends on how you plan to— Fine, too soon. I'll make the call."

  "Good choice."

  Jack stood her up and reached for her phone that she'd put on her dresser and handed it to her. She gave him one final pleading look, but this time, his resolve was back in place. She went list of last numbers dialed and hit send.

  "Speaker."

  "Don't say anything, please." Jack raised his hands palms up and out to let her know he would keep silent.

  "Keila, what's wrong?" Wow, that was how her mother answered the phone? Jack, so far, wasn't feeling good about how this might go.

  "Mom, nothing is wrong."

  "Well, you couldn't get me off the line fast enough before. Obviously, I was annoying you with my request to see you."

  "No, that wasn't it at all, Mom. Plus, you and Grams are going to get to see me. I thought I'd come home next weekend since spring break isn't going to happen, you know, because of work."

  Jack's hand landed full and firm on her backside. Then he cleared his throat enough to make her face him. He mouthed two words, "The truth!"

  "Mom, I'm coming home because I want you to meet someone. A friend of mine. An important friend. I want you and Grams to meet him before graduation."

  "Keila, I don't want to meet some little useless college boyfriend who'll disappear before the ink is dry on either of your degrees. Why now? Your grams has a lot going on and, frankly, so do I. This isn't a good time to entertain out of town guests."

  Jack wouldn't have believed Mrs. Soriano's response if he wasn't hearing it himself. Keila looked at him and mouthed, "What now?"

  This was more challenging than he thought it would be. These women were tough. He just waved his hand for her to keep talking.

  "Mother, I'm coming home, and I really hope you and Grams are up to meeting up. It's important to me, Mom."

  "Fine. I can't speak for your grandmother, but of course, I'll meet your friend. You'll stay here, and we can get to know one another."

  "Um, well, um— We'll probably stay in a hotel. I don't want to make Grams uncomfortable."

  "You hardly ever come home, so you're staying here. Now, if your friend is going to be uncomfortable staying in a historic home with your family, then he can stay in a hotel."

  "Yes, Mother."

  "Don't use that tone on me. You know I'm right, and it's better to settle this before I tell Grams and not spring it on her. Are you lying around now?"

  "What?" Keila asked. She knew her mother's conversational transitions were wonky, but she'd had enough wonky for one night.

  "I don't know. You sound like you're slouching or lying about."

  "Mom, I'm not doing either. Okay, I need to go. I love you."

  "Well, look who remembered phone etiquette this time around. I love you, too, baby."

  Keila put the phone down and stared at Jack. All he could do was open his arms to her. Yeah, that was rough.

  She looked up at him and said, "Maybe I should take that spanking now. I'm bound to say something that's going to get me into a heap of trouble."

  Twelve

  Keila

  "Keila, have you sent out the mock ups yet?"

  Damn, she had to stop spacing out at work. The whole week had been exactly like this. People were saying things to her twice just to get a single word response or head nod, if they got anything at all. She thought the questions sounded familiar, but for the life of her, she couldn't get her brain to unscramble.

  "I'm sorry, I didn't catch the first part of that," she said to her cubicle mate.

  "Girl, what is going on with you? Marybeth wants the mock ups to the client as soon as possible and they need to go to copy editing first. Did you send them out?"

  "Oh, yeah. I sent them last night before I left. It was late and I was here anyway, so no big deal. I'll send Marybeth a message now."

  "That can wait. I'll let her know. Don't you need to get out of here?"

  "Why?"

  "Keila, you came in five days ago and said you needed to leave early this Friday, today, and to take off on Monday. Family emergency back home in New York. Why isn't any of this ringing a bell?"

  Keila really liked working with her friend. Leighann was funny and feisty and smart as hell. They'd met at the internship then discovered they had a few classes together. Even the one with 'Professor Hottie.' No one could take Brianna's place, but Keila had to have friends who were still in school, too, and Leighann was perfect. If Keila was petite next to Bri, then Leighann was almost pocket size compared to Keila. Her mouth was full size, though. She also never let Keila forget anything. It was great when they worked on a project but lousy in a moment like this one.

  "Lower your voice. Folks are going to think I was lying just to get a long weekend."

  "I've seen Jack. I would lie to get a long weekend with him."

  Keila shook her head. Brianna would really like Leighann.

  "I'll be sure to tell him. No doubt, he'll be flattered."

  "Okay, don't tell him anything, but tell me where you found him. Come on; don't be selfish. Share the knowledge."

  "Not important and I wasn't lying, believe me. I'm working on not eve
n telling the tiny ones."

  "You're better than I am."

  "It's a new development," Keila said and tried really hard not to reference her butt by rubbing it. That wouldn't go unnoticed, and she was not up to explaining the action with a lie or the truth.

  "Leighann, focus for me. Are you sure you're cool to start the research for our next project without me? I'll try to be available, but I'm not gonna lie—yeah, yeah, I know what I just said—things might be hectic for me, so all of my responses will be delayed."

  "I got you. Now, get your stuff and get out of here. Go."

  Obviously, that conversation was over. Keila grabbed her bag, hugged her friend, and bolted from the office. Leighann would catch her up on everything in the office when she got back. She needed to race back to the apartment and throw a bag together. Regardless of what her mother had said, every time she had called her this week, and twice last night, about having everything ready for them at the house and how excited her grams was that they were coming, Keila was suspicious. She'd made Jack book a hotel, just in case, anyway. There was a good chance they would get thrown out or end up fleeing from the brownstone like it was a crime scene.

  She called Brianna on the drive home.

  "How do you know to call me when I have news for you?" Brianna said, answering the call like they were already mid conversation.

  "Hello to you, too. I have zero idea what you're talking about."

  "I got the part. In the musical I auditioned for last weekend. First step to stardom."

  "Wow, congratulations! I'm so happy for you. I want to know every detail."

  "And you will, as soon as I do. I kind of screamed and didn't ask a lot of questions. I'll have to learn to deal with this kind of news better.

  "Just a tad. That really is awesome news, Bri. We have to get together to celebrate, when I get back from Brooklyn."

  "That's cute. You think you're going to make it back from the seventh level of Hell."