“Wait, Gina! Can I ask a favour?”
Gina stopped and turned around her ears obviously prickling at what I could possibly want from her.
“Do you have a mobile phone I could borrow, just to make one quick call?”
Her jovial smile turned down straight away, and I just knew she’d be warned not to help me out like this,
“Please Gina, I only want to ring my roommate and check she’s okay. You can stay and listen the whole time.”
She bit her lip, I could tell she was wavering now.
“I won’t tell a soul about it, I promise.” I gave her my best puppy dog eyes now and slouched my shoulders to make myself look even more trust worthy.
“Fine!” She huffed reaching into her tiny shoulder bag and pulling out her jewel encrusted iPhone. “But if anyone ever finds out I did this I will kill you myself Chloe, understand?”
“Yes, thank you, thank you, thank you.” I replied hugging her quickly as she handed the phone to me.
Luckily Teresa’s number was ingrained into my brain after my own mobile was stolen a few months back. I usually rang her when I needed help, or a ride, or anything really.
The phone rang out a few times and my tummy flipped over as I worried that maybe she had been hurt or her phone had gotten into the wrong hands.
“Hey who’s this?” Teresa’s guarded voice sounded down the line.
“T it’s Chloe, are you okay?”
“Oh my God Chloe what the fuck is going on with you? I’ve got guys ringing and coming to the apartment every day looking for you. Where are you?”
“I’m okay T honestly, did you manage to get the rent money sorted? Are you okay?”
She sighed heavily down the phone at me, “Yes I’m fine and yes I got the money to Mr Grabby hands. Some guy, said he was a friend of yours dropped it off. Where are you Chloe?”
“Cool.” I replied avoiding her last question. “Listen, I’m gonna be home soon I just need you to sit tight for a little while. Don’t tell anyone I called and don’t answer the door anymore okay. I…quit my job at the club…that place is dodgy to say the least so whatever you do stay away from there okay.”
“I don’t think I’ll be hanging out in a strip club any time soon Chloe but seriously I need to know where you are dude, I can’t sleep at night for worrying about you girl.”
I’m not sure why I gave up so easily, Teresa was always pulling my private shit out of me without me even realising most of the time. It was her gift.
“I’m stopping with Luca, that guy I told you about from my past until this …”
I didn’t get to finish, the phone was snatched from my hand and Gina shut the call down.
“That was a dick move Chloe, you know you’re not supposed to tell anyone where you are,”
Her eyes turned cold towards me and I felt shame under her frozen glare.
“I’m sorry Gina, I trust Teresa though.” I shrugged hoping I hadn’t just given our fledgling friendship the kiss of death. I really was growing to like Gina DiMarco.
“Well for both our sakes I hope she lives up to that trust Chloe, because if Luca finds out I lent you my phone I’m in serious trouble.”
“I’m sorry Gina, if it comes to it I’ll say I stole it from your bag when you were in the bathroom or something.”
She nodded then her smile towards me warmed up again.
“Fine, it’s done now anyway no need to worry over something that might never happen. Anyway I’m off, so get back into that water you little minx and work off that sexual frustration that’s clouding your judgements lately.” She giggled to herself as she turned around and click-clacked her way out.
Sexual frustration? Was I sexually frustrated? How would Gina know that anyway just by looking at me? Could other people tell? Oh hell I might be a stripper with a smart mouth and a penchant for bringing the sass, but when it came to sex or rather the opposite sex I was pretty clueless. I dived into the pool and swam forty more lengths just to make sure any frustrations were well and truly burnt off.
Chapter 10