“I’ll look after him. But in the meantime, I want you to tell me all about this girl that has caught your eye.”
“Ma,” I say standing and shaking my head. Leaning down to kiss her cheek, I hug her tightly. “I need to go home to sleep.”
She rolls her eyes as I walk out the door.
I head off to bed, dreaming about that kiss, and the way her lips felt.
The way she made me fucking feel.
I’m fucked.10EliceaFlustered is all I can say, that man makes me flustered. I’ve needed the last few days to distance myself from him and just be me. I even went shopping, which is very rare for me considering I didn’t have enough money to rub between two fingers. But now, thanks to my new job, I have more than enough and even some for savings. I could finally buy a car if I continue to work like this. That’s unheard of, I would have had to work at least two jobs to get what I earn in one day at this place and then there’s the tips on top of that.
“You can’t go out wearing that.” Tracey shakes her head. I spin on the spot, my white dress flowing up like Marilyn Monroe. I should have bought the wig too. My dark hair doesn’t really match. But the dress, oh my God, the dress is to die for. It fits me like a glove and I’m going to the movies and dinner.
“What do you mean, I’m already out.” I smile big, and she shakes her head at me.
“Would you at least put on a jacket? People are staring.” I laugh at her, she’s grumpy because she drank too much last night and is hungover.
“Nope, it’s too much fun.”
“People are staring.”
I turn around again, so the dress flies up but not so high you can see up it. “Isn’t it just so pretty.”
She stops, then her eyes zero in on me. “Oh my God, I blame the hangover for not noticing sooner. You have that look. Who is it for? The guy from the club?”
I stop spinning and brush my dress down as we move in line to buy some popcorn. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She brushes me off. “Please, you always get that look. That lost, faraway stare. So who’s the guy? Don’t tell me you’re back with Mickey. If you are, I’m going to question your sanity.”
Laughing at her, we order, and she watches me as I pay then step to the side to walk to the cinema.
“No, I’m not back with him. Do you think I’m that stupid?”
“I give up. Obviously, you aren’t telling me. So let’s change the subject to those new clothes and shoes.” She looks me up and down, the white heels matching my perfectly white dress. “You have a sugar daddy, don’t you?”
The laugh bubbles up in my throat and escapes before I can stop it. Leaning over, I clutch my new perfectly white dress and can’t stop myself. “Sugar daddy,” I say between laughs.
“Woman, stand up, you’re even more embarrassing now.”
Wiping away the tears of laughter, I do as she says. “No. No, sugar daddy. Just a better paying job.”
“Well, get me a job, too,” she says as we enter the cinema. It’s quiet as we take our seat. She leans over and whispers in my ear, “I’m not joking, see if they’re hiring.” She’s quiet for a long pause, which is very unlike Tracey. “You’re happier, I haven’t seen you like this before. I like it, a lot.”
Tracey knows my backstory, I’ve told her my life. She knows the ins and the outs and the pain.
“You have a right to be happy, you know, your past doesn’t define you.” I grab her hand and squeeze. Talking about the past isn’t something I like to do. It hurts, like a sharp pain is shooting through me and squeezing uncontrollably. I guess it’s a side effect of losing everyone you love in one instant.
My cell beeps, pulling me from where my mind was about to go.Shift tonight, 9pm.I groan, Tracey looks over my shoulder and shakes her head.
“I’m not leaving before this movie is finished, they said the ending is epic.”
I know what she means, it’s all I have heard about too.
I start typing out before the movie starts.I’m at the cinema, I might be late. Is that ok?I put it on silent as the movie starts. I feel it buzzing twice before I pick it up to look at it. Tracey nudges me to put it down but I can’t. As I said, this job is a priority. And also, I’m pretty sure this is Creed’s number. Of course, he would have mine from my forms. His I didn’t know.I can pick you up.My eyes go big at his words, then I read the second text.