What If
“What the hell is wrong with you? You’ve been waiting for any news on the promotion for weeks. Now I’m here giving you good, solid intel and you act like I’m reading you a grocery list.”
“Sorry.” I shake my head and put the phone down. “Just have stuff on my mind.”
“Uh huh.” Gerald takes a drink from his white coffee mug. “This stuff have anything to do with that blonde from the bar last night? You get a taste of something you can’t shake?”
“Careful,” I grunt, surprised at my reaction. “Don’t disrespect her,” I add, making sure my message is loud and clear.
“Well, well.” Gerald chuckles. “Seems your long dry spell may be over. I’m happy for you, man. I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to get back in the game.”
“Not a game,” I reply. “And thanks for the info. I appreciate it.”
“Sure. If I was betting, I’m betting you’re the front runner for the promotion. You deserve it, man. You outwork most of the rest of us schmucks put together.”
“Well, that may or may not be true. But I’ve got to get on this case. This guy has girls all over the city delivering for him but none of them will ID him. Why would they do his dirty work? I don’t get it. They get pinched, and he’s sitting somewhere fat and happy.”
“Love can make you do strange things.” Gerald raises an eyebrow at me, and I shake my head.
Chapter 7
Jessie
“What the message say this time?” Helga’s concern fills her voice.
“Yes, what’s he saying?”
Helga and Heather are both looking over my shoulder at my laptop.
We are in the back room at the bakery. I’m on my author Facebook page and just got three very disturbing messages from a guy without a profile picture or anything public to see on his profile.
“He said I’ll see you soon. Then, he said ‘Paybacks.’ That’s it.”
“That’s enough.” Helga huffs, spinning around and running her hands down the front of her white apron, which is pulling tight over her belly. “You call the Facebook and tell them someone bothering you.”
I pinch my lips together. “It doesn’t work like that, Helga.”
“Well, it should. Back where I come from, we protect women. Facebook not protecting you, you leave Facebook.” Helga waves her hands in the air and stomps to the front of the bakery when the bells on the door chime.
She’s already apologized for setting me up with Derek, and I know she meant no harm. Come to find out, he’d only come in here once, but in her eagerness to get me married off, she’d talked me up, told him I was an author, showed him my picture and admitted she was even a little surprised when he’d so quickly agreed to go out with me. She’d not used the best judgment, and I know it’s embarrassed her, so she’s being extra protective about everything now.
I gave her a general rundown of what happened with Derek but left out the fact that he slid his hand up my leg and called me a cunt. I’m afraid if she knew that and saw him again, she’d knock out his front teeth with one punch.
Heather rolls her eyes at me then tips her head toward where Helga went through the door to the front of the bakery. “She doesn’t quite get the whole Facebook experience.”
“No, she doesn’t. I’d block him, but I’d rather know what’s coming, you know? I’m sure it’s nothing, I’ve had creeps’ message me before. Seems you write some good sex and they think you’re ready, willing, and able for anyone that makes an offer…but still.” I answer absently, unsure if the feeling of discomfort is coming from the messages on Facebook or the fact that every thought I have is filled with Torin.
Heather came in for coffee and a donut as she does a couple of times a week. She sat and watched me decorate the cake while I gave her the rundown of what happened last night—minus the fact that I ended up having sex with a guy I just met. I told her I met him, spent time with him, just left out the sticky bits because the truth is, there’s still a part of me that is scared that’s all I was to him.
The sticky bits.
“So, he drove you to work.” She rubs her nose and takes a drink of her coffee. “That’s promising.” There’s a hopeful look in her eyes, and it makes me wonder why the two women in my life want nothing more than for me to find a man. I think I’m doing just fine without one, but I’ll admit after last night with Torin, there are some perks I’ve been missing.
“Yup,” I answer. “And I guess we are going out tonight again. Six o’clock.” I look at the clock on the wall for the millionth time today. It’s one thirty, and I’m ready to jump out of my skin.