“No,” I laughed, “If I was doing that type of aerobics, I would be way too tied up to take any phone calls, pun intended.”
Amelia laughed again, but her smile slowly faded. I could see her practically bursting at the seams with emotion.
I hopped off the treadmill and led her into the kitchen and poured her a glass of wine while I fixed us both some salads before pouring a glass of my own.
Amelia stared blankly at the heaping plate of salad that I had served her and burst into tears again. I moved beside her and hugged her while she let out loud, wracking sobs that shook her entire frame. I felt so bad for her.
When she’d gotten ahold of herself enough to speak, she told me the whole story; some customer had offered her some mysterious “moneymaking opportunity” and insulted their family’s restaurant, but when she stood up for herself, her dad had reamed her in front of everyone. Things had just escalated and spiraled from there.
“My parents have no respect for me,” she said once her sobs died down to become intermittent hiccups. “They have never appreciated me, and they use me the most out of all of their employees. I’m not asking for special treatment or anything, and I’m not trying to toot my own horn, but I work harder than anyone at that place, and I get treated like crap. And I’m their kid, for fuck’s sake! So, I quit. And my quitting was all they needed to hear to kick me out of the house.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I had known that their family had some strained dynamics, but I never thought that it would come to them throwing their only daughter out into the street. Aren’t parents supposed to love you unconditionally?
“Well, like I said, you are welcome to stay here for as long as you need to,” I told her again, patting her hand for emphasis.
“I really do appreciate it,” she said, nodding graciously. “But, I don’t plan on sticking around for too long. I came across a moneymaking opportunity that looks really promising, so I’m looking forward to that.”
One thing I could say about Amelia is that she always saw the bright side of even the bleakest of circumstances. This time was no different.
The two of us spent the evening killing the bottle of wine together and watching tear-jerking chick-flicks until I couldn’t stop yawning.
So I got up and grabbed some pillow and blankets out of the closet for Amelia.
“So I’ve been up since early in the morning, much earlier than dawn cracked,” I yawned, “If you need anything, let me know. But, if not, I’m going to bed.”
She smiled. “Thanks, Candy. I’m so lucky to have a friend like you.”
I winked at her. “Don’t worry, things will look up soon.”
With that, I made my way to my bedroom and climbed into bed.
I couldn’t shut off my brain right away, though, as tired as I was. My mind kept going back to the moneymaking opportunity that Amelia had mentioned. What did she mean by that? I wasn’t sure, but my curiosity was definitely piqued. As I drifted off to sleep, I made a mental note that I would ask Amelia more about it in the morning. Hopefully I would be able to find out more about it.
Chapter Two
Elliot
I tried to hide my disappointment, but I couldn’t. I knew that it was etched on my face. I had been so fucking excited to finally have our town hosting auctions, thinking that I would find a girl at one of them who caught my attention.
But I was having no such luck. None of these girls were my type, and I was losing hope.
I started to wonder if I should just give up on the whole auction scene altogether. Maybe it just wasn’t for me.
I sat in my seat, looking around, dejected and disgusted. These people were like stagnant stand-ins, smiling and talking robotically like they did at every auction. I felt like I had seen this scene a million times before.
I didn’t get it, couldn’t figure out why I felt so empty. But even though I’d been excited, now that I was faced with the possibility of another one night stand…it bored me, somehow.
But I was drawn out of my sulky thoughts when I laid eyes on her. She was tall, with dirty blonde hair that framed her shapely face perfectly. I couldn’t help but stare at her bedroom eyes, pouty mouth, and curves that seemed to go on for days. She was standing off to the side watching the auction with wide-eyed amusement. It was a look that she that she was shocked by everything that was going on, but her curiosity wouldn’t let her look away.
I had to have her and I didn’t care what it took. I walked over to where she stood and introduced myself.