Chapter 11

I got back home a little dazed, with no desire to talk to anyone. I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts. But I knew it was not going to be possible when Sandra was there. And it was normal. I had dropped her a text at the start of the evening telling her I was going to be out, but I had ignored every subsequent text. Or no! I had not ignored them. I had just been sidetracked. That was it.

I knew she was going to ask me one million and one questions, and I wasn’t exactly sure I was ready to answer them. From her texts—which I had read and ignored shamelessly—she thought I had gone on a romantic date. That was so farfetched. With everything going on in my life at the moment, the last thing I needed or even wanted was romance.

But I was going to go along with whatever she thought. It was way easier that way, instead of thinking up a story. And honestly, with the way things were looking, I had no desire to start lies that I could not maintain. Along the line, I would figure out what to tell her about how I had gotten the money. I was going to find a reasonable excuse.

I knew that my father was not going to be an issue. He didn’t care where I took the money from so long as it was serving him and his purpose. I could go up to him with one million dollars, tell him I had sold my body to get it, and after telling me how much of a whore he always knew I was, he would take the money with no qualms at all.

Sometimes, I wondered why I even tried with that man.

I rang the bell and leaned on the wall opposite the door, waiting for Sandra to come and open up. It didn’t take very long. There was a worried expression on her face, and I felt bad for having caused that. I was used to not having anyone care about me, and I had forgotten that she was my best friend and that she might get worried.

I got in silently, after whispering hey and not getting any response from Sandra. I guess she was truly mad. I waited for her to lock the door up, then I headed to the living room area and took a seat on the couch. Sandra sat opposite me, a displeased expression on her face. I stared at her as she stared at me expectantly, clearly waiting for an explanation that I wasn’t sure I was ready to give.

“So?” she asked, and I was taken back to the evening.

I cleared my throat, kicked my mules off, and tucked my feet underneath my body before speaking. “I was on a date.”

Sandra did not react like I had expected her to, which was honestly understandable. I couldn’t expect her to scream of joy anyways when it was clear that she was annoyed at me, and when it was clear that I needed to provide a more detailed explanation.

“And?”

Oof. I hated how dry she sounded. I coughed before opening my mouth to talk.

“I met someone yesterday when I went to apply for the job. His name is Jax, and he asked me out on a date. I—” I didn’t have the chance to finish my sentence before Sandra cut me off.

“Jax? Jax Coleman?” she asked, and I winced internally.

What on earth had possessed me to give the name Jax? I acted perplexed though, deciding that I would pretend that I had no idea who Jax Coleman was. And I did.

“Jax Coleman?” I asked, hoping that I sounded confused enough.

I hated the fact that I couldn’t tell Sandra any of what had actually happened, but I had no choice. I couldn’t start breaking the contract now. We weren’t even one day in.

“Never mind,” she said. I let out a sigh of relief, then cocked my head when she motioned for me to go on with my story.

“So, he invited me for a date, and since you weren’t home by the time I was leaving, I didn’t want to tell you. I wanted to tell you in person. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to keep things away from you.”

I hoped I looked pitiful enough.

Turns out I did because the expression on Sandra’s face changed drastically. It was clear that she had been trying so hard to stay mad, but I don’t think there was ever a time where the both of us could stay mad at each other.

“So? Tell me everything!” she exclaimed. Then she jumped in her chair like a five year old. “Oh my God, this is the first time you’re actually telling me about anybody. Details. Now!”

I felt very guilty. She was right. This was the first time I was telling her about someone and with how excited she looked, I wished it were true. If not for me, just for her. If wishes were horses…

I plastered a big smile on my face and started lying. “He invited me over to his place,” I started. I wanted to stick to the truth as much as I possibly could, but with the scandalized expression on Sandra’s face, maybe I should have left that part out of the lies.

“Girl, please, tell me you said no.”

I knew the expression on my face was sheepish when Sandra’s eyes popped out in disbelief.

“You need lectures and a whole lot of sense slapped into you, but I am going to let you continue your story. Go on.”

I chuckled a little. “You know how much I hate public settings, babe. It was probably for the best. And nothing happened. I’m smart enough not to let a man persuade me.”

Sandra’s expression turned worrying again and I wondered what she was about to say this time.

“Baby, it’s not about you being smart. I am not trying to patronize you in any way, but Seattle is nothing like Youngstown. There are terrible people here—I have scars to prove that—and they would stop at nothing to take advantage of others. You’re beautiful, so please be careful. I am happy nothing bad happened, but make sure that you don’t repeat the same mistake. Please.”

“I’ve heard you, babe. Thank you.”

I was happy and grateful that she was looking out for me, even though it was useless because for the next few months, I was going to be alone with a guy who looked like he would devour me if I just gave him a tiny opening. That was life.

“So, are you guys going to meet up with each other again?” she asked, and I nodded, grateful that this time around, it was no lie.

“Yes, and before you say anything, I have heard you and I won’t meet up with him at his place.”

“Thank you,” Sandra said sarcastically, and I burst into laughter.

I loved this girl so much. She was the only person on this earth that I knew I could truly count on and I didn’t know what I would do without her most times.

“I love you,” I said.

Sandra’s expression softened and she walked over to me and pulled me into a hug that I reciprocated warmly. “I love you,” she whispered, and we stayed like that for a few minutes, nobody saying anything. Just two best friends basking in the warmth of each other’s love. Every good thing had to end though, and it was with a bittersweet feeling in my heart that I pulled away from her.

“Oh, by the way, I landed another interview. I know you want to know all about it, and I promise you I will tell you everything about it. I just don’t want to talk about it now and jinx it. You know how I am with those things,” I explained with a sheepish expression on my face.

I was very superstitious. I couldn’t explain why. But it was that way, and no matter how much I had tried to change, it wasn’t something that could go away so easily. I knew Sandra understood when she nodded. I loved her so much and the more understanding she was, the more I felt guilty. It was all good. At the end of this agreement, I was going to tell her the gist of it. And I hoped she would understand.

I stood and smiled at her. “Okay, let me go rest. I am very tired—don’t you dare make a dirty joke,” I warned when I saw the stupid smile growing on Sandra’s face. I knew her well enough to know that she was going to say something stupid. “I am tired because yesterday was long, and I need enough rest for tomorrow.”

“Okay baby, whatever you say,” she said then giggled. “Good night darling. I’d say dream of me, but it is clear that the slot is already occupied. So, I just going to wish you a good night’s sleep. Don’t dream of anything too steamy. You need concentration for tomorrow!” she exclaimed, and I couldn’t help the ugly laugh that escaped my mouth.

Sandra was such an idiot, and I told her as much.

“I know baby, and you love me like that. Good night and sleep tight.”

“Good night baby girl,” I said to her then I got into my temporal bedroom and locked the door, hoping that sleep would actually find me.