He collapsed on me, careful to hold the condom when sliding out.
“I didn’t mean to go so quick. You had me revved up.”
“Maybe I don’t have as much work later as I thought.” I was a different person with this guy. My wants felt like they mattered.
“I like that idea,” he was saying while standing. “Let me get you a cloth,” he added while tying the condom.
It wasn’t until he walked away that the knock on his door came.
I pulled the blanket around me as a steady banging continued, Brutus meeting it with deep barks.
Daniel came out from the en suite bathroom, slipped on a pair of sweats, and held a finger in the air. “Don’t move. Probably a needy neighbor. I’ll be right back.” He padded across the bedroom, partially closing the door behind him, and told Brutus, “Shhhh,” before I heard him unlatch the door.
I imagined him standing there without a shirt, a female neighbor ogling him.
That was until he said, “Dad? What are you doing here?”
Another set of feet stomped through the apartment, and I heard a deep voice tell Brutus, “Down.” His tone wasn’t kind, and I already didn’t like this man.
“Dad, what are you doing here?” I heard Daniel ask again.
“I didn’t care for your lack of concentration last week. Your eye is not on the prize, Daniel.”
“Seriously? I won.”
“Are you out your face? Have you been drinking?”
“Dad, I’m legal. I don’t even know why I’m explaining myself to you.”
I felt like a voyeur despite not seeing a thing. Here I was, naked, listening to a conversation I had no business listening to. Deciding I had to go, I slid out from the bed and tiptoed around, snatching my clothes off the floor, realizing my blouse was in the hallway.Shit.I went into the bathroom just as the two men were getting heated, luckily spying an Arizona golf shirt. I shrugged it on and decided Daniel wouldn’t miss it.
There was a lot ofthis is my life,no it’s notbeing thrown around. Daniel’s dad was louder, his tone getting edgier. He hadn’t made sacrifices, he droned on as I peed. Hurriedly Iskipped flushing and yanked on my jeans, deciding to wash my hands later.
Daniel was not a person to get involved with—the way his dad spoke made mine seem easygoing.
Grabbing my belt and my purse, I squeezed through the crack in the door and wanted to sneak out without anyone noticing, but I had to snatch my shoes. And of course, that was close to impossible with Brutus jumping all over me and two sets of eyes staring at me. Well, one was glaring.
“Now I see why you’re not focusing.” That was the dad.
“She has nothing to do with this.” That came from Daniel.
“I’m just gonna go call an Uber,” was the last thing I spoke before heading out the door.
Wren
After
“This is Dr. Bianchi,” I spoke softly yet authoritatively, picking up the call.
“Birdie?”
It was gruff and coarse, and for a quick second I thought I’d heard wrong.
“Hey, Birdie, you there?”
What in the world does he want?
There was only onehewho would call me Birdie… And it had been forever since I’d heard that nickname or from him. Sadly, it hadn’t been so long since I’d thought of him.
