“You don’t bug me at all. I love hearing from you. I’m telling you the time frame that I’ll be at the complex so you don’t worry if you can’t reach me during those hours.”Okay, he was being honest. He does want to hear from me.“Relax, Miss Peace. Enjoy the party tonight, and do me a favor,” he said as we neared the door. “Stay near Thomas, and don’t leave with anyone.”
I nodded. I didn’t think it would be a difficult task considering I didn’t even know any of the guests. I hadn’t rubbed elbows with anyone from the parties before, so I had no intention of wandering off somewhere with any of them.
As I was getting ready for the party, I heard the doorbell and hurried to finish with my hair. Thomas had said my little black strappy dress would be perfect for tonight. Since I hadn’t heard any caterers coming or going, I assumed it was a small gathering. I went downstairs and into the living room where some music was coming from.
“There she is!” Thomas exclaimed and got up from the couch.
Suddenly, five sets of eyes all turned and focused on me. Thomas walked over to me and set his beer bottle on the counter.
“Come over and join us. I’d like to introduce you to some people from the record label. These will be people that you’ll work with. They’ll be sort of like your mini bosses.”
I nodded and glanced around.
“Where’s Mom?” I asked quietly.
“She went out for a night with the girls.”
Oh.
Interesting how she hadn’t mentioned that to me.
I followed Thomas over and politely smiled and greeted each person as they were introduced. I sat and listened to their boring conversation about the music industry and some pop idols that were burning up the charts. In order to seem interested, I contributed to the conversation when there was an opportunity to do so. As the evening carried on, my mind started to drift to how much I’d rather be in my room working on my genealogy research.
After I refreshed their drinks, Thomas and a few of the guys went outside to look at some speakers or something. I awkwardly stayed in the living room with three of the guys who were carrying on a conversation about a new young artist who would be stopping by the studio this upcoming week. Every now and then they’d pay attention to me and would smile.
“So, Thomas said you’re graduating soon,” one of them commented.
“Yes. I’m looking forward to it,” I replied and smiled.
“Well, we can’t wait to have you around at the label. You’ll really enjoy it,” another one added.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” the first guy asked. I shook my head and felt the butterflies in my stomach as I thought about how great it would be for me to say Elijah was my boyfriend. “No?”
“No,” I verbally confirmed.
“No dick yet?”
Damn. Could he be any more forward and direct? I shook my head as I felt the heat on my face from embarrassment. The other two guys were laughing and shaking their heads at the comment from the first guy. In the back of my head was Elijah’s voice making me promise that I’d stay beside Thomas.I needed to get outside.I smiled at them and then stood to head outside, but all three of them stood at the same time.
“Get on the couch and bend over,” one of the guys instructed.
What?I froze completely. My brain stopped functioning. My body didn’t resist being guided to the couch, nor did any sound escape from my mouth. As my forearms leaned on the back couch cushions, I glared into the backyard. My eyes latched onto Thomas’s as he watched his coworkers introduce me to what it would be like to work with them.
* * *
My heart beganto pound hard when I heard a knock on my bedroom door. With my cell phone in hand, I gingerly tiptoed over and quietly locked the door, then backed away.
“Yeah?” I called out, hoping my voice sounded normal.
“Baby, it’s me,” Thomas’s voice carried through the door and dragged down my spine like nails on a chalkboard.
I never wanted to see him again.How could I ever make eye contact with him again, especially after he’d watched?Suddenly, it dawned on me that he could be coming back for his turn. I had to get out of here.
“Baby, your mom will be home soon, and I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
Tears welled up in my eyes.Why are you pretending to care?
“I’m fine,” I said with confidence.
