“Leave it with me, I’ll grab you an outfit that screams single.” She emphasises the word, reminding me she’s unimpressed with me listening to Warren’s orders. It’s not that I’m conforming because I’m worried he’ll be mad. It’s just the words in his note sounded so personal. Like he’s worried something bad will happen if I step out without him.
I give my head a shake, pushing to my feet. “Okay, I’ll be there in half an hour.”
Courtney is waiting for me in the reception of the bar. It’s a high-end place, but she’s been a member for years because she sometimes dances here. She thrusts a bag into my arms, looking me up and down. “Is that his shirt?”
I grin, ignoring her and heading into the bathroom.
I lock the cubicle and strip out of Warren's shirt. I’d teamed it with my skirt from yesterday, but it was giving ‘walk of shame’ vibes.
I pull out the outfit Courtney got me and gasp. The short black dress is tight-fitting, and there’s no underwear in there. There’s no way I can wear the boxer’s I’d taken from Warren’s drawers, the VPL will be obvious. I kick them off and pull the dress on. There are a pair of black heels, and I slip them on, then stuff the used clothes into the bag.
When I step out, Courtney lets out a low approving whistle. “Wow.”
“There’s no underwear,” I hiss.
She grins. “It’s not the sort of dress that requires it.”
“If I bend over, someone will see my pale backside, not to mention my––”
“Tell me you’ve waxed, cos that would be shameful.”
“I’ve had other shit on my mind,” I snap.
She laughs, hooking her arm through mine and dragging me into the bar.
She orders two cocktails, and we find a table by the window. “So, tell me everything.”
I take a breath and blow it out dramatically. “Where do I start?”
“From after the first time in the office.”
“You mean the time he regretted it, and I swore to myself I’d never go there again?” I groan.
“But you did. How. Why?”
“Because I called him instead of you. It’s your fault for not answering.”
“Hey, just because he rescued you, doesn’t mean you have to repay him with sex. Did you even discuss his reaction to the first time?”
I shake my head, my expression miserable. “No. I tried and he shut me down.”
“Ummm, so he’s avoiding serious conversation.”
“This time it was different though. He held me all night and left a note this morning asking me to stick around.”
She arches her brow. “Interesting.”
“Is it? Maybe he just feels bad, yah know. The useless employee that can’t keep her life together, has lost her brother, lost her family… to kick me out of bed a second time would be really shitty.”
“Or, he realised he liked having you around,” she says, placing her hand over mine. “And you haven’t lost your family. Go home, Lee. It’ll be forgotten about.”
I shake my head. “Part of me doesn’t want to.” I chew on my lower lip before the next words fall from my mouth. “I’m tired of them taking and never supporting. I know it’s shitty timing, Court, but all this just makes me see it more. They only ever want me around when they need something. Money. Food. A placeto crash. And I was the one that found Isaac, they haven’t even asked me how I am. I’ve looked after them, made sure Mum’s eating. And the second they don’t like something I do; they turn on me.”
“What did you do?”
“Spoke to Dad,” I mutter, wincing.
“He is your dad,” she says, with sympathy lacing her words.
