“I love you too, Connor. I know it’s not the end.”
I kiss her again and pull her into me tightly. “Call me as soon as you get there. We can plan our first visit.”
She steps back, mouths, “I love you,” and then she’s walking up and into the house. I wave at her Pops, turn, and start the long, lonely walk back to my house to wait for her phone call.
This isn’t the end for us. It’s barely the beginning.
Chapter 1
Alex- Shitty Jobs and Shittier Boyfriends
Slamming the door of my clients’ house on my way out, I stomp to my car. I rip off my chef’s jacket and throw it into the passenger seat, where I’ve already laid my knife roll. Even though they’ve sent me home early, it’s far beyond time for me to go home today.
I’ve had it up to my eyeballs with my latest personal chef clients, the dirty old pervert and his ‘not quite young enough to be a trophy’ wife. He keeps trying to grab my ass, and she keeps trying to blame me for it. I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be able to keep my mouth shut about it, either.
I pull my hair out of its high bun and scratch my fingers along my scalp to help ease some tension. Once I’m calm, I turn on some angry music to finish soothing me (what can I say? Angry music calms me), and drive home to the apartment I share with my boyfriend.
Before heading up, I check the mail in the lobby and then take the elevator to the 4th floor where our apartment is. When I put the key in the lock of my apartment door, there is no resistance when I turn it. That’s weird, Derek’s at work right now and I’m positive I locked it when I left the house this morning.
A loud bang from inside the apartment makes me jump. Oh Shit! Someone’s in there! I’m being robbed! Holding my breath, I reach for my phone as quietly as I can and call my best friend Becca. When she answers, I whisper into the phone.
“Becca, it’s me. I just got home and someone is here. I think I’m being robbed.”
I slowly open the door and once inside I reach for the first weapon-like item I can find, which happens to be the cute ladybug umbrella I keep for rainy days. I’m carrying my knife roll so I could probably use one of my knives, but like hell I’m going to get dirty burglar blood on one of my professional knives and risk it being locked up as evidence. I couldn’t afford to replace it if that happened.
“What? Did you call the police? Get out of there, you’re going to get hurt. I’m serious, don’t do anything stupid.”
“I’m fine,” I say, hoisting up my umbrella and scowling. “I have a weapon.”
“Like what? I know for a fact you won’t dirty up one of your work knives, and that’s the only thing you’d have with you that could work.” She knows me too well.
“I have an umbrella, I’ll be fine, promise.”
I hear another loud bang coming from somewhere in the back of the apartment, so I tiptoe in that direction.
“An umbrella? Are you nuts? Get out of there, Alex. I swear to god if you die trying to catch a burglar, I’m going to fucking kill you.” Becca’s voice takes on a high pitch with her increased attempts to talk me out of what I’m about to do. Also, threatening to kill me if I die? Not the smartest thing she’s ever said. Of course, me attempting to catch a burglar in the act, instead of waiting for the police, is not the smartest thing I’ve ever done, so…
“Shhhh, he’ll hear you and I need to catch this asshole intruder by surprise.” Nobody messes with Alex Wilson and gets away with it. This guy’s going to feel my wrath.
I creep forward, choosing the placement of each foot carefully in order to make the least amount of noise, but stop dead when I hear a giggling sound coming from further back in the apartment, like from the bedroom.
I groan inwardly and lower my umbrella.Oh, come on, not again. I thought Derek was different.
My mind quickly races through all the boyfriends who’ve cheated on me. Which is all of them, in case you were wondering. I refuse to relive the shitty details, but yes, I caught most of them in the act, and yes, I ended it with all of them. It’s just as depressing as it sounds.
And now it appears that Derek, too, is fucking someone in our bed when he’s supposed to be at work.
“That motherfucker,” I whisper yell into the phone. “Becca, come over, now.”
“I’m already on my way. What is it? What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Should I call 911?” Becca is freaking out if the pitch of her voice is anything to go by. If she doesn’t lower her voice, all the neighbourhood dogs are going to come running.
I hear Becca’s car rev in the background. Good, if this is actually happening, I’m going to need backup. I creep up to the bedroom door and stop just outside of it. My breath stops in my chest as I try to listen closely.
“You like that, huh? You like my cock in you, you dirty slut?”
Fuck! That’s Derek, alright. My body gets numb all over, and then a burning rage sears a hole in my chest. You think I’d be used to this by now, but betrayal always hurts at least a little.
“Becca? It’s happening again.”
