13 Rich
I need a few minutes to get myself together before we leave. Anger burns through me over Kimber’s story and her call with Jo, and I don’t want to chase her while I’m pissed. She revealed a lot of triggers that I had no idea about, and hair pulling happens to be something I tend to enjoy. But I realize now that it might set her off after the discussion we had. I want us to enjoy ourselves, so I won’t take the chance.
When I step out of the bathroom I expect to find her by the door waiting impatiently. Instead I find her on the bed, a purple slip-on in place of the bikini she has lying beside her, and she’s snoring.
Frowning, I step over and sweep the swimsuit onto the floor. She was so adamant about needing an escape I figured she wouldn’t be able to rest until we went out.
But now, she looks at peace. Sleep seems to offer a type of comfort that being awake doesn’t, and I wonder if nightmares plague her. My eyes drift to the bedside table and I scowl, snatching bottles off the counter.
I thought I tossed all the shots into the bathroom trash after pouring the liquid down the sink so she couldn’t dig them out to drink. Alcohol is a vice, and she leans into it far too often. I’ve noticed how she seems to be drunk more often than I expect, and the amount of liquor that she’s slammed down tonight makes me worry. It’s bad for her health.
I circle the bed and lay down beside her, propping myself on my elbow so I can watch her. All the fears from before seem to be gone, her body fully relaxed. Maybe the alcohol helps calm her down a little too well.
I bite my lip. Addiction isn’t something I’m terribly familiar with. It hasn’t plagued me, and I’ve never been close enough to anyone with an addiction problem to know how to help. This is foreign territory.
My phone buzzes on the side table behind me, and I eye Kimber for a moment to see if she stirs before rolling over. I frown at the caller ID before answering, keeping my eyes on the sleeping girl. “What?”
“Wow,” Callie says on the other end, and I half expected it to be Jo. I only answered because of the S&S phone number, wondering if the owner planned on laying into me next. I have no idea if Jo’s even aware that the two of us went away together. “You’re bitchy tonight.”
“Since when does the club call at this hour?”
“Mmm,” she says, and doesn’t elaborate. “I was curious.”
“Callie, for the love of god, what do you want?”
She clicks her tongue. “You’re away for the weekend with Kimber, aren’t you?”
“Callie,” I say cautiously, wondering why she’s got to ask right now. “Don’t meddle.”
“I’m not going tomeddle,” she snaps. “Besides, Nate already told me to not do that. I just wanted to see if she’s… okay?”
Glancing at Kimber, she’s still snoring, unaware of Callie’s concern. “She’s sleeping.”
“Oh,” she says knowingly, and I should’ve just kept my mouth shut on that one. “I know what you freaks like. I won’t keep you from the fun. I just wanted to see if you noticed anything with her? She left the other night and I swear shesomehow got drunk here, and she’s been a little detached recently.”
That was weeks ago.It’s the beginning of October now, and Kim’s spent less and less time at S&S over the past month even before that disastrous call with Jo. Instead of snapping at Callie, I blow out a breath. “I didn’t know you cared about Kimber.”
“I care about everything,” Callie replies with a scoff. “She’s been here forever. Just because we aren’t close doesn’t mean I don’t notice things. Like the two of you looking all chummy when I last saw you together.”
“I don’t play at Sins,” I remind her.
“Hmm. I think Jo and Vinny would make an exception for you, get you to the top of the waitlist. You know, since you bring all the bangin’ good shit for the store.”
I groan. “You called me on the work phone so I wouldn’t ignore you, huh?”
“Well, duh. Now are you going to tell me if she’s okay or not?”
What the fuck am I supposed to say? Callie sounds normal, and Jo wouldn’t share intimate details about someone’s personal life with another employee, so I doubt she knows anything serious unless she’s trying to snoop.
Yeah Callie, she’s great. She killed some asshole who tried to rape her and I think it gave her some PTSD. Oh, and she’s got an alcohol addiction.
“You should call her and ask her yourself,” I say. “Later. Tomorrow would be good.”
Callie laughs at that. “Jeez, I can take a hint. But I’m asking you, Rich, because I’m not close with Kimber at all. She’d rather lie through her teeth than tell me anything. I’ve been working with her for over six years and we just never… wearen’t all that friendly. I got with Nate shortly after starting here. Kimber’s always been alone.”
I continue staring at her, thinking of the way she hides so much of herself. I don’t know if she’s always hidden things, or if Jonah just made it worse. My eyes move to her wrist, sticking out from between the sheet and the pillow. Those scars on her wrists are old, and they were there years before she met Jonah.
I would know. Jo and Vinny hired me to stock their club before Kimber began working at S&S. One of the first things I noticed about Kim were the scars, and she hated me for it for a solid six months.
