Chapter 4-1
810 Words
Chapter 4
Sondra
Corey and I ride into work together the following week. I love when we work the same shift, but she hates it, because it means she’s working days, and she makes more money at night.
It’s the first chance I’ve had to fill her in on the latest with Tacone, which is nothing.
“So you haven’t seen him since the day he kissed you?”
“Nope. The next day I went in and there was a fifty on the table. I left it. The day after that, he left a hundred-dollar bill with my name on it.”
“You took it, of course.”
I didn’t want to. I was afraid it would mean something. Like if I accept his money, I’ll owe him something later. Except I really can use the money. I need at least two thousand for a deposit and first month’s rent. And another three thousand to buy a car that runs.
“Yeah. And then he left another one a couple days later.” I dig them out of my purse and hand it to her. “Here.”
She shoves my hand away. “What’s that for?”
“To go toward my share of the rent.”
She rolls her eyes. “Save it. Then you can move out sooner.” She gives me a teasing grin.
“You sick of having me?”
“No, I love it, actually. But I think Dean’s tired of sharing the family room. He likes watching movies at night, you know.”
Yeah, I noticed. Dean hasn’t exactly stopped that habit even though the sofa’s my bed. He stays up watching until one in the morning most every night.
“And every time we have s*x, I cringe because the walls are paper thin. Can you hear?”
I make a face. “Yeah, sometimes.” They have s*x at least once a day, sometimes more. I swear, Dean’s a s*x addict. Not that once a day is bad, but I don’t see why he’s looking at me when he gets plenty from Corey.
“I think he wants to have a threesome.”
“Ew. Corey!”
She laughs. “I told him no way. I don’t share. Ever. Not even with my best cousin who’s like a sister.”
Thank God.
What in the hell would I say if she was into it?
But yeah, gross. Apparently my instincts are right about Dean.
“So back to Nico Tacone. What’s going to happen when you do see him again?”
Er…how should I know?
“I mean, you need to decide. I think the guy has the hots for you. And his instinct is to exploit you, like he probably exploits all women, but something made him hold back.”
“He thinks I’m innocent or something.” I say innocent like it’s a dirty word.
Corey grins at me. She knows better. “There’s something about you that comes off that way. I used to hate you for it.”
I gape. “What?”
She shrugs. “When we were kids. I mean, my dad was such a prick and I didn’t trust anyone as far as I could throw them, but you were so pure. With you, what you see is what you get. It’s what makes you trust losers. But it’s a pretty amazing quality.”
I roll my eyes. “Great. An amazing quality that made you hate me as a kid and makes me date losers. Sounds like one I should keep.”
Her eyes slide over at me. “No, really. I hope you never lose it.”
She sounds so serious I shut up.
“Anyway, I think that’s what he’s reacting to. You’re out of place in Vegas.” Corey pulls into the Bellissimo’s drive and heads toward the back employee lot. “So how’s it going to go when you see him?”
I draw a breath. I want to lie and say I hope I won’t see him at all, but Corey already knows the truth. I shrug. “I’ll follow his lead.”
Corey parks and faces me. “Seriously? How’s that been working out for you so far?”
“I know, I know, but…” But it’s part of the fascination. The way he dominates every moment we’re together makes my knees weak.
We get out of the car and walk into the casino together through the service entrance.
“I think you should decide. If you want to go for him, make a play. If not, be professional. Don’t let him jerk you around again. Okay?”
I nod, but I’m not sure about anything. I need to quit this job. Soon. Before I humiliate myself even more.
My phone buzzes as I walk down the hall. It’s a friend from Reno. She wrote, Tanner stopped by. Seemed really heartbroken. He begged me for your new number. I told him to get lost.
Right. Heartbroken. Ha. He wants the car back.
Thanks, I text back. I definitely don’t want to hear from him.
I head to the employee locker room to change into my pink housekeeping dress. Like every day this week, there’s an uptick in excitement as I put it on, remembering how Tacone stripped me out of it.
Damn. I have it bad for this guy and he’d be my worst man-move yet.
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