Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“Charlotte,” he boomed cheerfully, and I let out a sigh of relief. He was in a good mood. It was going to be a good shift.
“Hi Jack,” I said, moving toward the backroom to get the vegetables to slice up. I usually spent the first hour of my shift slicing and dicing and the next hour, preparing sandwiches.
Would it be so bad if Alex and I hooked up? People balanced school, work and relationships every day. My work would not suffer. It would probably even improve as I would be more relaxed.
The evening rush kept me from brooding too much but at the end of my shift, later in the night, I’d come to a decision. I would keep him. If he wanted me, that is.
Excitement coursed through me as I thought about the implications of my decisions. Fear tried to push its way in but I firmly pushed it back. I wasn’t getting married to him for goodness sake or signing over my whole life to him.
I was just allowing him into my life. I’d worked hard for the last three years and I deserved to let loose and have a bit of fun. Alex and I had exchanged numbers and as soon as I got home, I found a message from him. I checked the time.
He’d sent it at eight.
Alex: Text me when you get home.
Me: I’m home.
Alex: Good.
Me: I’ve also made a decision.
Alex: Yeah?
Me: I want to see you again. And again. And again.
Alex: I’m hyperventilating.
I laughed. I’d made the right decision.
Charlotte
Saturday evenings were turning out to be my favorite days. After my shift, I quickly changed out of my work clothes. Alex was waiting for me and we’d planned to spend the weekend together until Monday. I loved the weekends.
Two weeks had zipped by since we made it formal. We were dating and exclusive. The fear that had held me captive for days after we agreed to that had dissipated the more I got to know Alex. He was the real deal. A good guy. Toss in sexy and dirty, and he was my dream man come to life.
“Bye,” I called to my colleagues, changing unhurriedly. I didn’t see Alex at first when I stepped out. A hoot blared and when I checked, it was him.
He came out of the car and came around to give me a hug and a kiss. As always, the kiss went on a lot longer as he deep kissed me and stole quick feels under my sweater.
“Every time I see you, it feels like the first time,” he said.
“You’re too good to me,” I said.
“You deserve so much more and one day I’ll give it to you,” he said, his features solemn.
I smiled, stroked his cheek, and turned my attention to the sleek car. “This yours?”
“Yeah,” he said, but he looked uncomfortable. “I thought we could go to my place this weekend.”
I cocked my head. “We’re moving to the next base,” I teased.
I expected Alex to laugh but he didn’t. Instead, he opened the car door for me and I slid in. I wasn’t worried about his odd behavior. I trusted him implicitly. Something was obviously making him uncomfortable but whatever it was, we’d figure it out.
“I love your car,” I said when he entered the driver’s side. I didn’t know much about cars but I did know an expensive car when I saw one.
Alex smiled. “Glad you like it.”
I had many more questions, like when did he get it? How could he afford such an expensive car? I held my tongue for as comfortable as I was with Alex, there was a side of him that was very private.
His home life, for example. He rarely talked about his family except for the comment he’d made about his grandfather and father being lawyers.
Oh yes, and he’d grudgingly told me about his married older sister. I hadn’t pressed for more, for the simple reason that I did not want him to ask me about my family either.
We talked on the way to his place but as we neared, I grew quiet and took note of my surroundings. We’d driven into a gated posh neighborhood made up of high-end apartments.
“You live here?” I asked as the gate automatically shut behind us.
“Yes,” he said.
I was at a loss for words. He navigated the car into a parking lot surrounded by other expensive cars. The kinds you see as centerfolds of magazines. So luxurious, they were given the central spot.
I swallowed hard as the car came to a stop. I got out of the car stiffly. I felt grossly out of place with my jeans, top and sweater. The complex reminded me of places I had seen when growing up. Places that belonged to other people, not us. Places that made me feel small.
We walked into the sleek building and made for the elevators. Then Alex inserted a card and the elevator started moving. That’s when I realized that we were headed to the penthouse.