AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Thanks, but No Thanks
I waketo a knock on the door and pry my eyes open to a dusk-colored apartment. The time on my phone is seven o’clock.
Crap.
And I have multiple texts from Stephen and Daphne.
Double crap.
I was supposed to meet them but fell asleep. I bet they’re worried shitless. The last text from Stephen says, “I’m on my way to check on you, heifer!” And that was three minutes ago.
That was fast. He’s at least ten minutes away.
Another bang on the door.
“Coming!” I say and hurry to it.
Before I undo the locks, I pause. Something tells me to look through the peephole.
The floor beneath me shifts when I see whose expectant eyes are there waiting for me.
“Scarlett?” Jake says.
I take a step back and cover my mouth.
“Are you there?”
My hand falls. “Go away!” is all I can think to say.
“I have your luggage and came to get my keys.”
“Just leave it there and go.”
“I need my keys.”
“Call a locksmith or have it towed.” He can afford it.
Silence.
“I also…have something you might want to see.”
“I assure you, you don’t.” There’s nothing of his I want to see. Ever again.
“I’m not so sure.”
“Well…I’m really fucking sure.”
“Look, I know how things appear.”
I fight against every cell in my body to open the door and deck him in his lying mouth. “I know how they appear too, Jake. They look like I lost my job and that I’ll probably be homeless in a couple months.” Which I’m sure he’s happy about. Or maybe that’s giving him too much credit. He’s indifferent.
Though, the homeless part isn’t really true. Stephen or Daphne would let me move in with them until I figure things out. I have ninety days.
But whatever.
He sighs and does a really good job of making it seem sincere. “I hate you lost your job. That’s not what I wanted to happen.”
No, he doesn’t hate it. The only part he hates is that he got caught playing hooky by the nation and his social media is probably imploding. But I’m not going to argue with him. I’m not even sure why I’ve engaged him this long. “Just leave the luggage at the door and go.”
