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CHAPTER THREE
Feeling Unsettled
Stephanie
Placing my coffee order via the Owls Book store app, I pushed a wave of anxiety aside as I skimmed the apartment one last time, checking that everything was off. Noting the weather outside, the sky was clear, but I still felt a chill.
Grabbing a cardigan from the closet on my way out, I tossed it over my shoulders before rolling out the door. Since Dream Big Publishing is only a couple of blocks east of my apartment, it’s convenient and takes only a few minutes to zip over whenever I need to see my agent, editor, or publisher.
Rolling up to the traffic lights, my phone chimed with a notification. Using my free hand to open the message, I came to a stop.
TAYLOR: Just placed my order, eta?
ME: Placed my order before I left and I’m on the way.
TAYLOR: See you in a few.
Reaching for the button on the crosswalk, I tucked my phone into my side pouch in order to cross.
I’m waiting for the light to change when my thoughts wander. I’m worried about this meeting, but I’m so grateful that Taylor and Jade will be with me. It helps to calm my nerves. The two of them came into my life when I needed accountability for my writing. We started out as sprinting partners, encouraging each other to get our daily goal of words written in our works in progress. Over the years, we’ve built a strong bond, become best friends and share our daily lives together. Aside from my sister, they aremy girls- my people or ‘the girls’, as I often refer to them. The girls were there for me day and/or night after Nick-The-Dick left. They’ve been at my side through the best and worst of it all, as I was for them. The two of them have taken on the role of my guardians, guiding and protecting me throughout the world. I don’t know what I would do without my girls or Ashlynne. Taylor’s daughters are mine, Ashlynne and Jade’s honorary nieces, and we take our position seriously. Christmas time in the Holland household is always so much fun for all of us. Taylor’s girls love to hang out with Ashlynne. They think she’s dope. She’s good with them too. When she has time off from her many jobs, she takes them to the mall, to the movies, or out to watch the bike races. It gives Taylor a break where she can have some time for herself.
My attention returns to the lights as a horn honks in the distance. A weird sensation comes over me, as if I’m being stared at. I try to shake it off, knowing that my chair often draws attention to me. Watching the light change, I clutch my cardigan as I cross the intersection. Still feeling like someone was watching me, I carefully skimmed my surroundings but came back empty. Speeding up, I drove around Owls to the ramp as Taylor swung around in front of me, her long natural red hair swirling around her like the skirts my sister and I used to twirl in when we were little.
“That was fast,” she smiled, wearing a glossier red lip than my matted shade.
“I was already at the lights outside of my building when you texted,” I explained. “Jade’s not here yet?” I asked, browsing the area for any sign of someone following me.
“She’s on her way,” Taylor replied. “Is everything okay?”
“I have this weird feeling,” I said, as I skimmed the parking lot. “It feels like someone is watching me,” I admitted.
“You think it’s Nick?” Taylor asked at my side.
“I don’t think so, but I guess you never know,” I whispered, not seeing anything out of the ordinary.“It just feels odd.”
“Order one twenty-three,” the window attendant called out.
“That’s me,” I called, providing proof of purchase from my phone.
“Here you go,” she said, extending the tray low enough for me to reach. “Have a nice day,” she added.
“Thanks, you too,” I replied.
Adjusting the tray on my lap, I returned to Taylor’s side as the uneasy feeling went away. “I’m curious about this meeting,” I said, making conversation, hoping to quiet the scenarios I’ve been experimenting with inside my head.
Pushing up her sunglasses, the bags Taylor must have been trying to hide made their appearance. “I’m not worried about it,” she replied, upon a yawn.
“What’d I miss?” Jade huffed, as she came flying around the corner. Normally jade is always put together. As if her boldly colored skirt-suits and matching high - high- heels didn’t command enough of a presence when she entered the scene, her light brown skin, cat-lined eyes, extravagant earrings, painted lips, and nails - not necessarily matching each other, certainly did the trick all on their own. Considering it was a Monday, I assumed she’d arrive in a business suit wearing one of her sleek ponytails or tight buns we knew her for. Instead, she rushed by in a pair of girlfriend jeans, a white bodysuit, and a fashionable red robe-like coat. Her dark hair hung in long waves past her shoulders.
“Sorry, I’m late, I couldn’t find my keys and then the dog got out on my way out the door,” she rolled her eyes. “Let’s just say I’m having one hell of a day,” she explains, tapping on the window for her order. “How long have you two been here?” She throws over her shoulder as the server appears at the window with her order.
“I just got my order when you walked up, Taylor before me.”
“Oh, so I’m only fashionably late,” she says.
“Exactly,” I smirked, recalling the first time I met with Jade in public. We had a working lunch together with Lila. She noticed I’d been short-changed a dollar-fifty on my order and she marched up to the counter and demanded they make it right. She had the poor cashier nearly in tears. Of course, they made it right and corrected the error.
Later that afternoon, Jade came back and apologized to the cashier, even brought her flowers, paid for her meal, and gave her a huge tip to make up for her earlier rudeness. We found out that evening that Jade had been under tremendous stress because of the opening of her new business, Royal Cosmetics.
