Chapter Four
Wyatt proves his skills again the next morning before we both drag our asses out of bed and shower. It’s the first day off either of us has had in a while so neither of us is in any hurry to do anything.
We end up lounging on the couch, eating donuts. “These commercials kill me,” I remark with a chuckle as an ad for a prescription drug plays. “There’s always a long list of side effects that are ten times worse than the condition they’re treating. I mean, did you hear the last one? Uncontrollable flailing of the arms and legs? So, would I turn into one of those inflatable tube men the car lots have out front?”
Wyatt laughs and starts speaking in a deep announcer’s voice. “Do you have dry eyes? Just use two drops of Clearitup every night. Side effects may include morning breath, rectal prolapse, back hair, sudden hate for the color yellow, an urge to eat gravy, and loss of sphincter control.”
Stretching out, I lay my head in his lap. “Ugh, a craving for gravy and no sphincter control would not be a good combination.”
“Zoinks,” Wyatt replies, and I slap his arm.
“I’m never going to live that down, am I?”
“Not any time soon.”
A teddy bear made of denim falls off the back of the couch and Wyatt picks it up. “Your bear is suicidal.”
Closing my eyes, I snuggle against him. “Maybe because his stitches are crooked. I screwed up when I was sewing his head. It gives him a lot of character though, so I didn’t fix it.”
“You made this?” he asks.
“Yeah, making plush animals is sort of a hobby.” I peek up at him. “What do you like to do when you aren’t conquering the world one dirty store at a time?”
His hand is warm in my hair. “I like to fish and ride my jet ski. Play video games.”
“I suck at games. I die a few times then get pissed off.”
Wyatt chuckles. ‘I’d like to see that. I’ll bet you’re adorable when you rage quit.”
“Of course. I’m always adorable.”
I can’t believe how much fun I have with Wyatt. He’s different outside of work, funnier and more relaxed. We hang out until early afternoon, and he kisses me goodbye before he leaves, promising he’ll see me at work the next day.
I’m ignoring multiple alarms blaring in my head at the moment. You know, those bitter, hating little voices that want to warn you of impending bad ideas to destroy your fun. So he won’t be in town long. I just won’t get attached. I’m not the clingy type, anyway. And so what if he’s my boss at a job I really need. We’re adults. We can be professional at work and naked at home. No problem.
The heat wave has finally broken so I grab a glass of tea and sit out on my step to enjoy a little sunshine. Mallory and Dennis must still be on the outs since he’s sitting on a bench at the park across the street, his trash bag full of clothes beside him. Whenever they fight, she usually lets him back in by morning. He really must’ve screwed up this time. I did hear her scream something about crabs, though. That’s not something you just forgive.
I realized a long time ago that you don’t need cable television if you live on Violent Circle. We have the outside channel. Twenty-four seven entertainment that’s free and includes all the drama you’d usually see on a reality show.
“Hey, Cass,” Noble calls, coming to take a seat beside me. “How have you been?”
Noble Bradley lives in the Frat Hell apartment. He’s about a year older than me, and cute, but a big partier. He’s getting ready to start his last year of college, though, so he must be able to handle it.
“Pretty good.”
“I hear you’re working at the sex shop.” He flips his blond hair off of his forehead and grins at me. “Can I come and get a happy ending?”
“I can recommend a top of the line Pocket Pussy if you’re hard up,” I offer, chuckling.
“Please,” he scoffs. “I get more ass than that park bench.” His gaze lands on Dennis. “Guess Mallory threw him out again.”
“Looks like it.”
Noble produces a joint and offers, “You want some?”
“I’ll hit it once or twice.” I shrug. I need to do laundry today and if I get stoned early, I’ll get nothing accomplished.
Dennis makes his way back across the street while we smoke, and marches past us like he doesn’t see us. Or maybe he wants to pretend we can’t see him. He starts banging on the door and pleading with Mallory to let him in. When those pleas fall on deaf ears, he starts demanding she give him his car keys.
“You want me gone? Fine! Then let me get my damn keys!” he insists.
“Aw shit,” Noble mumbles, covering a grin as the door pops open.
Mallory shakes a keyring in his face. “Are these what you want, huh?” She storms across the yard and down toward the entrance to the apartments. He follows her and even once they’re out of sight, their shouts and threats filter back to us.
“See that? That’s why I stay single,” Noble says, putting out the joint and stashing it in his pocket. “You know the block party is next weekend, right? You coming?”
“Yeah, kind of hard to miss,” I reply, and he nods.
Mallory is stalking back up the street, but Dennis isn’t behind her. “Mal, you okay?” I ask. “Do you want to come in for a few?”
She pauses to talk to us. “Thanks, but I’m fine.”
“Where’s Dennis?” Noble asks.
“Looking for his keys in the sewer.”
Noble’s eyebrows race up his forehead and he snickers.
Swallowing back my amusement, I ask, “You threw his keys in the sewer?”
There’s a gleam in her eye when she answers me. “Nope.” A keyring hangs off her finger when she holds up her hand and shakes the keys like you would to get a baby’s attention.
It takes about two seconds for both Noble and I to lose it. It’s mean, but it’s just too damn funny. “He-he’s down there in the water, looking for keys you never th-threw in?” My laughter keeps interrupting my words.
The circular road we live on dips on one end as it leads out of the apartments. Whenever it rains, the water all flows toward the sewer drain at the complex’s entrance. It’s a deep drain that gets backed up a lot and usually holds about two to three feet of sludgy, disgusting water. On really hot days, the odor that emanates from it can turn your stomach.
Mallory shrugs. “Trick works on my dog and Dennis ain’t no smarter. Teach that bastard to cheat on me.” As soon as she disappears into her apartment, Noble looks at me and we both crack up again. It really is too funny.
Noble gets to his feet. As he walks away, he calls out, “We’re going to have some spiked watermelons out back during the block party. Come and join us. Bring Jani.”
“Okay. Thanks for the buzz.”
“Sure thing.”
Bring Jani. Noble has been trying to get in Jani’s pants forever. She doesn’t give him the time of day, but he doesn’t give up easily.
It’s laundry day so I walk down to Jani’s apartment to see if she wants to go with me. There’s no chore more boring and mundane than laundry, so we usually go together to quell the boredom.
It’s late afternoon, but she answers the door with sleep mussed hair. “Bitch, were you still asleep?”
“I was up all night,” she grumbles, turning on her coffee pot and pulling two cups from the cabinet. “What are you doing out all chipper and shit? I figured you’d barely be able to walk today.”
Another thing about living on the circle, nothing is private. Almost half of the apartments face the other half so everyone sees what you’re doing. I guarantee most of the neighborhood saw Dennis’s naked ass outside last night. You’d think that would’ve distracted from the fact that I had company.
“Stalker.”
“I saw Wyatt helping Dennis pick up his clothes,” she laughs.
“You missed the best part. She threw a bunch of vibrators at him and announced that he makes her use a strap-on. Then today she pretended to throw his keys in the sewer, so he’s still down there digging for them.”
Jani’s head whips around and she snorts out a laugh. “You’re kidding!”
“Nope.”
A steaming coffee cup is set in front of me and she takes a seat across the table with hers. “Wow. Wonder what he did?”
“She was screaming about crabs, so it’s a safe bet he cheated.”
Jani’s jaw drops and we both succumb to laughter. “Well deserved then,” she says.
Yeah, we’re gossiping. I’m not the type to spread rumors or anything and neither is Jani, but she’s my best friend and we do get a laugh out of the chaos that surrounds us.
“What did Wyatt think of all that?”
“He only saw the fight last night.” I shrug. “I’m going to invite him to the block party, so if he accepts, I guess it didn’t scare him away. Now, get dressed so we can go to the laundromat. These are my last clean pair of panties.”
“Panties are not a necessity.”
“Not for a trollup like you,” I tease, getting to my feet. “Meet you at mine?”
“Give me a half hour.”
“Okay, bye hooker face.”
“Hope a bird shits on your face, bitch!” she calls out as I leave.
That’s my bestie.
* * * *
Laundromats seem to showcase the oddest people. At least it seems that way whenever I go to our local Suds-N-Rinse. Jani and I go to our usual spot, the back corner, where we claim a couple of washers and the nearby table.
Emily, another tenant from Violent Circle, waves before turning back to one of the customers. She appears to be in some kind of heated debate. By the time we have our clothes loaded and the washers running, a police car pulls up front.
“Looks like we get a show today,” Jani remarks, as an officer leads a young guy outside. The guy is ranting and raving about femi-nazis.
Emily approaches us shaking her head. “I swear, it’s like a full moon or something. Nothing but crazies today.”
“What did he do?” Jani asks.
“Spit on a woman, then told her she’d better get out of those wet clothes.” Emily sighs and flops down into a chair.
“What the hell?” Jani exclaims.
“Pickup line of the year,” I laugh.
Emily grins. “Like we don’t get enough crazy at home. You going to the block party?”
Why does everyone keep asking me that? It’s taking place right outside my front door. “Yeah.”
Jani bends over and starts separating her colors. “She’s bringing our new boss.”
“Ooh, the guy from Scarlet Toys? He’s fine as hell.”
Hopping up to sit on the table, I turn to Jani. “Noble said to make sure I bring you. They’ll have watermelon soaked in alcohol.”
“Good. I want to celebrate. I dumped Trevor last night.”
Trevor is Jani’s friend with benefits. At least, that’s how she described him. I knew it wouldn’t last long, even though they were exclusive. Jani always finds something wrong with them, some reason to break up. She’s totally dedicated to avoiding a real relationship.
“You did? What happened?”
Jani plunks in her quarters and turns on the machine. “He refuses to keep a job. I’m not dating a loser who never plans to leave his mother’s house.”
“Good call,” Emily says. “Noble has been watching you forever. Are you ever going to put that boy out of his misery and throw him a little?”
“No way. I need at least a little maturity and Frat Hell is definitely lacking in it. Have you ever heard them discuss their house rules?”
“What are they?” Emily asks.
“I guess there’s a list a mile long, but the last one I heard was that any time one of them eats a banana, they have to be on their knees and maintain eye contact with one of the other guys.”
Emily and I crack up, and she gets to her feet. “Great, Skid Mark Steve is here, my favorite customer,” she grumbles. “Gotta go. See you at the party.”
“Ew, why can’t the guy do his own wash?” I remark, as my washer buzzes.
“Poor Emily,” Jani agrees. “I’d rather sell butt plugs any day.”
We finish our laundry and part ways. I spend the rest of the evening hanging out at home, just lounging on the couch. It’s been a long week and I’m sure the next one will be too.
Finally, I drag myself to bed, and I’m out almost instantly. A few hours later, I hear a tapping on my window. I know everything is locked up, including the screen, and I’m pretty sure what’s going on this time, so I raise the window. I’m face to face with a middle-aged man who says, “Jade?”
“Jade,” I grumble. “Could he have picked a trashier name?” Sighing, I give the guy the bad news. “No, I’m not Jade. You have the wrong window. I hate to break it to you, but there’s no Jade. The asshole next door is the one you’re looking for, but unless you’re into cock, I wouldn’t bother.”
Shocked, he steps back. “Are you serious?”
“No, I always make up elaborate stories when some guy tries to get in my apartment.”
“The message said—”
“To climb through the window, I know. Again, you have the wrong window, and my neighbor’s a dude. Good night.” I jerk the window shut. This shit is ridiculous. Somehow, I don’t think the average person deals with stuff like this. Only on Violent Circle.
I don’t bother to see if the guy leaves or tries Jasper’s window. Instead, I crawl back into bed and manage a few more hours sleep before work.
The week goes about as well as the last one. We still have to be guarded by security since the protesters are still going strong. It doesn’t stop customers from streaming in, though, and by the end of the week, I’m starting to think Wyatt is right. Scarlet Toys can outlast the protesters.
Jani leaves first on Friday night, leaving me and Wyatt to close the store. She’s barely out the door when I’m pushed against the wall and his tongue is in my mouth.
He kisses me stupid, then steps back and grins. “I’ve been thinking about doing that for hours.”
God, every time I see this man, his beauty hits me like a punch in the face. I’ve had that gorgeous face between my legs. You’d think I’d be acclimated to seeing it by now, but no.
“I don’t think this is proper office behavior,” I tease.
“I’m not proper. Come home with me tonight.” His hand starts to travel down my shorts, but I grab it.
“Sorry, Mr. Proper, off limits at the moment. Somebody poisoned the water hole.”
He steps back and his entire face is a question mark.
“It’s shark week? The gauge is in the red?”
“Oh, you’re ovary-acting!” he laughs, kissing me on the forehead. “Doesn’t mean I don’t want you to come home with me. We’ll just watch a movie or something.”
I want to. I really do, but we’ve been spending a lot of time together. This is supposed to be about sex. Just a little fling until he leaves. “Sorry, I just want to go home alone and curl up with a book and enough chocolate to choke an elephant. Do you still want to go to the block party tomorrow?”
“Absolutely, just tell me what time.”
“Around three?”
“I’ll be there.”
* * * *
The Fourth of July block party last year ended with one of the guys from Frat Hell blowing off the tip of his finger with a firework if that tells you the kind of party I’m anticipating tonight. If Wyatt wasn’t scared away by seeing Dennis’s naked ass, I imagine he can handle this.
“Well, if it isn’t the magical disappearing slut,” Jani calls as I step out my front door. She’s sitting on Samantha’s step, and I can smell the weed they’re smoking.
“Starting early?” I walk over to join them.
“Mom is feeling pretty good, so she’s spending the holiday at my cousin’s house. I’m free.” She grins up at me, offering me the joint. “And it’s time I got details, so spill it. Tell me that sexy fucker is terrible in bed so I don’t have to hate you.” Jani hands the joint to Samantha when I shake my head.
“Not going to be able to do it. For once, I found a man whose skills match his body.”
Samantha laughs. “That’s a rare thing. The last guy I was with who was all muscle and cock had no idea what to do with it.”
A sudden bang sounds from the other end of the circle, followed by loud laughter. “It’s coming from the duckling’s place. Kids are running wild while the older one from next door lights firecrackers,” Jani explains.
One of the three bedroom apartments on the end houses a couple with four kids, all under five years old. When they walk them over to the park, they stay in a line like ducklings.
“So, any bet on how early an ambulance will be called this year?” I ask, pulling my phone from my back pocket.
“It’ll be a miracle if we make it until dark,” Samantha replies.
Wyatt pulls into the parking space in front of my apartment and Jani chuckles. “Look who’s slumming it. I can’t believe you invited Mr. Hot and Proper. He’s going to run away screaming.”
With his expensive clothing and high class manners, everyone sees him as a stuffy rich guy, but I know better. “Nah, he can handle a little trashy fun.”
Wyatt approaches with a smile on his face, and Samantha murmurs something that sounds like ride him like a cowgirl. “Good afternoon, ladies,” he says.
“It is now,” Jani remarks, her gaze traveling over his body. He’s dressed casually, in shorts and a navy tee.
Ignoring her, he wraps an arm around my waist and drops a quick kiss on my lips. “Am I early?”
“Nope. They’re already grilling burgers in the playground. The street will be full within an hour.”
“Would you like a drink?” Samantha asks, beating me to it.
“I was about to offer the same thing,” Wyatt replies. “I have a cooler full of beer in my trunk.”
“Wyatt, this is my neighbor, Samantha,” I tell him, and he reaches out his hand.
She shakes it, practically licking her lips at the sight of him. I can’t even blame her. That was my first reaction too. “Nice to meet you,” she replies, offering him the joint in her hand.
“No thanks.”
“You don’t smoke?” Jani asks.
“Occasionally, but I’ll pass for now, thanks.”
Linking my arm through his, I pull him away from the two women I know are imagining dirty things in their heads. “Come on. Let’s take a walk. I’ll introduce you to the other crazies.”
The whole neighborhood is out, and more people are pulling in and parking beside the playground every minute. It may be the residents who throw this party every year, but plenty of other friends and relatives show up.
Two large grills are smoking away at one end of the playground, manned by a couple of older guys I’ve said hello to, but don’t really know. There’s a massive game of tag going on that seems to include adults as well as kids.
Coolers are scattered about, with signs that offer the contents to whoever wants a drink or a snack.
“Cass! Over here! We’ve got cornhole!”
“Not sure I’d be announcing that,” Wyatt mumbles with a grin.
“You have no idea what cornhole is, do you?” I ask, pulling him toward the back of the apartment building.
“No, and I’m a little afraid to ask.”
Noble stands by a large, folding table which holds a massive watermelon. One of the other Frat Hell guys, Denton, begins cutting it up, and Noble hands me a chunk. “Tell me if it’s strong enough.”
It’s hot out and the sweet, cold juice tastes like heaven. If heaven was dipped in vodka. Wincing, I swallow. “Yeah, definitely strong enough.”
Wyatt accepts a chunk as well and he and Noble start talking about some video game stuff while I wander over to talk to some of the other neighbors gathered around the picnic table.
“Careful, hun,” Neal cautions. “There’s a bunch of poison ivy around that tree. My girl has already got into it. Had to send her home to wash off.”
“You can’t wash off poison ivy.”
“Yeah, I know, but it couldn’t hurt.”
Actually, it’s likely to spread the oil around that causes the rash, but I’m not going to argue. It’s too late anyway.
At that moment, Trey, another guy who lives in Frat Hell appears wearing a pink baby bib and carrying a yellow toddler’s sippy cup.
“What the hell?” Wyatt laughs as Trey, Noble, and Denton join us.
“This is Wyatt,” Noble says to Trey. “He’s here with Cass. Wyatt, this is Trey, who spilled his beer in the middle of the living room rug and now has to drink like a toddler.”
Judging by the cheesy grin on his face, Trey is drunk already. “I told you, it was Kenny! He kicked it over!”
A head pops out of the window. “Lies! All lies!”
“I demand a trial by combat!” Trey announces, yanking off the bib.
Wyatt, Neal, and I step back out of the way, and lean against the fence to see what these crazy guys are going to do next. Kenny stalks out the back door carrying two sets of huge, inflatable boxing gloves.
Stepping back, Noble announces, “A trial by combat has been declared!”
They both put on the gloves and proceed to beat the crap out of each other until Trey finally ends up on the ground and taps out. Laughing, Neal, Wyatt and I leave them still arguing over who has to wear the bib and drink their beer from a sippy cup.
A few hours later, the party is in full swing. Jani sits beside me on a picnic table and we watch a bunch of the guys play basketball. Wyatt has no trouble fitting right in with my friends and neighbors. He may have been raised rich, but he definitely isn’t stuck up about it.
“Your man can slum it pretty good,” Jani says, handing me a Jello shot.
Wyatt reaches over his head and pulls off his shirt, wiping his sweaty face with it before tossing it aside. I’m so fixated on watching him, I barely hear Jani sigh.
“Oh, he’s definitely going in the rub club.”
“Jani!”
“What? Like I’m the only one who saw that in slow motion? He may be yours, but he has a starring lineup in my fantasies now.”
“What about Noble?” I tease. As if he hears his name, Noble winks at Jani, and gets rewarded by a body check that puts him on the ground.
“Pass. Wyatt, though. Fuck, Cass, you hit the sexy jackpot.”
Taking another drink of my margarita, I roll my eyes at her. “You can stop drooling over him now.”
“Relax, you get to actually get him naked. He’s just a figure in my dirty imagination.”
I can’t blame her. I can barely take my eyes off of him myself. His face lights up with a charming smile when he looks my direction, and I suddenly feel like a fumbling high school girl with a crush again. His chest is covered in a light sheen of sweat, and as he lifts his arms to shoot the ball, the muscles in his back flex and tighten. My mouth damn near waters at the sight of him bending over to scoop up the ball when the game is finished.
“Aw, look how hot he is. You know what he needs?” Jani says. “A go on the slip and slide.”
My drink attempts to escape through my nose when I laugh. Yeah, of course she wants to see him all wet and soapy and…why am I not going along with this?
“Agreed,” I murmur as he approaches me.
Slinging his shirt over his shoulder, he sits beside me and puts his arm around my neck. “You’re all sweaty,” I squeal, and he chuckles, pulling me into his lap.
“You like it. I saw you over here watching me.”
“Maybe I just thought a tall guy would have some game.” I shrug.
“You are a terrible liar.”
When I look up at him, his lips are inches away from mine and I can’t help myself. He doesn’t seem to mind the PDA though, so I grab his lips with mine. He tastes like the cherry sports drink he’s been guzzling, and I can’t get enough of him. A second before I can suggest we go back to my place so I can blow him like a party horn, Jani speaks up.
“So, we were just heading to the slip and slide, Wyatt. You up for it?”
He grins down at me. “Cass?”
“It’s not the kind of slip and slide I had in mind right now, but sure, why not?” I nip his ear with my teeth. “Then we go back to my place.”
The slip and slide is a homemade monstrosity created by the guys from Frat Hell. Huge sheets of plastic line the small hill at the playground and stretch across the park, ending in an inflatable kiddie pool. Since water alone wasn’t a fast enough ride, they’ve added dish soap so the whole thing is a mass of bubbles.
A small crowd is gathered around it, and there are as many adults taking a turn as there are kids.
“Age before beauty,” I tell him, handing him an innertube.
“That smart mouth. I’m going to have to find a way to keep it busy.”
The thought sends a flush across my skin, and I wonder if he can tell that I want nothing more than to take him back to my apartment and demonstrate what my mouth can do. “One turn, and you’re coming home with me,” I inform him in a voice just low enough so the others can’t hear.
Grinning, he steps back and announces loudly. “Just let me have one turn, Cass! Then I promise I’ll take you home and let you touch me.”
The neighbors all crack up, and I flip him off.
“If you aren’t willing, I’ll gladly fall on that grenade!” Samantha shouts.
It’s a good thing I’m not a jealous person. Wyatt grabs the innertube and dives down the hill, and I do the same right behind him. Cool, soapy water sprays over me as I barrel down the strip of plastic and into the kiddie pool where I crash into Wyatt. His body is slick beneath my hands when he plants a kiss on my lips.
“I have so much fun with you, Cass.” It’s a simple statement, but the sincerity in his voice grabs my heart. After all the pickup lines and bullshit I’ve heard in my life, just hearing he likes to be with me and knowing he means it makes me feel warm and happy.
“I like being with you too. You’re not nearly as stuffy as I thought you’d be when we met.”
Laughing, we climb out of the pool. “It was the suit, wasn’t it?”
“Mostly, and the manners. I love both of those things though, so don’t you dare change.”
“Nope,” he agrees, linking his arm around my waist as we walk back. “I can wear the shit out of a suit.”
“I also enjoy your modesty and your lack of competitiveness.”
“Of course you do,” he agrees. “I’m the most modest.”
We’re drawn away from our silly conversation by shouts coming from across the street. Two men I’ve never seen are screaming at one another and a crowd is starting to gather around them.
“Do you know them?” Wyatt asks.
“No, they don’t live here.”
Both men are obviously drunk, and no one intervenes when the most ridiculous attempt at a fistfight kicks off.
One man, wearing a white tank and cargo shorts, shoves the other. The momentum sends both of them to the ground and we watch as they take a long minute to get back to their feet. The other man is clad in only a pair of basketball shorts that are hanging too low.
“Was my beer, you chuckle fuck!” white tank guy slurs.
Jani rolls her eyes. “They’re fighting over a beer? There are coolers full of free drinks everywhere.”
“Hush, we’ll miss the show,” Noble says, stepping up behind her and resting his hands on her shoulders. I’m a little surprised she doesn’t shrug him off or kick him in the balls or something, but she just focuses on the fight in front of us. Which only gets funnier and more pathetic.
At least four punches have been thrown, but none connect, and they spend the majority of the time circling each other. The guy in the basketball shorts keeps closing one eye, trying to see straight. It must work because he finally manages to punch tank top in the mouth.
Tank top shoves him down, wobbles on his feet, then grabs a political sign stuck in the yard to steady himself. Too bad the sign is made of poster board. It gives way under his weight and he goes down again.
Pissed off about the punch, the other man gets to his feet and grabs the sign, yanking it out of the yard and coming at tank top with it. That would be funny enough, I mean, what the hell does he think he’s going to do with a flimsy sign? It isn’t until tank top screeches like a fifties woman who just saw a mouse, and tries to run away, that the crowd really erupts into laughter.
“All right. I think that’s enough.” Two officers step up from behind us. I didn’t even notice them pull in. Tank top spews a line of curses and insults a mile long while he’s being cuffed, but the other guy isn’t going to go down so easily. At least he doesn’t think so.
He pivots and tries to run, but the second officer just sticks out a foot and down he goes. He flops hard onto the grass, sliding a bit, which pulls down his shorts, baring his ass to the crowd, that roars with laughter.
“Police brutal, bolice prutality, police brutality!” He yells as the officer cuffs him, stands him up, and pulls up his shorts.
The crowd cheers as the two men are charged with public intoxication and lead away.
The sun is just beginning to set and it won’t be long until the big fireworks show. “Come on,” I urge Wyatt. “I want to get dried off before the fireworks.”
“After I get you wet, you mean.”
“Too late.”
“You’re killing me, woman.”
“Too bad I’m still closed for business. But I might have a little something for you.”
After a very satisfying shower, we head back outside for the fireworks show. The local radio station nearby puts on a big show that’s set to music, and it’s visible from our little circle. Afterwards, the shit really hits the fan when everyone else sets their own fireworks off.
Blankets are spread across part of the park and we find an empty place to sit. Wyatt sits behind me while I curl up between his legs. His arms slide around me, pulling me back against his chest. He’s warm and I’ve never been so comfortable. Someone tunes their radio to the correct station and we watch the flowers bloom in the sky as Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA blares around us.
It strikes me how amazing today has been. Wyatt fit in with my crazy neighbors and friends, and I’m learning more and more about him. It never feels awkward or forced. It’s like I can be myself with him, and I think he feels the same.
As the fireworks dwindle, his phone rings and he excuses himself to answer it. His expression when he returns makes it clear something is going on. “I have to take off in a few minutes.”
He hands me a set of keys. “I need to leave town to deal with some issues at my other store. It’ll only be for a day or two, but the store is yours until I return.”
What?
“You want me to run it while you’re gone?”
A smile breaks across his face. “That’s what I hired you for. You have the number to the security firm if you have any additional trouble, and they’ll be there as usual to keep things under control. You can always call me if you need help with something.”
I’m not worried about the store. I just don’t want him to leave. The thought flashes in front of me like a big, red warning sign, and I swear I hear a loud buzzer in my head accompanying it. Abort! Abort! Feelings are being caught!
“Sure, no problem.” I shrug. “I hope everything’s okay at your other store.”
We walk back to my place together where he kisses me goodbye and promises, “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
* * * *
It feels strange to be the one opening Scarlet Toys. This is how it’ll be when Wyatt leaves town for good. I hadn’t really thought of the responsibility I’ll have when that day comes.
“Hey Boss Lady,” Clarence says, approaching me as I unlock the door. “Wyatt messaged to let everyone know you’re running things.”
“He’ll be back in a couple of days.”
“There seems to be fewer protesters today,” he remarks, clocking in.
“I noticed. It’s still early, though.”
“Do you want me on the register?”
I’ve never been in a manager’s position before and it seems weird to give orders. I suppose I’ll get used to it. “Yeah, I’ll set up the new display.”
Everything is quiet for the first hour or so until one of the security guys asks me to walk outside with him. The protest is back in full swing, but that isn’t what he wants to show me. He walks me to my car, and I freeze. My passenger side windows are shattered. The front one is completely gone and the back is barely hanging in the frame.
“What the fuck?” I exclaim.
“I’m sorry. I’ve already called the police and messaged Mr. Lawson. He wanted to know if there were any problems.”
Of course, it was one of the self-righteous assholes who did it, but I don’t know how. “How did they get past your guys to get to my car?”
He sighs. “They didn’t.” He reaches inside the car and produces a pellet. “They shot the windows with a pellet gun. One of my guys got the plate number, so I’m sure they’ll catch them. I’m sorry. This happened on my watch.”
I look up at the large man who seems genuinely stricken. “It’s not your fault. You can’t predict crazy and these people are definitely one banana short of a fruit salad.”
My phone starts ringing and I’m not surprised to see Wyatt’s name appear. “Cassidy, are you okay?” Wyatt asks, not even giving me a chance to say hello.
“It was just my car windows. The store is fine.”
“I was asking about you, not the store.”
“I’m fine. The cops are on their way and your security got the plate number.”
“Good, I’m arranging for a garage to pick up your car and a rental will be delivered before the end of the day.”
“My insurance doesn’t cover a rental.” It doesn’t cover vandalism either, but I’m not telling him that. “I’ll bum a ride from Jani until I get it fixed.”
“This happened because you work for me. I’m fixing it. End of. If you want to close up for the rest of the day—”
“No,” I interrupt. “We’re fine, really. You put me in charge so you need to trust me to handle this.”
There’s a pause before I hear him chuckle. “I obviously chose well. Call me if anything new comes up.”
“I will.”
The cops show up and take my statement, but they’re more interested in talking to the security guys since they witnessed what happened, so I head back inside.
The sight of cop cars in the parking lot doesn’t deter customers, if anything, it seems to bring them in as everyone wants to ask what happened and pass around the gossip. I’m actually glad when we hit a lull in the afternoon.
The bell on the door dings, and in walks some familiar faces. “Hey Cass,” Noble calls. “Jani working today?”
“Not until four.”
“Cool.”
Noble is accompanied by a few of the other Frat Hell guys and they all browse around, laughing and teasing each other. “Do people still buy porn on DVD? Don’t they know Pornhub exists?” Denton laughs.
“You’d be surprised. They sell pretty well,” I reply.
Denton is the only one to purchase anything, and the other guys laugh when he places a giant box of condoms plus our biggest bottle of lube on the counter.
“Trying to keep your Fleshlight clean?” Noble taunts.
“Nope, I like to leave my own special sauce in there so I know you assholes won’t touch it. These are for the house.”
“Community condoms aren’t a bad idea, but community lube? No way,” Kenny says.
“Like you ever get laid,” Denton scoffs.
“I’m not the one resorting to plastic pussies.”
They keep up the back and forth until Noble asks why the cops were here earlier. After I explain, he steps back. “Fuckers! Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.”
It’s sweet, but it’s also not what Wyatt would want.
“We have the cops dealing with it, but thanks.”
Noble peeks out the front curtain at the yelling, marching crowd. “They don’t give up, do they?”
Clarence laughs. “Not with the sin of masturbation running rampant. At least that’s what they like to yell.”
“Fucking ridiculous,” Noble grumbles.
Clarence regards me after they leave and the store is empty. “They’re going to do something stupid.”
“Probably,” I sigh. This manager shit might be harder than I thought.
True to his word, my car is picked up and a rental left in its place before the end of my shift. I end up staying until close because I don’t want to leave Jani and Martha alone after what happened. By the time I get home, I’m exhausted. Twelve hour shifts suck.
Wyatt calls and promises to be back by the following night. We chat for a few minutes before I turn in for the night.
Tomorrow has to be better.