ALTHEA
The sound of my phone buzzing with a notification woke me up this morning. Now that I have a job, it's important to keep the phone on me. I knew when VirginsforSale.com gave it to me that it was supposed to be used only for contracting Gavin, but how could I resist making it my own when I'd never had a cell phone before. They only loaded one hour's worth of talking and texting onto it, so I've been really sparing, hoping to make it last until my first paycheck when I can load more minutes on it. I don't even know what service is on the thing, but I'm sure that if I email VirginsforSale.com and ask, they'll tell me. The phone is mine to keep. It said as much on a slip of paper in the packaging that it came with.
I moved my purse into the bedroom shortly after Gavin woke me the first time, thinking that the restaurant might call me in if one of my fellow co-workers couldn't make it for their shift. When they hired me, they told me that they do that sometimes. It seems a bit annoying, but this is my first job, and I don't want to botch it for as long as I plan to stay there, though I'm not exactly sure how long that will be.
I've only spent two day's with Gavin, but I already feel more secure with him. The idea of playing the part of his dutiful housewife is starting to seem a lot less like imprisonment and more like something I actually want to do. I believe he's a good man beneath it all, and I want to make him happy.
Last night was incredible. Not just the crazy sex we had before we went to bed, but the lingering need that he had for me afterward. I've never felt more desired and wanted in my entire life. Every time he'd push inside of me and take what he wanted, he'd cuddle me afterward as if he just couldn't stand for our bodies to be parted. My heart swirled with warmth from his affection, even as the spot between my thighs ached from overuse.
I wonder if it will be like this with us every night. If it is, I doubt I could ever possibly want for something more. A handsome, wealthy, powerful man who will always protect me and can't keep his hands off of me. It's everything I dreamt it would be.
Instead of immediately going to retrieve my phone when it went off this morning, I sprawled out, my hand blindly reaching for Gavin. When I extended it all the way and didn't touch him, I opened my eyes to find him missing. I wasn't prepared for how sad I felt from not having him beside me.
Thinking he might have gone downstairs, I quickly rolled out of bed and went to check my phone. My eyes widened as I saw the notification from my bank saying I'd received the money that Gavin had promised. Just seeing all those zeros made me feel dizzy. The most I've ever had at once was forty dollars from an accumulation of five's and ten's that relatives slipped into cards for my sixteenth birthday. I remember using it to take my mom out to eat. Even though I had wanted to spend it on this dress I saw at the mall, I thought she deserved a nice evening for all the hard work she put into supporting us. The memory of her moaning at the taste of the food and the smile on her face when we shared a dessert meant more to me than the dress ever could have.
I wondered if she'd smile like that again when I hand her a check for half of what's in my account. I won't really need the money once I move in with Gavin, and it's definitely looking like things are headed in that direction.
Once the shock of getting the notification wore off, I headed to the bathroom to take a quick shower. I smelled like a come dumpster, and my body was still sticky from the remnants of our coupling.
I smiled as I lathered myself with Gavin's soap, hoping he wouldn't mind me using it. He had better not mind. Now that we're a couple, we're going to be sharing a lot of things. If there's one thing I've learned about him so far, it's that he doesn't like sharing. I hope that doesn't extend to trivial items like shampoo and toothpaste, but I suppose I'll find out soon enough.
Once I was clean and toweled off, I searched the house for Gavin. Naked. Maybe if I surprise him like this, he'll know what I want for breakfast, I thought lecherously.
But I soon discovered that he was gone, and that made me frown. I didn't even see the note he left me until I returned to the bedroom to clothe myself. It said that he had to go to work. Of course, he did. You don't acquire all this wealth sitting on your ass all day.
I picked up the key and watched the sunlight glint off of its bronze surface. Somehow, holding it in my hand made this feel more real. He's given me access to come and go as I please, though I'm certain he'd rather me stay and never leave. This means something important, I thought as I placed the key on my keyring.
Everything is still moving so fast. Too fast for me to keep up. Gavin has proven that if I don't come to him at night, he'll find me. For that reason, I needed to go home and tell my mother what's going on, though I still have no clue how to explain it.
The entire bus ride home, I again tried to come up with a plausible scenario. Having the money definitely helps. Maybe I'll go with my first idea, to tell her that I'm moving in with one of my co-workers. I wonder if she'd be disappointed that I'm not going to stay and help with half of the rent. Oh well. At least, with me gone, she'll be able to downsize into a smaller apartment. She also won't have my food expenses to worry about. And the money that I give her should help her for a while.
When I got home, the apartment was empty. I wasted my time watching television and napping.
Finally, I hear my mother's key slide into the lock and the latch unfasten. It sounds deafening against the low volume of the television. I've been more focused on rehearsing my story in my head than I have been on the talk show I've been watching. It's not something I'm really interested in anyway. One of those scripted shows where the guests are outrageous, ripping at each other's throats with bogus claims.
Mom steps inside looking exhausted. Her hair is pulled back into a messy ponytail, frizz encircling her head like a red halo. There are bags under her eyes. A mess of blotchy brown stains on the front of her dress tells me that she probably dropped a tray. If I had to take a guess, it hasn't been a good day for her.
Maybe this can wait, I hear a little voice in the back of my mind say. But I know that it can't. Because Gavin won't wait.
“How was work today?” I turn to face her on the sofa.
She holds her hands out to the sides, presenting her soiled clothes to me. “Do you even need to ask?”
“I'm dreading the day when I spill a tray on myself,” I tell her, trying to empathize.
“I didn't spill it. This kid wasn't watching where he was going. His parents were letting him run wild inside the diner, and he ran right into me. I was turned, so I didn't even see him coming.
“It was a nightmare. Half the food fell onto the table I was serving, the other half on me. It got on the customers.” She presses her eyes shut. The look on her face is a mix of guilt and agony, as if she considers it her fault. “They got their meal for free, plus a voucher for another free meal next time they come. My boss took the price of their lunch out of my tips.”
“What an asshole.” I furrow my brow, wondering why she stays there. Podium Diner is known for treating their employees like shit, and with my mom's stable work history, surely she could find a job elsewhere.
The misery on her face makes my heart clench, but I think I have something that will make things at least a little better. I grab my purse and pull out the check I wrote to her earlier, handing it over with a smile on my face.
“What's this?” she asks before taking it from me.
“It's something to make your day better,” I reply, hopeful.
Her eyes scan the check and then she tries to hand it back to me. “I can't take this from you. It's your first check. You worked hard for it.”
My lips curl into a frown. “I want you to have it. You work so hard, Mom.”
“Wait.” She pulls the check back to her face, her eyes widening. “Five hundred dollars! How in the hell did you make this kind of money? Are the tips at The Glass Street Kitchen that good? You've only been working there for a week. I didn't think they'd let you keep your cut of the tips before you're fully trained.” Her gaze dances across the figure again and again as if she can't believe it's real no matter how many times she looks at it.
“Um, yeah. Tips there are really good.” The lie leaves my lips with a bitter taste. “They're so good, in fact, that I'm going to be moving out. Today.”
“What?!” Her mouth falls agape. It's clear that she doesn't see this as good news.
I want to cower inside myself, my mind going blank, my pulse racing with panic. This is all too sudden, I think to myself, even for me. The money. Moving out. None of it is plausible.
I open my mouth to speak, though I'm still not certain what I'm going to say. A knock at the door cuts me off, and I'm thankful for the brief reprieve. Maybe if I have a few seconds to gather myself, I can remember my story—try to word it so that it's at least somewhat believable. It's obvious she doesn't buy what I told her about the money.
Mom turns to open the door, and a lump forms in my throat as I see the stress on her face. This is not the kind of news she wanted to hear. The money was supposed to make things better, but it seems that I did more damage than good.
“Hello. Is Althea home?” Gavin's voice startles me.
My mom steps aside to look at me, and I see him standing there in a dark gray business suit holding a bouquet of roses. I'm not sure whether to be ecstatic or mortified. On the one hand, the gesture is incredibly sweet. On the other hand, is he really that impatient for me to return to him that he had to come find me the second he got off from work?
“Althea.” My name comes out of my mother's mouth more like a question.
“Mom,” I jump to my feet, rushing to take the flowers from Gavin and defuse the situation “this is Gavin, my—”
“Fiancé.” Gavin places the roses in my arms and then extends his hand to my mother.
“Fiancé?” she parrots in utter disbelief. “When did this happen?”
“We've known each other for a while.” I jump in, worried about what he might say to her.
“She didn't tell you about me? I'm hurt.” Gavin draws his hand to his chest. The look on his face is truly wounded.
“No. She never mentioned you.” She bears down on me with a look of suspicion.
Gavin flanks my side, putting his arm around me. His touch makes me tense up. “Well, this is a bit awkward.”
“Where did you guys even meet?” She glances at me before her gaze settles on his handsome face.
“We met at the—”
“Library,” I cut him off. “We met at the library when I was looking for a job. Gavin is a lawyer, and he was there to check out some books to help him with a case.” It's the most plausible thing I can come up with on the fly.
“Oh really?” It seems Mom's still not convinced.
I take the flowers and hand them over to her. “These are for you. Sorry that this is all so sudden. You work so much that I just haven't had time to talk to you about this.”
She sighs, and I see understanding in her expression. There's also guilt. She likely feels bad for not being around very much.
“Well, I don't know what to say other than congratulations.” She clutches the roses to her chest and smiles.
“Thank you, ma'am.” Gavin nods. “I apologize if this is all very sudden, but I just can't stand to spend another night without my princess. I've asked her to move in with me, and she's accepted. I wanted to come introduce myself and help her gather her belongings.”
I can hear the implication in his words. He has no intentions of letting me spend the night here. I will be returning home with him. And he's made sure that I have no excuse to spend another night away.