Star
Star hadn't seen Tanner in a couple days, not since he'd dropped her off at her place the morning after their night in the hotel room. She still thought about him, his hard muscles, the way he'd pinned her against the wall. But, especially the way they'd clung to each other that night in bed.
It had felt so sure, so certain.
While she hunted for work, he was busy figuring out what to do about Brendon. But, that unfortunately meant that they couldn't spend any more time trying to fulfill their little “contract.” And, if that didn't come through, she still didn't have a plan. In the meantime, she needed money to keep herself afloat.
She'd stopped by the workplace of her old friend, Patricia. Maybe she had some ideas of what she could do while she tried to get knocked up. They stood in the small break room together, talking over a cup of badly burnt office coffee.
“Nothing?” Star asked. “No temp work? Admin? Coffee runs, even?”
Patricia blinked behind her big, round glasses. “Nothing, sweetie,” she said, shaking her head. “Besides, I thought you said your money problems were sorted out, didn't you?”
If only that were the case. Star sighed and gripped her foam coffee cup tighter. “It will be, but not for maybe another month or two.”
“What kind of gig are you doing, anyways?”
She sighed again. She hadn't really explained to Patricia her arrangement with Tanner. At first, she'd been embarrassed at how desperate she seemed. Now, she realized she didn't want her friend to shoot down the idea, or try to convince her to break it off. Not only did she need the money, she also didn't want to stop seeing Tanner. Maybe what they had wasn't special, or like a Disney film, but the sex was still amazing.
“You're going to hate it,” Star said.
“I've heard it all, sweetie. Try me.”
Star bit the bullet and briefly outlined the plan and recent events to her. She left out her trip to Quentin's place, or their tracking down Brendon. She didn't want her friend to think she was getting wrapped up in all that stuff she'd finally escaped.
Patricia's eyes went wide, and her mouth dropped open as Star explained the situation for her. “You what?” she hissed in a voice low enough that no one in the office could hear. “I thought you wanted something better from your life, Star? And now you're hanging out with some biker dude? What the fuck are you thinking?”
“It's not like that,” Star said, distraught. Patricia never swore. “I think this is good for me. Maybe I need the stability in my life.”
“Then find a boyfriend, or a husband. Or get a fucking cat, like Mr. Wiggles!”
“See? This is why I didn't tell you,” she quietly-as-possible hissed back, not wanting to make a scene at her friend's work anymore than Patricia did. “I knew you were just going to overreact!”
“Overreact?” Patricia said, taking a step closer. “You're letting some random biker knock you up for money, Star. How the hell am I supposed to react? Do you want me throw you a party with a cake that reads 'Hope It's a Boy! And That You Didn't Get Hep-C?'”
“That's uncalled for. Tanner's clean.” Star gritted her teeth and set her styrofoam coffee cup on the counter. She looked her friend dead in the eyes. “And you're supposed to react like a friend.”
“I am acting like a friend. You, though, are acting like a horny fucking teenager. You're thinking between your legs, and not between your ears.”
Of all the people she had left in her life, Patricia was her best friend. The person she'd unburdened herself to when her father had gone to prison. The person she'd turned to for support when her mother had left the state with her new, drug-addled husband. Now, with Patricia's reaction to her decision, she couldn't be sure anymore. Star just shook her head. “Look, I've gotta go. I'll talk to you soon.”
“Uh . . . oh . . . okay?”
Star tossed her half-full coffee cup in the trash and walked quickly out of the break room.
“Star!” Patricia called from behind her. “Wait!”
But, she was determined. With her head held high, she headed out the front entrance of the store front office and back out onto the sidewalk.
She spotted her little hatchback where she'd left it earlier and climbed in. She gripped the steering wheel tight with both hands, wild thoughts filling her head. Well, that was one job hunt down. And maybe one friendship, too.
Fuming, she pulled out into the street and slammed on the gas, sending her little car struggling and sputtering, as she headed home.
# # #
Something wasn't right about her apartment when she got inside. Certain things, like her phone charger and her stack of bills, seemed out of place.
She walked through her small living room, a perplexed look on her face as she spotted out all the small details. A pillow on her couch had been moved. She was almost certain it had been on the other side when she'd left that morning. An empty glass she'd used for a quick drink of water wasn't in the sink anymore, it had been moved onto the counter.
It felt like someone had been here while she'd been away. The whole place just seemed . . . off. But, like they hadn't cared about putting everything back the correct way.
Dread began to fill her. What if the intruder was still here? Waiting for her. Maybe he was going to pounce when her guard was down. For the first time, she wished she owned a gun. Or even a baseball bat.
But that didn't make any sense. She shook her head. She hadn't heard anything since she'd walked in, not even the neighbors. As small as this place was, and as thin as the walls were, there was no chance anyone could hide in here without her knowing it. A sneeze from the walkway woke her up sometimes.
She went back into the bedroom, her senses keen to take in any more small changes. She looked around, but didn't spot anything out of sorts, at first.
Then, she saw it.
On her nightstand. A piece of notebook paper folded over in half.
Star walked over and picked it up, opened it. A short note was scrawled in black ink across the sheet: “Gonna start sleeping here myself if rent don't get paid soon.”
Her mouth dropped open.
She couldn't believe he'd invade her privacy like that! What kind person would do that to someone else? Unbidden tears began to form in her eyes.
She crumpled the note up into a tight wad and stalked out into the living room just as there was knock on her door. “Who is it?” she called out.
“Tanner.”
Thank god, she thought. If it had been Martin, she didn't know what she'd have done, how she would have protected herself. She flew to the door, flipped the deadbolts, and threw it open.
Tanner stood there, just as sexy as ever, with his tight tee shirt, tight jeans, and Blood Warriors vest. He took one look at her and knew something was the matter. “Tell me what's going on,” he said, his voice full of iron, as he stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.
She tried to hold back the tears. She really did. But, having him appear just like that, just like a knight in shining armor. She couldn't help it. She just broke down, and let all her tears go. She buried her face in his chest, sobbing as all her money problems, family problems, and the argument with Patricia came spewing out in one bawling explosion.
He took it in stride, though. He soothed her as best he could, stroking her hair as she began to explain.