*SNEAK PEEK*
Shayla
I grab my coffee when they call my name at the counter and make my way to one of the chairs in the corner. I take a sip and sigh happily as the hot liquid slides down my throat. My coffeemaker broke this morning; the cat threw up in my doorway, which I didn’t know until I stepped in it. While I hobbled into the bathroom, Grant—or as I like to call him, Grunt—came running past me, hit the throw up, and went sliding across my hardwood floor.
He immediately started crying. I grabbed him instead of cleaning my foot, so I could stick him in the shower and clean him up. Once he was dried off, I wrapped him in a towel and sent him to his room to wait for me. I quickly rinsed my foot before cleaning up the floor in my room. If I didn’t love that cat so much, I might strangle him.
Once that was done, I headed into my son’s room and leaned against the doorframe, watching him. He was lying on his bed looking at one of his picture books. Sadness washed over me when I thought about everything that’d happened over the past two years. My once fun-loving, joyful son is now quiet and overly sensitive.
My ex, Grant’s father, used to hit me…bad, and I stayed because I was scared to leave because I had my child to think about and he loved his daddy. He loved him until he walked in on his dad pinning me to the bed, hitting and biting me until I was covered in blood and bruises. Ryan knew our son was in the room, but he didn’t stop.
Grant was only three when it happened, and it was like someone had flipped a switch inside of him. The next day I went into the police station, pressing charges against him, and then filed for divorce. It was the last straw.
We moved to Chicago last year, hoping that a change of scenery would do him good, but so far it hasn’t. He sees a therapist, but there’s no change.
I sat down on his bed, glancing at the book he was looking at, and smiled. The Dog Man series is his favorite. We love going to the library, and he’ll go through each page. I read with him, and work with him even though he doesn’t talk. I’m hoping one day he’ll snap out of it. Every day I’m hopeful.
My neighbor Luna watches him during the day while I work. She’s a stay-at-home mom with three- and four-year-old girls. My sweet little Grunt does whatever they want, and they seem to talk for him so he doesn’t have to.
He ran right over there when it was time to go. Grant always hugs Luna, and then both girls, but avoids her partner Rocco like the plague. I hate that he’s so fearful of men, even the good ones.
“Shayla?” I’m pulled from my thoughts and look up to find my new friend Carrie coming toward me with her cute pregnant belly.
“Hi girlie, you look fantastic.”
The beautiful blonde rubs her belly and smiles. “Thanks.” She sits down in the other chair. We met a few weeks ago when there were no chairs free for her, and I was on the loveseat. I’d invited her to sit with me, and we ended up talking for a little while.
My life is my son, but it’s nice to have adult conversation. Due to my son, and him being non-verbal right now, I work for a temp agency, going where I’m needed, but with the flexibility I sometimes need. Luckily in the divorce settlement I got Ryan’s 401k, which leaves me comfortable enough right now that I can work part time if that’s what Grant needs from me.
“Are you getting ready for the baby to come?” She’s due any time now.
Carries takes a sip of her tea. “We are. The nursery is ready, I’m doing cloth diapers and I’ve got the service set up. My bag’s packed, and I’ve got the baby’s coming home outfit picked up.”
“That’s exciting.” I haven’t shared that I have a son because then I’d have to explain that he doesn’t speak, and then they’d find out about Ryan, and I’d rather keep that stuff private—it’s easier that way.
“So, I have a question, and a possible request.” She looks hopeful. “Okay first, I know you said you work for a temp agency, but I was wondering what type of work you do?”
“I do secretarial work, and when I lived in Madison, Wisconsin, I was the manager of a law office.” That’s why I was able to nail Ryan to the wall when I filed for divorce. I could’ve stayed working there, but after they learned the truth about my home life, I just couldn’t do it. I had to leave.
“That’s perfect. Okay, so my husband and I work for a security and investigation company called Rogue. Well, I go on maternity leave soon, and our office manager is searching for my replacement. She’s expecting too, so we want someone that could step in and fill either role. This is just perfect that we met each other. It was like fate. You should come work for us.”
“I’m not sure if I’m cut out for that right now. I just have some stuff that I’m dealing with,” I tell her.
“How about this: I’ll email you, or Delilah will. We’ll give you a rundown of the job, the hours, and the pay. If you decide you want it, we can talk more.”
I give her my email and drink the rest of my coffee down. I’m ready to say goodbye to her, but she stays me with a hand on my arm. “I have one more thing. I know you’re single, and I was wondering if you’d be opposed to being set up on a blind date.”
“I don’t know. I’m not really in a good place to date.” What I really need is to have sex. Masturbating is all I’ve done since my divorce. It’s less complicated than sharing my history with someone.
“Oh, please. I’ve got the perfect guy for you. His name is Erik, and he’s so much fun. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you seem like you could use some fun.”
When is the last time I had fun? I know Luna and Rocco would watch Grant. “If I do this, I’ll pick a place, and he can meet me.” That way if it’s disastrous, I can make my escape. Shit, maybe I could get some decent sex out of it, and then I’d be good for another couple of years.
Against my better judgment, I nod my head. “Ugh…Okay, set it up.”
Right in the middle of the coffee shop, she starts squealing and clapping her hands.
I have a feeling saying yes was a mistake.