The staff became like family, sharing many holidays with us. We closed the diner down and took them to dinner where someone else would do the cooking for a change.
It’s been fifteen minutes, and neither my parents nor Max has come out yet. As I start to get up to check on them, my phone chimes. I look down and see its Cash. A picture of a cake that was in the shape of a fish flashes on the screen when I open the message. The words “Congrats on your engagement!” are boldly splashed across the icing.
Me: An engagement party and it is a fish themed?
Cash: Yep!
Me: OMG LOL
Cash: I’ll take a picture of the room decorated.
Me: I can’t wait to see it.
Got to run, the parents, are coming to the table for dinner.
Cash: Don’t order the fish ha
Me: Ha I may never look at fish the same again.
I put my phone on silent and tuck it into my purse when I see my parents approaching. They hate any technology at the dinner table. My mother is laughing at something my brother said, and my dad just looks annoyed at me already. This was going to be a fun time; I can tell already.
“Hi, Mom, Dad,” I greet them, standing to give them a hug, but my dad just dismisses me and sits down.
“Who were you on the phone with?” Dad barks.
“I was just checking some emails.” I hate lying, but I couldn’t tell him the truth.
Max looks at me with his eyebrows raised. He knows I was talking to Cash and he’ll be grilling me later on. Oh the joys of having a big brother who is protective of me. My dad is glaring at me with hard brown eyes and raking his hand through his salt and pepper hair in frustration. My mother was trying to diffuse the situation, but her small body makes it hard to take her serious when trying to calm my dad.
Betsy arrived to get drink orders from my parents and to take our food orders. My parents Jack and Maggie Stephens have been married since they were in their early twenties. They tried for years to get pregnant. After the third miscarriage, they became foster parents. After five years of trying, they finally got pregnant with me. I’m their only biological child. When I was ten years old, this angry fifteen -year-old boy came into our life. After a year of living with us, my parents knew that Max was the one because the bond the two of us shared was strong, a real connection. They adopted him and gave them our last name. He finally had that family that he craved. I would be lost without him.
Betsy arrives, placing my plate in front of me. I lean in and inhale. It smells like grease on a plate. My mother gave a subtle “tsk, tsk,” under her breath but Max and I both heard her. Picking up my burger, I take a bite and moan, “Oh, Willy out did himself on this one.” The burger is a quarter pound with ketchup, mustard, pickles and onions. Max lets out a laugh at my burger lust, but I can tell that my dad is getting disgusted with the way he’s watching me. I put it down and stare at my dad, grabbing my necklace. I’m trying to ignore him, but it’s so hard. He has this hold on me. I notice out the corner of my eye Max is glaring at our parents. He wants to say something in defense of me, I can tell, but he keeps his mouth shut for now. My dad’s eyes never leave me the entire meal. The situation is tense at best, and when we finally finish and say our goodbyes, I’m a ball of nerves walking outside with Max.
“What’s going on between you and them?” Max is concerned for me, but I just can’t tell him. I don’t know where to start, and I don’t know if I have the strength to try to explain what our parents did to me throughout the years. Also, I’m not entirely sure that he’ll believe me.
“I don’t live up to their expectations, enough said. I don’t want to talk about them. I just want to go home and forget about this night. Is that okay?” I open the passenger door and get in. Crossing my arms, I put my head against the headrest, and close my eyes. I did all I could to indicate to him that the conversation was over before it even got started.
“Yeah sure let’s go home,” He starts up the SUV and backs out of the driveway. We ride home in silence, both of us pretending to concentrate on the music that’s playing on the radio.
CASH
Walking into my condo, I carry my Chinese takeout bag in one hand as I fish my keys out of my pocket with the other. When it’s a long day at the hotel, like today was, I order my favorite General Tso’s. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into it. Enjoying dinner was the only peace I’d get tonight as I have so many calls and emails that I need to get caught up on. I’d had to turn some people away and change other’s wedding dates. One bride offered me three times the standard fee to bump someone else’s wedding. People are crazy when it comes to getting married and planning a party. I can’t believe Sally enjoys that type of work. I set my stuff down on the counter, moving easily through my two-bedroom apartment. I used to live in the hotel, but when the staff kept coming to my room in the middle night, I knew I needed to get out.
I’m lost in thought when my phone rings in my pocket.
“Cash,” I answer, hoping it isn’t the hotel with an emergency.
“Hey, It’s Abby,” she giggles. Her laugh is infectious, and I feel a smile build on my face.
“Hey, Abs, what are you up to? Am I late for the raid?” I’m surprised that she’s called. Usually, she doesn’t call me on the phone, but I’m happy to hear her voice.
“You’re not late. I got home from dinner with my parents and just wanted to chat with you. We’re usually on Ventrilo by now and thought I’d call you instead. Is that okay or did I interrupt something?”
“I just walked in the door and set my takeout on the counter. We can talk now while I eat if you don’t mind, or I can get on Ventrilo. The choice is yours.”
“I like the phone right now. How was the rest of your day?”
“Crazy. I knew that my hotel was the premier spot for weddings, but a lady was trying to bribe me to bump a bride who booked her date and room two years ago is something I never expected.” I tell her about more of my day while I get a plate and silverware. Putting her on hold, I grab my Bluetooth so I can eat and still talk. She laughs when I fill her in about how far some of the brides go when it comes to planning a wedding. “I’ll ask Sally to tell me more stories about some of the craziest things that people have asked for. I can only imagine some of the requests she gets! What did you think of the pictures of the room and fish cake? I couldn’t stop laughing; I had to excuse myself.”
“I laughed so hard when I saw them, it’s funny how someone would think of a theme like that, and I can’t believe Sally pulled it off. She has talent—but fish for an engagement party? If I ever get married, I think I’d want a traditional ceremony and reception. No theme, just colors.”
“I think themes are great for little kids and Sweet Sixteen parties, but weddings and engagement parties? Not for me.” I chuckle. “I’m in this business, and I don’t like a lot of it.” Abby laughs with me. I love the sound of it.
“That’s funny. Cash, I have a question that I’ve wanted to ask you.”
“Ask away, no secrets remember?”
“Why did your parents name you Cash? It’s unique.”
“They were heavily into country music. My dad’s favorite singer was Johnny Cash, but Johnny was so common, and my mom didn’t want that for her son. Sally was quite upset that her name isn’t more unique; but when she found out that Sally was also our great grandmother’s name, she calmed down a bit.”
“I like Cash, and it suits you. Oh, look at the time! I guess we better get on and get ready to fight to our death,” She tries sounding like one of our friends we play with, serious and ready for all hell to break loose as if the fight was right outside of our doors.
“Do we have to hang up? I like hearing your voice,” I say, trying not to sound too disappointed or desperate.
“We can talk on the phone when we’re done if you want. I like talking to you too,” she agrees. I detect a hint of shyness in her voice. She’s smiling and blushing. The tone of her voice always gives
her emotions away. I agree, and we say goodbye for now. I log onto my computer and get ready to play World of Warcraft.
We spend the next four hours playing and laughing with our small group of friends. We may have never met each other, but we were still a family and apart of each other’s lives on a daily basis. We wrap up and make plans for the following night. Abby sends me an in-game message telling me that she’s going to jump in the shower and then she’ll call me. I tell her that sounds like a good plan, and that I’d do the same.
I walk out of the shower into my room and drop the towel that was around my waist. Heading to my nightstand, I pick up my phone and notice that the battery level was at fifteen percent, and I had a missed call and voice mail. I pushed a few buttons and listened to the message, smiling when I hear her voice.
“Hey, Cash. I’m out of the shower and going to grade some papers while I wait for you to get back to me. The kids might like me tomorrow; I’m drinking wine while I grade them. I’m starting to ramble. Call me when you’re done and only if you want to but don’t feel obligated to call me. Okay. Yeah. So, bye.”
“Where did I put that phone charger?” I search my apartment and have no luck finding it, even in my office which is where I usually have it plugged in to charge. “Fuck, I must have left it at work.” I realize as I sit down at my desk. I open my laptop to fire off an email to Sally and Jenny letting them know that my phone is dead and the charger is at work. I grab the home phone and go back to my bedroom to call Abby. Thankfully, I quickly wrote down her number before my phone died. Dialing her number, it just rang and rang so I leave her a voice mail.
“Hey, Abby, it’s Cash. This is my home number. My cell phone is dead, and I left the charger at work. I need to make a note to buy another charger for my house. If I don’t hear from you tonight, I hope you have sweet dreams. Oh just so you know, I never feel obligated to call you, in fact, Miss Abby, I enjoy our talks and wish I could talk to you more than what we do now. Good night, Abby Girl.”
I put the phone down and crawl into bed, thinking about the woman who had become the object of my every waking thought. I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is about her that has me so interested. Yes, I love her voice. I love her honesty with me. I love how easy it is to talk to her. With Abby, I didn’t feel like I had to be someone else. Maybe that’s what it was. As I roll over to turn off the light, I smile. Whatever it is, Abby had me hooked.
I awake to my phone ringing and squint at the clock. 4:30 a.m.
“Hello?” I answer groggily.
“Cash?” Abby asks, sounding uncertain.
“Yeah.”
“It’s Abby.”
“Oh, hey! Are you okay?” I rub my eyes, trying to get the fogginess out of my head.
“Yeah I fell asleep and just woke up. I got your voicemail and wanted to call you back. Were you busy?”
“Abby, you do know it’s 4:30 a.m. right?”
“Oh, my God, are you serious?”
I laugh. “Yes, I am.”
“I will let you go. I should look at the time before I call someone back. I’m so sorry. Good—”
I cut her off. “No, please don’t go.”
“Are you sure? I feel terrible for waking you up so early.”
“I have to get up in an hour, so it’s all good.” I reassure her. I’ve functioned on less sleep, and talking to Abby was worth the early wake-up call. I get out of bed and start stretching. A groan escapes me, and Abby laughs. “You okay there? Are you getting old?”
“I think I am; these old bones of mine can’t take it anymore. I’m getting close to being put in a home. Will you visit me and make sure I make it to my shuffleboard and bingo games?” We are both laughing now.
“I’ll make sure to visit you and bring you candy, isn’t that what us young’uns bring the old folks?”
“Hey now!” I shuffle into the kitchen to get some coffee and breakfast. “How did the grading of the pop quizzes go?”
“It was funny, a lot of my students asked if the rumors were true about the pop quizzes. I made sure that they were all different so they couldn’t share the answers. I might just tell them that I didn’t grade them.”
“I bet it was funny, and your kids are going to hate you when they find out how you were messing with them.” I reply as I pour water into the coffee maker.
“My kids are a good group and have such a fire for learning.” She yawns and I hear some banging in the background. “Sorry, trying to get coffee as we talk. I’m not a morning person. I need at least two cups of coffee to make a complete sentence What’s your day like?”
“Today I’m having lunch with Sally and Jenny. I’m sure they want to grill me about you.”
“Me? What did I do?”
“My best friend Shawn made a couple of remarks about a girl, and they want the details. It’s what happens when you have an older sister and her best friend in your life every day.”
“Max is the same way. He wants to get together this weekend to talk about this boy in my life.”
“What does Max think about you gaming and meeting people online?”
“He plays his Xbox all the time but doesn’t understand how different computer gaming is and needs to be educated. The games we play we need to have others to help advance. Of course, you’ll start some relationship with them. He’ll understand eventually, and if he doesn’t, then that’s on him.”
“Shawn is the one who got me into gaming. I was hitting the bottle pretty hard when my parents died, and I had a hotel to run. I also had Sally, who needed me. I’m her only family, yeah she’s married, but I’m blood. Shawn came over one night, set up his computer and taught me the game. He doesn’t play it much anymore, but I’m glad that he did it. It got me out of my head. I met some amazing people and got my life back.”
We talk for a few more minutes and promise to text each other once I get my phone charged. I pour a cup of coffee and go through my morning routine. One thing for sure is, I need to start making sure her voice is part of that routine.
ABBY
I can’t believe I called him without looking at the time. I’m embarrassed, but he seemed happy to hear from me, so I guess that was a good thing. I make myself some eggs and listen to my music, dancing around the kitchen happily. The more I talk to Cash, the more I can feel an attachment to him and it scares me. He doesn’t know what I look like, will he be okay with my appearance or will it ruin what we have? My fingers brush over my necklace. Every time I think about my dad and his abuse over the years as well as my past relationships, I get insecure. I want to hide under my covers from the outside world. I’ve always thought the problem with relationships, online and offline, are that many base them on looks. I’m told that I’m beautiful from Max and sexy from Sarah, but they’re family and have an obligation to say it. I drink my coffee, thinking about a part of my past that made me feel so undesirable.
My last boyfriend, Gregg was so handsome. He was five foot eleven with brown eyes and black hair. When Gregg laughed, it was so contagious that everyone laughed with him. Three years ago, he had a thing for plus sized women. Gregg would tell me constantly that he loved my extra padding and that I needed to gain more weight. He loved having sex with me, but we would never go out in public. I thought everything was perfect until the night Sarah, and I spotted him at a little mom and pop restaurant one town over. At first, I was thrilled to see him, but then I saw a beautiful brunette walk up and kiss him. As they walked past us, I noticed the wedding ring. He glanced at our table and quickly looked away, avoiding eye contact with me. He put his arm around the woman and continued to his table, which was thankfully on the other side of the restaurant. The waitress came, and Sarah and I ordered our meals. I only got an order of fries, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to eat much with the information I had floating in my head. As I sat there playing with the fries, I finally put everything in its place. The bastard was married!
Later that night Gregg showed up at my door. He
told me that he wanted to keep seeing me and that nothing had to change.
“Come on, Abby, you have to realize that we could never be more than what we are now.” he pleaded.
“ Gregg, I didn’t. Tell me, why do I need to realize this?”
“Well just look at you and then look at my wife. You’re meant to be a man’s dirty little secret. You’ll never be the trophy wife; why would any man want to date you? Women like you are just made for fucking behind closed doors.”
“GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HOUSE! NOW. Or I’ll call your trophy wife and let her know what game you’re playing.” I was livid, hurt beyond belief at his cruel words, his expectation that I would just go along with whatever he wanted.
“You know; you aren’t that good in bed anyway. I had to imagine that you were Sarah just to get off. No one is going to want your ugly fat ass.” Gregg smirked. The next thing I know he’s lying on the floor bleeding. Max was standing over him, breathing heavy; furious.
“What the fuck! You broke my fuckin’ nose.” Gregg howled.
“Get out and don’t you ever come near my sister again.” Max’s voice was full of rage.
“Don’t worry about that, Max. I’m never coming near or touching that fat pig again.” Gregg wheezed as he struggled to get to his feet.
Max started to tense up again. Before I could stop him, he drew back and knocked Gregg back to the floor. He scrambled to his feet and bolted out of the house.
“I wonder what he’s going to tell his wife about his nose.” I stammered. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“I’m sorry, did you say wife?” Max asked incredulously.
I looked away as the first tears fell. Gregg and I had been together almost three years. How did I not know that he was married? He stayed over a lot on weekdays. He never had a tan line from the ring or any other indication of marriage. I told Max everything that Gregg had said, from the wife to the dirty little secret, all of his hurtful comments.
Love Me Like You Do (Love Me Book 1) Page 3
