UNPLUGGED: a standalone novel

by LK Collins

  “No, unfortunately, I’m not. He wants them back.”

  “Fuck, man! Does he want them back, or does he just not want us to have them?”

  “What’s the difference?”

  “There’s a big difference. When are you gonna let him stop making decisions for you?”

  “Don’t even start, I’ve had it up to my neck with him, but you know my hands are tied.”

  “You better fucking pay me so well when you own the company.”

  “You know I will, you’ve already got a running tab.”

  “Let me see how far along the paperwork is, and I’ll get back to you.”

  “Thanks, man.” Ari and I hang up and right away his email comes through. Reading Quinn’s contact info, I have to reach out to her. I miss her, and I want to know if she is really done with me. Was it truly a one-week thing and nothing more?

  Anxiously, I go into my personal email and begin to type her a message, but the words just won’t come out right.

  As I read the email again, I try to not second-guess myself before hitting send.

  To: QWhitmore4379@new-mail.com

  From: merritt7@new-mail.com

  November 14, 2016, 6:05pm

  Quinn,

  I hope you’re doing good. I miss you. You should call me sometime.

  361-555-1789.

  Merritt

  Chapter 21

  Quinn

  Touching my bracelet, I can’t shake Merritt from my mind. I got his email as I left work, and I don’t know what to do. It’s been a week, and I’ve tried my hardest to push him as far out of my head as possible, but my mind is still consumed with the time we shared together. My mom even agreed that right now, I need to focus on myself…but I just can’t seem to do that.

  For some reason, he’s got this hold over me that makes me want to be with him so bad.

  As much fun as we had together, though, it’ll never be more than that week in the mountains. As I play with my bracelet, the box pops open. I still haven’t put a wish inside. I need to—that is the point of these.

  As I close it, I need to shake him from my mind. He’s all I’ve thought about for the better part of this last week. Even though I’m still pissed at him for emailing my ex.

  The doorbell rings and I get up to answer the takeout delivery that I ordered.

  “Thank you,” I tell the guy, passing him a twenty-dollar bill.

  Sitting back down with my bag of food, Merritt’s email taunts me, still illuminated on the screen of my laptop. I know he loves Chinese, we ordered it one night for dinner, and he ate so much it was really disturbing. Grabbing my phone, I snap a picture of the bag of food and decide to text it to him. What’s the harm in that? There’s nothing wrong with me reaching out to a friend, right?

  I ordered enough for even you, wanna join me?

  I hesitate sending the text and decide against it. I’ve just gotta stop this, and as I go to delete the message, I accidently hit send.

  Shit!

  It’s not but half a minute later, and my phone is ringing. I glance at the screen, and sure enough, it’s him. I let it ring for what feels like a dozen times, my heart pounding, so many emotions reeling through me. And then…finally, I answer. “Hello?” My voice rattles and I clear my throat.

  “Hi,” his voice so deep. Reminding me of when he’d whisper into my ear, making my pussy twitch, and I look to the ceiling wondering how he can have this power over me.

  “You got my email?”

  “I did.”

  “What did you order me?” he asks.

  Opening the bag, I take everything out. “Let’s see…I have egg drop soup.”

  “My favorite.”

  “Fried rice and a spring roll.”

  “Should I book my flight now?”

  I giggle at his words. Even though he’s joking, I can’t help but wish he were serious.

  “I’m glad you reached out, Quinn.”

  “I’m glad you did too. Did Willow give you my email?”

  He’s quiet for a second and then says, “Uhhh, no. Ari gave it to me.”

  “Oh…I see. You just couldn’t wait for me to call you, could you?”

  “I didn’t have a choice—it’s been a week, and you didn’t call me.”

  “I wanted to, but you know why I haven’t.”

  “Why?” he asks me so calmly, making me say the reason out loud.

  “Because things with us were only for that one week.”

  “But they don’t need to be.” I find myself contemplating his words, with my feet huddled beneath me, not wanting to eat or do anything else but get lost with him.

  “They do, and you know why.”

  “I don’t have to agree with it, though.”

  “I guess you don’t, but my ex got super crazy after your email, and I have to say I’m done with men right now.”

  “Then be done with men, all of them. But don’t be done with me.”

  “Merritt, please.”

  “I’m sorry, Quinn. I’m trying to respect you and be reasonable here.”

  “Then don’t push me.”

  “You texted me, remember that.” And he’s right…I did text him. And I answered when he called. If I’m going to be so anti-men why am I even talking to him? “Can I help at all?” he offers, cutting my mind fuck short.

  “No! No, thank you, you’ve done enough. It’s over with now. I’ve moved past it, got a new phone number, and that I think really got through to him this time.”

  “I’m sorry about emailing him and not telling you about it; I shouldn’t have done that to you.”

  “It’s all right; I get that you were only trying to help…but you don’t know my ex. He’s so crazy.”

  “Well, thankfully I don’t, and I don’t want to, ‘cause I’d probably send him to the hospital. Could we stop talking about him? It’s really good to hear your voice.”

  “Sure,” I laugh a little, and he asks me, “So, how’s your dinner?”

  “I haven’t started eating yet.”

  “You should. I don’t mind, and you know I love the sound of your mouth.”

  “Stop it, Merritt.”

  “Sorry, I forgot, we’re only friends.” His tone is down, and I change the subject.

  “How have you been? How’s work and being back in Texas?”

  “I’ve been okay. Work’s…work. It’s nice to be home right now. The weather is great, really warm.”

  “Yeah? I wish it were here. It’s cold, and we keep getting tons of snow.”

  “You like the snow, though,” he tells me which I told him on vacation that I did. He always listens to everything I say.

  “I do, but it would be nice to have a warm day every so often. You can even go to the beach, can’t you?”

  “I can. You should come and visit me; you’d love it here.”

  “You know I can’t, Merritt.”

  “I’m sorry, I just miss you, Quinn, and I have a hard time thinking you aren’t feeling what I am.”

  His words bring my world to a halt. I’ve never had a man be so open and talk to me the way he is. I’ve had guys wanna see me, or wanna go out, or hook up. But no one has ever put their feelings out there the way Merritt is, and I don’t know what to say or how to respond…

  ***

  “You’re quiet,” Eve, one of my co-workers, says as I blankly gaze out the window and look at all the people bustling by on 16th Street.

  “Sorry. I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”

  “Is it work? Can I help with any of your accounts?”

  “No, I’m finally caught up from my vacation.”

  “Speaking of, how was it? You’ve barely mentioned a word about it.”

  “Is your salad okay, ma’am?” the waiter asks me.

  “Yeah, it’s good. Could I have a box and we’ll take the check?”

  “Is one check good?” he asks, looking me up and down. He’s cute, but his appraisal does nothing to me, not the way Merritt’s cou
ld bring me to my knees with a simple smirk.

  “That’s fine.”

  “Ooh, he likes you,” Eve says, “You should get his number.”

  I roll my eyes, “He’s not my type—he’s scrawny. I need muscles, something to hold on to.”

  “I get that, girl. So tell me about the trip.” I fill her in on all the details as we pay our check and box up our to-go food. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about him sooner,” she scolds me as we make it back into our building.

  The warmth is so inviting. “There’s not much to tell, it was just a week, and now it’s over with.”

  “Quinn, you don’t believe that, do you?”

  We wait at the bottom of the elevator banks for a car to arrive and I look her directly in the eye. “Of course I do.”

  As we shuffle inside, everyone calls out their floors, and this is one of the things that drives me crazy. Why can’t people just push their number when they walk in? Eve snickers at me as I push yet another number. Then right as the doors close, someone calls out, “Hold that, would ya?”

  I ignore them, but the person on the other side pushes the door open button.

  Seriously? The stairs would’ve been faster.

  And as I look up, my heart skips a beat. Dressed in a sexy ass suit with the most gorgeous expression ever is Merritt, and his gaze is eating me alive. He squeezes in, placing his body right along the front of mine as he presses the button for his floor, glancing behind him.

  “Hey,” he says, leaning down and kissing me on the cheek. I can sense Eve’s eyes all over us, and I swallow searching for my voice. “Hi.” Suddenly I’m shy, but he’s not. Everything about him is consuming me and when he takes my hand in his, holding it tightly, the comfort I felt for the week when we were together comes rushing back to me. I’ve missed him more than I realized.

  The elevator doors open at its first stop and a few people shuffle out giving us a little more room, but Merritt doesn’t give me any more space. “What are you doing here?” I ask him, knowing we only have a little while longer together.

  “I have a meeting with a client that Ari is trying to steal from me.”

  Of course, he is.

  “Didn’t you get my texts?” he asks.

  “I haven’t checked my phone all day.”

  “Check it.” He cups my cheek and touches my lips with this thumb. I lean into his hand, getting so easily lost in him that everything else fades away. It’s as if we are standing alone…just he and I. The elevator dings and Eve calls me to follow her as she waits on our floor. “Room 503,” Merritt says, passing me what looks like a hotel keycard, and I step backwards, not responding, but our eyes stay locked together. He licks his bottom lip as the doors close, and I’m in such a daze. “What the hell was that?” Eve shrieks.

  “That’s him, the guy from the week I spent in the mountains.”

  “You said he lived in Texas.”

  “He does, he’s here on business.”

  “You also said it was a one-time thing, so what was that?”

  “I have no clue.” I look down at the key card in my hand. The name across it reads, “The Brown Palace,” which is only like the nicest and oldest hotel in the city. Eve snatches it from me and asks, “What are you gonna do?

  Looking to her for advice, I respond, “I have no idea.”

  She gives me back the card and looks like she is about to pee her pants. “Hi, Mr. Johnson,” I say as we pass one of the senior VP’s.

  “Oh my God, Quinn. Are you going?”

  “No!” I tell her as we sit down. She glares at me. “I don’t know, maybe.” Taking out my phone, I check it, and yep, there is one missed call and two missed text messages from him.

  I might be coming to Colorado for business today, could I see you?

  Heading to the airport now…dinner?

  I find it hard to believe that he suddenly has business here. When we talked last night, he didn’t mention a thing about it. He just kept trying to push me to admit to wanting more with him, and when I didn’t, now this morning he might be coming here. Then when I don’t respond, he’s here? He knows I’m not in any place to date or be with him.

  Taking the key, I toss it into my trashcan. Why should I go, because he said so? I’m done being told what to do, as much as it hurts to push him away, I’ve gotta look out for myself, no one else will.

  Dialing Willow, her phone goes to voicemail, and I remember that she is in class all day today. Hanging up without leaving her a message, I call Ari. Something seems off about all of this. Merritt could’ve planned this all along, and I have to find out if he’s lying about things or if this is really a coincidence.

  “What’s up, Quinn?”

  “Did you tell Merritt where I work?”

  “No, why?”

  “Because I just ran into him in my building, and he claims he has business here. Something about getting a client back you’re trying to steal?”

  “Oh, the Serrano Family. Their attorney’s office is in your building. Remember when I texted you for lunch the other day? I was there to close the deal; now he’s trying to get it back ‘cause his old man is a fucking kook.”

  “Are you being serious?”

  “Yeah, why would I lie?” He’s right…why would he lie? “Hey, if it means anything, Quinn, he’s a really good guy.”

  I hang up with Ari and don’t know what to do. Is this all me just making this shit up in my head? Am I being paranoid because of my past? Do I let my guard down and just wander over to The Brown Palace and strip naked because that’s what Merritt wants and Ari says he’s a good guy?

  Work gets the best of me, and I’m thankful to keep my mind busy. As the day flies by, I don’t know where the time has gone. Everyone around me is packing up to leave, and I feel like even though I’ve been swamped, I’ve gotten nothing accomplished. Minus making a list of reasons why I need to stay single that is so long I could make a book out of it.

  “Night,” Eve says, thankfully not asking me if I’m going to see Merritt again or not and I smile, finishing the spreadsheet I’m working on.

  My phone buzzes in my desk, and as I glance inside, I see a view of Downtown Denver. The only thing that would make this view better is you. Room 503…I’m waiting.

  I slam my desk drawer and pinch the bridge of my nose. Why is this happening? How could he be here and expect me to just drop things and run to him? He knows how I feel, we agreed to one week and now he’s pushing me. Looking at the picture again, I begin to dig through my trash can and get startled by my boss. “What’d you lose?” he asks, and I shoot straight up in my chair.

  “Oh…nothing, just a paper. I don’t want to re-pull the docs and search through them to reprint it.”

  “Ahh, okay. Well, I need a favor. We just got the signed documents in for the Torrez accounts. They’ll be here Monday morning, and I hate to ask you, but if you could work on everything this weekend, I’d owe you.”

  “Stan, you already owe me,” I tell him.

  “I do, and I’m sorry I haven’t paid you back from the last time I asked you to work on the weekend. You can even do this from home if you want. And I’ll give you my tickets to the Nuggets game this weekend too. Will that help?”

  “If you have them on you now, then maybe.” He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out two tickets. But before he lets go of them he asks, “You’ll get everything, including the accounts, all set up by Monday morning?”

  “Sure will,” I tell him.

  “Thank you, Quinn…you’re a life saver.” He walks off, leaving me with a sweet pair of floor seats to the Nuggets game tomorrow night.

  With my trashcan still between my legs, I look in and spot the card right away. Taking it out, I toss it in my purse and grab my laptop and other things I need to get my weekend work done, taking it all with me as I leave.

  Walking home, my phone rings; it’s Merritt. I’m reluctant to answer; my brain is so jumbled right now but like usual…I can’
t resist him. “Hello?”

  “Are you coming over here or not?”

  “No,” I tell him, waiting to cross a street.

  “Why not?”

  “I’m spent, it’s been one hell of a week back, and my boss just gave me even more work that I have to do at home this weekend. I think I just wanna go home crash and get a fresh start tomorrow.”

  “I’ll come to you? I…I just want to hold you.”

  His offer is so sweet, how can I turn him down? But thinking about it, the truth is, once we are alone, cuddling will be the last thing we’ll be doing. We’ll fuck and probably won’t be able to stop, and what will that open up? I need to think about things for myself, for my future, to make sure I do what’s right…for me.

  “Not tonight?”

  “I’m leaving in the morning.”

  “Then there will be another time, Merritt.”

  He doesn’t respond, and I enter my building, keeping my voice down as I ask him, “Okay?” But he’s still quiet. Glancing at the screen to see if he’s even still there, he’s not. He’s hung up on me.

  What the fuck? Just because I need some time, he hangs up on me? How is that even fair? I didn’t ask him to come here.

  Chapter 22

  Merritt

  Staring at the blank screen of my phone, I’m aggravated at how closed off Quinn is being. I don’t get why last week it was perfectly okay for us to be together and now this week it’s not. At the time that we agreed to one week, I thought a week would be enough to let me get over my feelings for her, but it wasn't. All it did was make them stronger. She’s gotta be feeling what I am; I’m not crazy after all. I’m trying to respect her and not push things, but she won’t even see me to just cuddle, and being this close to her, yet so far away, is driving me fuckin’ mad.

  Refilling my glass of whiskey, my father calls me again, wanting to know if I closed the Serrano deal. Fuck him! All he cares about is business. He doesn’t care about me or what I’ve had to go through to get the Serranos back.

  Sitting on the couch that overlooks the view of the city, it occurs to me that I’ve never realized how beautiful of a city Denver is.

  “What’s up?” I answer Ari’s call on the first ring.