by Ashley Goss
“What’s going thru your mind beautiful?” I asked her as I picked up our entwined hands and kissed hers.
She looked scared, “I just don’t know what this means,” she says looking down at our hands.
Right now, I was scared shitless too. The last relationship I was in went south, but I had higher hopes for ours. Over the course of the trip, I got to know Lacey fairly well. I truly don’t believe she would be anything like Kelsey. I didn’t have to worry about her true intentions. In fact, I already knew them. The only thing she cared about was getting thru college. Honestly, that’s one of the biggest things I admired about her. Her ambition to succeed.
“Listen, we can take things slow. As long as I have you, I’ll be fine. No need to start freaking out yet.” I laughed as her smiles appeared again. “There’s that gorgeous smile.”
I loved how she appeared to be so innocent, but she was far from it in my mind. I couldn’t lie and say what happened between us that night in the hotel wasn’t on my mind. I thought about it all the time. Sex with her was different. Normally, it was all about pleasuring myself with random girls, but with her, I wanted to please her. Honestly, I could have just pleased her and been fine that night, but she didn't have it. Not that I complained at all. I laughed out loud.
“What’s so funny?” She asked as we pulled up to my apartment.
“Nothing at all. Let’s get upstairs. It looks like it might rain.” I pulled out an umbrella and walked her to the door. Yes, I can be a gentleman when warranted. She looked too beautiful to get all wet by rain.
We stepped into the elevator and looked at each other as the doors close. I pulled her to my chest and brought her lips up to mine and planted a subtle kiss. Her hands began fumbling in my hair as she pulled back in. Then the elevator dings and the doors open with my hand on her ass. The couple on the other side of the door laughed.
“Don’t worry. You two aren’t the only one. Have a good night.” The man laughed as they stepped into the elevator.
Lacey clenched my hand as we glided down the hall to my apartment. I loved the privacy it ensured. I only shared the floor with one other, the couple we passed on the elevator. We shared the entire floor, so I got more privacy than I would in a normal apartment. I made it to my door, put the key in, and twisted.
My eyes went wide as I discovered my apartment to be ransacked. Furniture toppled over, my work papers everywhere, even my kitchen raided. How the hell could someone get into my apartment? I held my breath for a minute, thinking about what to do. I put my finger over my mouth instructing Lacey to be quiet and stay there. The intruder could still be in here. I’d rather be safe than sorry.
I made my way first to my bedroom, opening the door, to find everything had been gone thru. It looked like whoever was here was looking for something. What was it? I tried to think to myself if I had anything that valuable in the house? Not really. My mattress flipped over on the floor, everything from my drawers strewn out on the floor.
As I made my way thru the rest of the house, I tried to think what was missing. I didn’t notice anything. Although, to be honest, I had so much stuff in my house, I couldn’t be quite sure. I signaled Lacey to call the cops as I continued searching the house. They had to have taken something. Why the hell would anyone break into my house but not have taken anything?
After searching the entire house, the intruder was gone, but they sure did leave a mess behind. I still wondered how anyone got into my home? It didn’t appear to be forced entry, or at least I didn’t notice any signs. The only people that had a key was my family.
I scratched my head trying to think of anyone else who might possibly have a key. Kimberly? She wasn’t capable of doing something like this. I’ve known her for years. She was the only one that had a key outside of my family. The only one that had access to my apartment while I was gone.
Suddenly, I felt betrayed. I walked to the kitchen to get a glass of water because suddenly my throat felt like sandpaper. All I could think about were the times she came to my house. Honestly, when we were sick of the office, we would come to my home, eat dinner and finish the workload. Why would she betray me like this?
“Are you okay?” She asked as she put her hand on my shoulder looking worried.
“I’m fine. Nothing that can’t be cleaned up. No big deal.”
But really, it was a big deal. It was eating at me what she could have taken, but then I remembered. I got up so fast from my seat that it scooted across the kitchen floor as I darted back into my bedroom. Going threw contents of what’s left on my dresser drawers, I found it missing. The ring. The ring I bought Kelsey when my proposal was still happening. I had held onto it, although I don’t know why. I should have gotten rid of a long time ago. It only brought back horrid memories. Was this all because of money? The ring was probably worth about fifteen to twenty grand in its condition. I shook my head realizing one of the closest people outside my family just entered my home and stole from me. She was the only one that had access. Was she the one who tipped off the paparazzi about Lacey too? What a backstabbing bitch!
Suddenly, there was a rap at the door. I heard Lacey open it and the male officer speaking.
“Good evening, ma’am. We got a report of a break-in.” He said looking around at the mess.
“Yes, let me get Matteo.”
She walked into the room and found me on the floor. How was I going to explain keeping the ring? I don’t want her to think I still had feelings for Kelsey. Surely, that’s what she would think.
I walked into the living room and greet the officer who begun taking my statement. I told him about finding the house just as it was now. I searched the house to be clear the intruder was not still inside then I started looking for things that were missing.
“And, was anything missing?” He asked.
I hesitated at answering because Lacey was staring at me, “Yes. There was a--- uhh--- engagement ring in my dresser drawer. It is gone.”
The police officer glared at me, “Could this have been an upset ex that broke in to retrieve it?”
I laughed at the question, “Definitely not. She wouldn’t ever show up on my doorstep. Better yet, come within feet on my home. The only person that has access to my home besides my family is my assistant, Kimberly.”
The police officer walked farther into my home examining the mess. He looked just as disgusted as I did. This was going to take forever to clean up and get back to normal. When he came back, he inspects the door. “No signs of forced entry. You are right. Whoever did it, had a key. What is Kimberly’s last name?”
Did I want to give them her last name? She would surely get jail time for this. Did I want to send to her to jail?
“Her last name is Stevens,” I replied regretting it.
The police officer said he would keep in touch and left.
I still couldn’t get over the fact that she had done this to me. My immediate reaction was to call her. Ask her why she did this? But, I knew it wouldn’t be the best thing right now. Surely, they would catch her before work on Monday. That’s if she even showed up. I wouldn’t show up if I had just broken into my boss’s apartment.
Chapter 28
Lacey
This night didn’t end the way I thought it would. Coming back to his apartment, ransacked by an intruder, was the last thing I expected. However, that’s life, always had it’s unexpected twists and turns.
It was getting late when the police officer left, and there was no way we were going to get his bedroom back into shape to sleep there, so we went to a hotel.
I took a shower and got under the covers. Matteo looked deep in thought when I ran my fingers down his chest, “What’s going through your mind?”
He looked at me as if waking up from a dream, “Nothing. Everything is fine. Just a little startled that someone broke into my house is all. I never expected it to happen to me. Especially, my someone, I know.”
I couldn’t blame him. If I came home and found
my house ransacked like that, freaking out would be all I did. He probably felt a breach of privacy and security. It was understandable under the circumstances.
“Why don’t you get some sleep? It’s been a long day for you.” I told him as I gave him a peck on the cheek and rolled over to the other side. He didn’t interject which meant he was tired.
After he fell asleep, I found myself thinking about the ring. Why would he have kept it after all these years? Most men would have just thrown it away or something, but he decided to keep it. Why? What did the ring mean to him anymore? It made my stomach uneasy to think that maybe he still had feelings for Kelsey. Maybe, he kept it thinking she would eventually come back to him. God, I hoped not. Although could I really be mad if that was the case? Our relationship came out of nowhere. Before we met, he was still sulking in his disappointment. He was different now.
Maybe I was just overthinking things. Matteo had just told me he wanted to be with me. Stop. Breath. Go to bed.
I woke up the next morning with my head nuzzled against Matteo’s chest, sleeping soundly. I tried to move carefully not to wake him, but it doesn’t work.
“Good morning, gorgeous.” He said with a smile.
How can he look so amazing first thing in the morning? Here I was, my hair is a rat’s nest and boogers in my eyes. He’s over there looking like a model off a magazine cover. Jealous.
I smiled back at him and went to brew some coffee. Believe me, you don’t want to see me without coffee in the morning. I’ve never really been much of a morning person. Coffee made me more enjoyable. Without out, my attitude was horrid.
I heard him in the bedroom talking to someone on the phone with a mention of the ring. Curious, I stuck my head inside and arched my eyebrows.
“They found her and the ring. She was trying to pawn it for cash.” He explained.
He continued talking to the officer on the phone for quite some time, so I just sat down at the table and enjoyed my warm cup of coffee. Have you ever sat down and drank your coffee and find your mind wandering to random places? It seemed in the morning, while I drank my coffee, random thoughts and ideas would pop in and out of my head. My best thoughts came early.
“So, I have to go down and get the ring on Monday.” He said pouring himself some coffee and then sitting down at the table across from me.
“What are you going to do with it? Keep it?” I said not meanly but curiously. Did he have a reason to keep it now?
He shrugged, “Probably take it to a pawn shop, throw it into a river. Honestly, I don’t care much about it anymore. When I got to the house last night, I almost forget it was even in there.”
Was he telling the truth or just telling me what he thinks I want to hear? Honestly, I would hope he wouldn’t keep it, but that was not my call. It was his. We had only been together not even 24 hours, and already I doubt him a little. Stop it! There was no reason to doubt him. Don’t treat him like your past boyfriends. Matteo was better than that. The one thing we had in common was a betrayal. Neither of us wanted to experience that again.
The rest of our coffee was spent in silence. We didn’t really have anything to talk about, and honestly, the quiet was nice. I didn’t get much quiet back at my dorm room. Angela was always very loud and at especially horrible times.
When I finished my coffee, it was time for me to head to campus. I needed a fresh pair of clothes. Plus, Matteo probably had things he needed to do, and I didn’t want him to be pressured into having me tag along.
“I’m heading back to campus. There’s some stuff I gotta take care of there. What are your plans for later?” I asked hoping he would ask me to come back tonight.
“Honestly, I’m not sure. I think I’m going to have someone go to the house and clean it once I get the okay from the police. Until then, I’ll be staying here. I got to take care of some things at the office and stop by and see my sister. Other than that, nothing.” He explained.
He didn’t ask. It would be weird if I asked him myself. I was sure he would message me later asking me to come over, so I don’t even worry about it. I snuck in a quick kiss before walking out the door to my Uber.
On the drive over, all I could think about was that damn ring. It was driving me nuts. Worrying about it wasn’t going to change anything. He was with me not her. That should count for something. Right? I couldn’t start doubting him already. I had to trust him.
Once I got back to my dorm, Angela was waiting for me. I was not one to stay gone overnight, so she was worried.
“Where have you been? You had me worried sick.” She said acting like my mother.
I laughed and replied, “You were so worried but never attempted to call me. You couldn’t have been that worried.”
Angela was so over dramatic about everything. Spending less time here would be fine with me. I enjoyed last night because it was peacefully quiet. I slept throughout the night without being woke up by Angela storming in after going to a frat party. Things never seemed to go her way, and she always had something to bitch about. A couple months into us being roommates, it crossed my mind to try and get a different room, but then I thought how bad the new roommate could be. There were worse girls to be stuck with than Angela.
Angela proceeded to tell me that my parents came to visit me last night, but I wasn’t here. Why hadn’t they called me? I picked up my phone and dialed my mother.
“Hello dear. Are you back at your dorm?” She asked.
“Yes. You should have just called me. I would have come back last night.” I explained feeling back that my parents drove all the way here and I was somewhere else.
“We wanted to surprise you, but we also didn’t want you to drop what you were doing last night. You have a life. We get that. I knew you would be home today and Angela would give you the message.” She said sincerely.
My mom had always been my rock. For as long I could remember, we had been close. She made sure that I got everything I needed. Of course, she was my mom but also a close friend. I felt that I could talk to her about anything. We had a very open communication relationship.
My dad, on the other hand, we were close but not as close as my mother and me. He still thought of me as a little toddler even though I was an adult. Sometimes this made things frustrating, but he said when I had kids one day, I would understand.
We decided to meet up for lunch at a local diner. They would have to head back in a few hours and as childish as it sounded, I missed my parents. They had done a lot for me over the years and became my support blanket. They have always supported me in anything I wanted to do.
When we got to the diner, my mom couldn’t wait to start asking me questions. She didn’t even wait for the waiter to take our order. I shook my head knowing this was going to be a long lunch. My mom missed me. She couldn’t hide that fact. To tell you the truth, I missed her greatly too.
“So how is college going? Straight A’s I hope?” She asked giving me the mom's eye.
I do enjoy the fact that my parents don’t receive report cards from college. “You know me. I always strive for straight A’s.” I smiled back at her. I didn’t usually lie to my mom, but I didn’t want her to be worried. If she were worried, she would never leave.
“And what about a boyfriend? Any boys catch your interest here?”
I immediately looked down at my lap. Matteo and I were still so new that I didn’t know if I should even mention it to them. It’s not serious yet. Who knows, we could break up in a week. I would rather keep it to myself until it’s serious. “Nope, just focusing on school. I’ll be done with college soon enough, and then I’ll be able to start my career.”
My mom looked at me like she knew I was lying. I felt her I know your lying gaze seer into my skull. She doesn’t read magazines so she couldn’t have seen the article on Matteo and me. How could she possibly know? I attempted to change the topic of conversation, “How are you guys doing?”
My dad looked at me inquisitively, “We are fine. Just wo
rried about our little girl.”
I was not sure what was going on, but my parents were acting strangely. What were they not telling me? What was on their minds?
My parents spent the next hour just asking me a bunch of questions about school, my friends, and my basic life. They were still acted strange, but maybe it was just because they missed their little girl. Surely, they would tell me if something was wrong.
When they got in their car and left, a tear made an appearance on my cheek. It was nice to see them, but something still didn’t seem right. I was going to find out the secret they were trying to hide from me.
Chapter 29
Matteo
After getting dressed, I headed back over to my apartment. I was hoping they would be finished so I could clean it up. I had never really liked staying in hotels. My bed was more comfortable. It was going to take a couple of days to get it back to where it used to be. I might have to hire someone to come and clean it. Between work and everything else, I probably won’t have time.
I didn’t want to think about what that bitch did to me. Kimberly betrayed my trust. Usually, I was very careful around women, but she was my assistant. That girl knew practically everything there was to know about me. Of course, she would have known I wouldn’t be home. I was supposed to be at that dinner. Plus, not that I thought about it more, it was a late addition to my calendar. I only found out about it two days before the event. She wanted to make sure I wouldn’t be there. Sneaky bitch! This was a prime reason why I never trusted anyone outside of my family. People use people. There was no kindness left in the world. People only help people when it’s beneficial to them in some way. It made me sick to remotely think about what our world was coming to.
I shook my head frustrated because I needed to stop thinking about it. There was nothing I could do now. The ring was gone, my apartment trashed, and that bitch was on the loose. God knows what she did with the ring. Right now, I could care less about the ring. It’s not important to me anymore, the only thing that’s bothering me was the fact she went into my home and stole from me. Kimberly invaded my privacy and took away me feeling secure in my own home.
