“Oh did Joe call you in tonight?” I am doing a happy dance in my head, I didn’t even consider the fact that Maddy would get called in. Makes for a good payback for intruding on me while I was in the shower.
She goes to say something, but stops she looks confused and annoyed all wrapped up in one snotty bundle. I have never pulled something like this on her before. She scowls at me, turns on her heel and marches out of my room. I want to say that I have a little pang of guilt for doing that to her, but I don’t. She has had me cover for her countless times, so this is my turn.
I sit on the edge of my bed, close my eyes and brush out my damp snarled hair. I can hear Maddy talking to herself as she is rushing to get ready for her new shift. I laugh under my breath. By the time I am done unknotting my locks I start to feel how tired I really am. I haven’t slept in over twenty-four hours and have done so much.
I get up and return my brush to my dresser and I look at my fox cookie jar and I remember that I have a stash of honey in my bag from very early this morning. I grab my purse and open it. I didn’t even see how many packets Derrek snagged for me and man he must have a huge grip, because he only took one handful and there must be at least fifteen packets here. I fish them out and return to my jar, I hold them all to my chest and sigh a smile. Lifting the head off the fox I drop them into the blue body of the ceramic wooded creature.
I close my curtains and blinds, turn on my tower fan that faces my bed and I climb into my comfortable and reliable bed. I once thought I had reliability on my life with Maddy and Josh, but I am questioning it all now. When I met Maddy we were so close and had so much fun and laughter. Now, I have a hard time just being in the same room with her. She has changed so much and I want to say it’s for the better, but I don’t think I can. She used to be a little more like me, mousy but in a practical way. She would work hard and we would hang out in our free time doing different things and she would date a guy for a period of time, we would even double date every now and then. Now, she is hardly home and is now dating a million guys at once, well if you want to call sleeping with a new guy a night dating.
And Josh. Where do I even begin with Josh? I thought we had a descent relationship, until more recently when he keeps bringing the most painful part of my life up and using it as leverage. In the beginning we saw each other, went out and had sex… Okay, he had sex I just went with it. Now, we do those things, just less frequently. I care for him a lot and I know he cares about me too, that’s why he is the way he is. You would be edgy too I think if you had his mother, hell I just met the woman not long ago for the first time and she scared the bejesus out of me. At the same time I am starting to lose that faith that he will relax one day and come to his senses. I am just tired of making excuses now for him.
But what happened this morning with him at the restaurant and his place. Sure, I pissed him off and stuff, but this is getting out of hand. I touch my arm where he had grabbed me and I feel the tender spots. I’m afraid to look so I don’t.
I can feel my eyes getting heavy as I listen to the hum of my fan and feel the cool breeze over my chest. I let my body finally relax, with all the concerns running in my head and once my eyes close I’m gone into an abyss of green eyes once again.
I jolt awake when I hear my phone ringing. My heart is racing and my vision is shaky from the adrenaline rush. I must have really been out. I get out of bed and get my phone out of my purse and see that it’s Mrs. Brown.
“Hi, Mrs. Brown, how are you?” I answer.
“Hello dear, I hate to call you but, do you think you can come in today to help set up the new books that arrived on Friday? I forgot all about them and they are sitting in a box in my office. I would do it, but I am not feeling too well today.” She sounds stuffed up and I can tell she is genuinely sorry for having to call me in.
I look at the time on my clock and see that I have been out for a few hours at least. It’s just after three in the afternoon. “Of course Mrs. Brown, not a problem. Get some rest and if you need me to bring you anything please call me.”
She blows her nose on the other end, “Thank you Margot that means a lot to this old bitty.”
I roll my eyes, “What have I told you? You’re not old.”
“Yeah, well I feel like I am a hundred years old as of late. Thank you again Margot.”
We say goodbye and hang up. I put my phone back down onto the dresser and stretch my arms up over my head and roll out my shoulders. Taking in a deep breath I pick out my clothes for the remainder of the day. I choose a yellow knee length flowy skirt and a white tank top. I pull my hair up into a pony tail and get in the bathroom to get cleaned up. I slip on my gray Chuck Taylors and head out to the library.
It’s Sunday so we’re closed, just as any other library around. In fact a lot of places are closed here on Sundays. That’s what you get when you live in an area full of religious people and they close down for God’s day. To each their own and I respect it, but when you are craving a chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-a and you pass by a million of them on a Sunday and they are closed, it makes for a sad day.
I pull into the lot and let myself into the building. I head right for her office, grab the box of new young adult books that was delivered and set away for cataloging and shelving them.
I’m nearly done, when I stop to take a break. I need to use the rest room and I have to cross the front of the store. I nearly jump out of my skin when I hear a knock on the glass door and I nearly pee my pants since I have a full bladder. I look to the door and I see Justin there.
I am in shock and confusion, so I don’t move from my spot. I can only imagine my look on my face right now and what he must be thinking. He waves and mouths if he can come in. I finally come to my senses and nod. Then he makes an “unlock the door” gesture with his hand and I mental slap myself in the head. I walk over and fumble with the lock on the door, when I finally get it right I open it slightly and he finishes the job and comes in.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
He looks bashful and I feel bad for my quick questioning, “I uh, saw your car and thought I would stop in. When I saw that it was closed I was about to turn and leave, then I saw you. I am sorry that I startled you, I really didn’t mean to.” He grabs the back of his neck and with that he flexes his monstrous bicep adorned with tattoos. Even his black shirt lifts slightly and I can see a little stomach…damn.
I start to feel myself becoming warmer and heart rate kick up a notch. “It’s okay, but will you excuse me for a moment? I was on my way to the restroom. There’s a sitting area just past that entry way.” I point him in the right direction then make a bee line to the bathroom.
Once inside I am freaking out. What’s wrong with you girl? Snap out of it! He’s just a guy, a guy you just met, who is friendly and funny as a hell. You can have guy friends, there’s nothing wrong with that. I go pee, seeing as my bladder is about to burst. Once I’m out I look myself over in the mirror and fix my hair.
I return to find Justin skimming the books just like I do. One finger extended out, lightly touching each book as if waiting till you have that spark with one and it makes you pick it up. “How did you know what car I drive?” I ask.
Turing his attention to me he shrugs, “I saw you leave after the bout.” He looks back down at the books on his fingertips. He looks so peaceful and his eyes are shining a bright blue in the light coming in from the bay window to his side, when he looks back up to me. “That doesn’t freak you out does it?”
“No, I mean should it? Unless you’re lying and you followed me home or something.” I try to look serious but fail, when I start giggling at the absurd thought.
He shakes his head and laughs with me, “So, what are you doing here on a Sunday?”
I point to another box I have yet to shelf, “Getting the new material on the shelves.”
“Want some help?” He puts his hands in his pockets, once again making those muscles pop, does every motion he make cause hi
s body to do that? He takes notice of my starring obviously, considering I am not hiding it well. “Whatcha looking at?” He smirks, he knows damn well what I am looking at.
I turn pink, I know it. I can feel my cheeks get hot. “Um, yeah sorry. I am just not used to seeing a guy as fit as you are.”
He gets playful, because he pulls his hands out of his pockets and performs a body builder’s stance, poses and flexes. I cover my face in embarrassment. He comes over to me and pulls my hands down from my face, “Hey now, I didn’t mean to make you blush, most girls love it when I do that but you’re not like every other girl now are you?”
I shake my head no, but my smile fades. I know I am not like other girls, everyone in my life has made that known, but not in a good way. “Why can’t you be more like Kelly? Or why do you spend so much time by yourself? You don’t go to school dances? That’s weird and stupid. Why don’t you have any friends?” I can hear all the comments from my childhood creeping up on me. I walk for the box and bend to pick it up.
“Let me get that,” Justin swoops in and grabs the box of heavy books from me. “Where to?”
I start to walk in the direction of the romance section. I saved this box for last just in case I saw something that I wanted to take home tonight. He sets the box down on the floor, I could have told him that I was just going to load up the cart and wheel them to the section, but where’s the fun in that with Mr. Mega Muscles? I squat down and open the box. I pull out the first one and mark it down where it goes, the isbn number, the whole nine yards.
“You do this for every new book?” Justin asks me.
“Sure do.”
“That must take forever, why not have a scanner and a computer help with the filing?”
“That’s what I have been trying to tell Mrs. Brown, but she is very traditional.” I smile and shrug my shoulders. I hand the book to him when I am done with the info and I point to the shelf it belongs on, “Now you know how to alphabetize don’t you?” I kid with him.
He rolls his eyes, “Hey, just because I work out doesn’t mean I am a total meat head you know.” I laugh and watch him find the proper place for the book in his hand. I go back to logging the next book when he catches my attention, “So many beefy guys on these books. These must be those dirty books,” he wiggles his eyebrows at me and sticks out his tongue. I don’t think I have laughed this much in a couple of months and it feels fantastic. I feel good around Justin.
I out stretch my arm for him to come take the next book from me. He puts one arm in front of him and one to his side as if he was a butler being summoned. I smile some more. He takes the book and his eyes bug out, “Hot damn! I thought I was ripped this dude must me on roids’!” He steps back still looking at the cover, “Man I bet his ball sack is the size of raisins now.” I burst out laughing, because I have thought the same things in the past when looking at some of the covers. “Yeesh…” He shakes his head and finds the place for the book. “Now I am afraid to see what you are going to hand me next Miss Margot.” He puts his hands on his hips.
When he comes back to me I am setting one book down next to my side. I try to do it quick so he doesn’t see me do it, but he does. I just sigh and wait for it.
“What about that one?”
“What one? Oh this one…” I reach into the box to pull out a new book.
“No…” He takes one big step towards me and crouches down. Grabbing the book next to me, “This one.”
I look down and shake my head, “I have no idea what you are implying.” I smirk.
He looks over the book, “Were you going to take this one for yourself?” He acts shocked.
“Um … Maybe?” I wince my eyes shut, preparing myself for an insult. When I look up he is reading the back. I don’t say or do anything, I just sit and wait.
“Huh. This sounds pretty good actually and you found one that doesn’t have a hot dude on the cover. Instead it’s a hot chick, who is curvy too.” He nods his approval and hands it back to me. “Forbidden No More, I dig the title.”
I take the book by Christy Dilg. I read the first one by her a while ago and I have been anxiously awaiting for this sequel, the first one was sexy as sin and I have been dying to read what happens next! When I take the book I hug it to my chest in fear that he will take it from me again. Silly, I know, but what can I say? I am protective over the books I love. For normal people that would replace the word ‘book’ with ‘people’, but I don’t have a ‘people’ I could really and truly say that and that makes me a little sad. But, that’s why I have books I suppose.
We go through the next several books like this, him picking on covers, but then finding something that he likes about them or the description of the books. I don’t think a smile never leaves my face.
“So, the music store, that’s kinda neat.”
He throws his head back, “I guess it is neat and I do like it there, but it’s not my full time job.”
“Oh?” I give him a questioning look. I actually thought working with music was a pretty cool job. This coming from someone who have never really had big dreams.
He shelves the last book for me and he sits on the little seat in the bay window, he pats the spot next to him and I climb up off of the floor and take a seat next to him. “I am and don’t laugh, a personal trainer.”
I have to cover my face with my hands to prevent a burst of laughter coming out. He has got to be kidding, I mean he was joking around about the meat heads and stuff. When I see that he’s not laughing I apologize, “Oh, oh my God I am sorry! I thought that you were kidding…”
“It’s okay really,” he chuckles. “But really that’s what I do and I love it. I get to help people get healthier and gain more confidence.”
“And get skinny?”
“That’s beside the point I want to help people feel good about themselves, to gain an inner strength. Once you are strong on the inside then there is no limit to how strong your body can be.” He has a look of pure passion for what he does, his blue eyes have that certain sparkle to them.
“That’s really great then, I am happy for you and anyone would be lucky to have you as a trainer.”
He smiles and nudges my shoulder with his, “So, what do you do other than help out here in this fine establishment?” He waves his hands to display the open room.
“I work in a diner.”
“That’s it?”
“Well, gee when you put it like that I don’t know if I want to admit to the question,” I furrow my eyebrows together.
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean it like that, I was wondering where? What diner?”
“Oh,” I wave my hands and shrug, “You know the greasy spoon a few streets away?”
He nods and then his eyes widen, “Oh! Yeah that place has the best burgers and onion rings!”
“You’ve been there? You eat the stuff even though you teach people to not eat the stuff.”
“Well I have my cheat and bulk days, It’s very technical,” He straightens an imaginary tie around his neck.
“I’m sure it is,” I nod and play serious. “So did you go to school for that?”
“I took courses that I needed to get certified to be a trainer, but most of it I got from experience. What about you? Did you go to college at all?”
“No… But when you grow up with no support and zero opportunity for college.” I play it off as it’s nothing and quickly change the topic, not wanting it to get too serious and the fact that I really don’t want to explain it to anyone else this week. Derrek was enough.
“So how did you get involved with roller derby?”
He doesn’t reply right away, he looks me over for moment and stands, “My cousin got involved and I went to a few of the bouts and when they needed a new MC, I tried out, I guess you could say and here I am.”
“Must be a lot of fun, I loved what I saw at the bout.” And I really did. Those girls were bad ass and so sweet! Especially when they tried to make me feel better in the restr
oom. I hope I get to see those girls again sometime, just to thank them once more.
“Well come to more bouts! And go to another after party, maybe with me?” I see a bashful Justin and an unsure of himself Justin. It’s very … hot. He always seems so strong, especially with his stature. Now his hands are back in his pockets and his head is down and looking through long blonde shy lashes. I start to turn off the lights in the place and making sure things are put away where they need to. He is following me as I try to think of the proper response. “What do you say?” He asks me again.
Standing at the front counter I lift out my bag and put Forbidden No More in it, and check it out of the system. “I say yes to the bout, but an after party I am not sure…”
“Oh, come on, with me you’ll have a blast. I promise you.” He crosses an x over his heart.
“I have a boyfriend though. We can only be friends.” Is it wrong that, that felt wrong to say? I should be happy to say I have a boyfriend right?
His head drops once again, “Are you seeing Derrek?”
Whoa, that came right out of left field. “No. No I am not. What made you assume that?” I cross my arms over my chest awaiting his explanation.
“Honestly? Because you left with him at the last after party.”
“And you assume that I am seeing him? Or are you assuming I am sleeping with him?” I have never been accused by an outsider of sleeping around. Sure Josh has accused me once or twice when he had been drinking and because I would refuse to sleep with him in that state. “I’m not that kind of girl Justin.”
He grabs the nape of his neck and he looks flustered. He is searching for the right words insuring that he doesn’t set me off. “That’s not what I was implying at all Margot. I didn’t know you had a boyfriend and I am sorry, but you can’t blame a guy for trying to ask you out. I mean look at you! You are gorgeous, sweet and funny. And your eyes…”
I look away, feeling bashful.
He steps over closer to me and I drop my bag. Typically I would drop to pick it right up, but he has me by the elbow, then his right thumb is brushing my cheekbone lightly and he tucks my hair behind my ear. “Your eyes are as bright as the first star in the night’s sky and I frankly don’t give a shit that you have boyfriend. If he was so special he would be here with you, not me.” He licks his lips and leans in closer to my ear. I feel like my heart is about to explode in my chest. I can hear its rapid pounding in my ears, then his voice, followed by his warm breath brushing my exposed skin. “I want to kiss you Margot.” It wasn’t a question but a form of a warning I suppose, because he doesn’t wait for an answer, he takes my mouth to his.
About Time Page 10
