Page 44 of Embody

Fifteen

JT

I’M TAKING BELLAMYto dinner tonight to spend time with her. Time during which we’re clothed. To talk.

It recently occurred to me, in one of my rare, sporadic “deep thoughts” moments, that every married couple in my life, even after all these years, still make each other laugh. Still hold hands and whisper in each other’s ears.

And fuck.

A lot.

I want it all too.

I want todateBellamy, make sure there’s more here than just a challenge. See if I can picture us,after we fuck one day soon of course, holding hands and making each other laugh.

Already pretty sure of the answer though, which is why, while she’s in the bedroom getting ready…I’m making a few calls. Calls that remind me so much of my dad and Uncle Saw, it’s disturbing. But, itwasmy father, after all, who told me to go after her with everything I’ve got—so it’s only fitting that he’s the one I’m calling.

“Hello?”

“Dad, I can’t talk very loud,” I whisper into the phone.

“Why not?” he bellows in my ear. “Are you okay? Put them on the phone, I’ll pay whatever they want.”

Dear God…my mom and her crime shows that she makes him watch.

“Dad, I haven’t been abducted for ransom. I just don’t want Bellamy to hear me. Simmer down, Superman.”

“Oh, hold on then.” He covers the phone, but I can still hear him calming my mom down. Which is immediately followed by the distinct smack that I know is her hitting him for scaring the shit out of her. “Alright son, I’m back.”

“Where’d she get ya?” I quietly laugh.

“Arm. Twisted her ring palm-in first too.Evil. Anyway, what can I do for you?”

“Don’t we own a part of the Appleton Apartments?” I don’t know why I bother asking, someone in my family owns part of just about everything in this area. How they manage it all, I’m still learning.

My dad chuckles deeply in my ear. “I knew there was some of me in you somewhere. Yes, we do. Wait, don’t tell me. This’ll be fun. Lemme see if I can guess. She…has a creepy neighbor you want removed?”

“No. Well shit, I don’t know. I’ll check that out too.”

“She has a bunch of stuff that doesn’t work? Her locks aren’t safe? Air conditioning is out? Your Uncle Sawyer dealt with that once, went ape shit,” he laughs harder.

“No, none of the above. I don’t have much time, so can I justtellyou the problem?”

“Yes, of course. I’ve been waiting.”

Not even gonna argue.

“She’s on the bottom floor,” I state simply, the implication obvious.

“Oh,” he grumbles. “Say no more, I’ll take care of it.” Iknow my father, knew it’d be obvious.

“And Dad, could we furnish it? She uh, works very hard for what little she does have, but…”

“Diving right in, then?” He chuckles, yet I hear the undertone of skepticism.

“Almost positive. But even if not, she’s Brynn’s best friend. Want her safe, with things half as nice as she is, ya know?”

“Yes, I do know.Do you?” His voice tilts at the end, to the pitch of a lesson being taught.

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