Page 19 of In Love with the Devil

“Oh, sweetie. Shit’s already happening. Look at this. You bought ten locks. Look at you.” She points at the locks, then at me.

I titter and nod. My nerves are fried. “You’re right.”

But we both know I’m not calling the police. She rolls her eyes and sighs as she hands me the filled bag and receipt.

Chapter eight

An Escalation

Astoria

Three hours. That’s what it takes me to put a lock on the front and back door. When I begin putting the second lock on my bedroom’s door, my phone vibrates and I thank the lord because my fingers hurt from holding all these screws.

Mindy:Do you want me to pick you up? I’m right around the corner.

Me:Please do.

At the Twerking Café

I hold my scorching hot mocha coffee with both hands, sipping only a little as I study Mindy’s face.

“Okay. What’s his name?” Of course, the minute she asks that question, my cheeks burn and I nervously titter .

“It’s a guy from work,” I lie.

“Oh? What’s his name?”

“Julian.”

“Nice. So, what’s wrong with him?”

“Nothing, I just met him the other day. He does seem like a one, and you know how allergic I am to those kinds of men. I mean he’s cute and flirts a lot." I bit my bottom lip nervously trying to come up with something nice to say. "No, but he's alright. That’s all. I told him we can only be friends.”

"Huh." She narrows her eyes into slits with suspicion.

"What?" I sense her immediate disapproval and don't know how she can already tell that something is not right.

"I hate this guy already." She sips her coffee.

"How? I mean why?"

"You're doing that thing again, Astoria."

I stare at her, willing her to explain what she's talking about.

She sucks her teeth. "You're doing that number thing you tend to do. You assign numbers to people. You did it when your dad disappeared, then with both Emmanuel and Jeremy."

God, I didn't think she'd noticed how I tend to go into my numbers world. I sigh. "I guess I've been out of the dating game for so long that I'm really nervous."

"You promise that's it?"

I nod because it's the only way I can lie to her.

“So you told him you can only be friends… You’re going to play hard to get?"

I nod again.

"Nice. I’m proud of you.” Mindy smiles and nods back at me.

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