Page 65 of Whispers of Obsession

“Call me Steph. You dodged a bullet, girl. And from what I remember, it was a very small bullet that didn’t even know what it was doing.” Stephpats her back, and I watch as sassy red relaxes. I envy my friend’s ability to befriend everyone she meets. Even a girl she accidentally scorned.

“Come out with us tonight,” Trisha offers sassy red, as Brandon watches silently. He offers a small encouraging smile though. Like I said, he’s very shy.

“Yeah, we’ll be at the restaurant tonight, supporting Cora on her first day.” Steph leans back, patting the redhead's back.

“Okay. Thanks. I’m Opal, by the way,” she says, still sniffling.

“We’ll see you tonight,” I add with a grin, even though I’ve just processed what Steph said earlier.

I don’t know if the thought of them all supporting me on my first day makes me more nervous, or happy.

Lizzy is the only friend I’ve ever had that would go that far to support me, and I know if she could be here to do that, she would. But we hardly get to meet up now. We still talk and text every day, but it’s not the same.

I’m glad I’ve found new friends. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. They won’t replace Lizzy, but they do help keep the loneliness at bay.

“Well, that was awkward,” Brandon quips when Opal walks away.

“No kidding. I feel awful. I don’t sleep with married men or dudes with girlfriends. Can’t believe that shady fuck lied to me,” Steph grumbles, sipping her coffee.

“Someone should give him a taste of his own medicine,” I practically growl, surprised by my own anger. I’m even more surprised to find I mean it.

What would the masked man say about this new side of me?

Nothing.

Because he abandoned me.

After everything. After what I gave him… He just fucking disappeared on me.

“He’ll get his eventually,” Steph sighs, and for a split second I think she means my masked man, then I remember no one knows about him - not even Lizzy.

I’m reminded of a man I haven’t thought about in months, and my skin crawls. Victor. How did I miss how similar to my stepdad he was?

The desire to always be the good girl somehow always gets me into more trouble. Which is ironic because I thought being the good girl would keep me out of trouble.

Yet, time and time again, I end up suffering when I think I’m doing what everyone wants.

27

CORA

Itake a deep breath as I look up at the restaurant before me, trying to settle my nerves.

I need a job.

No, I need this job.

I need to start earning more money, so that I can get out from under Sean’s control.

It’s not like I’m working as a stripper. Not that there’s anything wrong with that line of work, but I’m way, way too shy to pull it off. It’s just restaurant work. I’m not even allowed to work behind the bar - I’m not old enough. So why am I so nervous?

I glance at the time on my phone just as a good luck message from Lizzy buzzes through and realize I’m dangerously close to being late for my first shift, which thankfully is only a lunch run to learn the ropes.

Plastering on a smile that is much more confident than I’m feeling, I swing open the door and step inside. The place is nice.There’s an extra large bar where customers can order drinks, of course, but also food.

There’s at least twenty tables as well, and the back area with the kitchen is very well cleaned. There’s even a nice little area for employees to store their stuff for their shift, as well as take their breaks.

The owner is really nice, and shows me around before introducing me to the girl that will be training me.

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