Page 56 of No Place Like Home

“Let’s go, boy,” I said to Simba without thinking as I made my way back to my car.

It had been three days since that kiss, and I wondered if Quincy was as rattled as me. As much as I didn’t want to think about it, my mind kept constantly going back tothatmoment. It was these moments of desperation, fright, and intimacy that stayed with you, not a random kiss at a bar crawl.

Simba was already scratching at my door at six in the morning, begging for me to let him out and pee. I didn’t have work today, so it was a drag to get up. It was like my body knew I should still be sleeping and revolted against the idea of getting up.

“I’m coming, boy.”

When I made it out of my room, Cubbie was making his protein shake. The first time I brought Simba around, he tried to pet him, but the dog went berserk, and he had kept a wide berth since.

“When are you giving him back?” he asked as I opened the back door.

When was I giving him back? That was a good question. I supposed I had gotten used to coming home and having someone waiting for me at the door, even if it was a dog. Having someone who needed and wanted me felt nice.

“Whenever Quincy gets it together, I suppose.”

Blake took a protein shake and then gave me a look; it wasn’t quite pity, but it wasn’t sympathy either.

“He’s a grown man, Jess. It’s not your job to fix him.”

I glared at him. “It’s not my job to clean up after you either, but I do it anyway.”

His jaw got hard. “It’s different.”

I let Simba outside and took deep breaths, because this conversation triggered me. “I’m not your mother, nor your wife. I’m just your roommate, and because I’m a woman, it doesn’t mean I have to pick up after you.”

He looked at me, and his face fell a bit. “Just be careful, okay? Guys like Hardwell, they….”

I knew what he wanted to say, and I waited for him to say it. To tell me guys like Quincy weren’t for girls like me, but Simba came back in, and he let it go.

“Come on, boy. Let's go for a walk.”

* * *

When Simbaand I got back, Blake was gone. Being alone on the weekends was harder than during the week, because at least during the week, I had school and my kids to keep me preoccupied.

Simba and I were curled up on the couch watching TV when there was a knock on my door. I leaned back and pulled the curtain, and my heart stopped for a second when I saw Quincy outside.

His face turned, and I let the curtain go, but it was too late; he saw me.

Simba was already wagging and waiting by the door.

“Jess!” he yelled through the door.

I guessed we were back to Jess, and I knew it shouldn’t have hurt, but it did.

It was safe to say I didn’t handle it well and freaked the fuck out.

I grabbed my stuff and ran to my room. I couldn’t open the door now. I looked like crap, my hair looked like shit, and I was still wearing yesterday’s makeup. There was no way I could face Quincy after that kiss dressed like a hobo.

When I checked my phone charging on the nightstand, I noticed all the missed calls and texts from Quincy. When the phone started to vibrate in my hand again, I threw it across my bed like it was possessed and left to take a shower.

After an hour and three glasses of wine later, I felt much better about my day. My hair was somewhat damp from my shower, and Simba was vibing with me as I played music on Cubbie’s surround sound system.

We were twirling when there was another knock on my door. Hesitantly, I paused the song.

“Who is it?” I asked by the door, not daring to look out the window this time.

My heart started to accelerate a bit.

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