Page 49 of Arrogant Arrival

“That I’m a bird.”

“Ha. Again?”

“Yup. She also told me I’m thoroughly flocked.”

“I doubt she said that.”

“She did… in so many words.”

She laughs and the sound physically hurts because I want to hear it every day, but I’m too much of a damn coward to tell her. Multiple times on this trip we teased each other about being a chicken and the reality is that it’s me. I’m the chicken.I really am a fucking bird.

We begin walking back toward the condo. “I’m thinking about applying for that job with Bianca’s magazine. She said I could work from anywhere, so that’d be nice.”

“That would be.”

“I may or may not keep my current job if I get it. I’ll for sure cut back on my hours.”

“That would be a good idea. Probably. If that’strulywhat you want.”

We approach the back door. I watch her inhale and then exhale as she waits for me to say something. I don’t know what she wants me to say. She can make any career move she wants. She doesn’t need my approval. With a sigh, she turns and goes into the house without another word.

I think I just flocked up.

I stand at the beach a little while longer. I need to figure out what the fuck I want. I think I want Jolene. She’s perfect for me. She doesn’t take my shit and keeps life interesting. We both have careers that would allow us to live anywhere. This was a trial relationship run, in a way, and I don’t want it to end. I think I want the full subscription. She doesn’t seem like she wants it to end. We should make it permanent!Why am I still standing here with my toes in the sand?

I hurry back to the condo. I rush through the door, past Ma and Yia-Yia. I take the stairs two at a time. “Jolene!” I open her bedroom door, but it’s empty. “Jolene?”

“In here,” a voice purrs. Looking over my shoulder at my cracked bedroom door, I narrow my eyes. The room is dark, but that’s where the voice came from. I hesitantly open the door the rest of the way. “Jolene?”

A throaty chuckle greets me as I enter the dark room. “No, someone better.”

My balcony door is open, and lying on my bed basked in moonlight is Pamela wearing only red lingerie. Her lips are painted in red and she’s wearing red heels. Yet nothing about me craves her. I don’t find anything about this sexy or hot.

“Yeah, I don’t see better. Maybe it’s the wrong lighting for you, sweetheart.”

“Oh, Dimitrios, you’ve always had such a mouth on you. Why don’t you come show me if your mouth can do anything other than spew lies and sarcastic comments?”

“I’d hate to disappoint you. Get dressed and out of my room.”

“Jimmy!”Oh, God, no!My eyes widen in panic when I hear Jolene’s voice. “Jimmy, did you call out my name?”

“Get. Out.” I ground my teeth at Pamela. I donotneed this shit right now.

“Sure.” Pamela smiles. She slides off the bed and walks toward me.

“What the fuck! What are you doing?”

“YES! Yes, Jimmy. Mmmmm.”

I try to get away from Pamela as she kneels in front of me with her hands gripping my belt. Jolene walks in and gasps. My hands are gripping Pamela’s shoulders as she kneels before me.

Jolene’s bottom lip trembles. “I guess I imagined hearing my name.”

Pamela licks the corner of her mouth and smiles. “You’ve imagined a lot this week.”

I shove Pamela away and turn to Jolene, but she holds up a hand. “Don’t. Don’t let me interrupt.” She takes a step forward but then stops. Turning back around, she smiles. “Actually, you know what? I think I will interrupt. You interrupted my plans for me to come here with you, so allow me to inconvenience you for five minutes.” She charges over and points a finger at Pamela. “I hope you know this doesn’t mean you’ve won. It just shows that you really are a universal whore. Congratulations.”

Jolene rears her arm back, and then sends her fist into Pamela’s nose, knocking her on her ass with a cry of pain. Pamela holds her nose as she tries to stand. I don’t see her leave the room because Jolene’s eyes are bright as she turns them on me. “Malaka!”

---