Page 41 of What's the time, Mr. Wolfe
“I can’t win with you, can I?” he replied and sighed.
I slid my hand over, so my fingertips touched his. “I was joking, badly, it seems. If I can get cover, then yes, I’d love to come with you.”
“Good. I’ll collect you at seven. Now, what else needs doing before I leave?”
“I need help to get the furniture down for the charity to collect,” I said, cocking my head and smiling.
“Fuck me, I didn’t anticipate manual labour today,” he replied, and then winked again. “Come on, can’t sit around here drinking coffee.”
While I dragged a chest of drawers to the hallway, he took apart the bed. He then moaned at me for dragging the chest of drawers and removed the drawers from their runners. It certainly made it a little lighter.
He took the front end, and I stationed myself at the back, and we carried it down the stairs. We placed it inthe front garden, then stacked the bed on top. The wardrobe was the problem.
“Leave that. I’ll have someone come tomorrow to get that out,” he said.
“Tomorrow is Sunday,” I replied.
“And? Every day is a work day if there is work to be done.”
When we were done, I walked him to the front gate. He paused and stared at me for a moment. He then raised his hand and placed it on the back of my head. He closed his fist around my hair and pulled my head back. Despite not wanting to respond, I moaned slightly. He leaned down.
“I told you once, you don’t get to tell me what to do, and telling me I can’t have you is something I’m not familiar with.”
“Do I have a choice?” I whispered. His mouth was so close to mine, I felt my words being sucked in with his inhalation.
“Always.”
“It doesn’t feel like it.”
“Look me straight in the eyes and tell me to leave you alone. To never see or contact you again, ever. Your job is safe. You said I wasn’t your reality, but then I’m in your dreams. Maybe I’m meant to be. So tell me!”
I stared at him and opened my mouth. I felt histongue dart out and lick across my lips. “I’ll see you at seven,” I replied.
“Good girl. Wear the red dress.”
His kiss was fierce and claiming. And I let it happen. Whether he was my reality was something I’d need to figure out another time. When I was with him, I wanted him.
Chapter Nine
Milly was sitting with Grandma that evening. I liked her, more importantly, Grandma did. Although she thought Milly was her granddaughter. I bathed, shaved off all unwanted hair, plucked my eyebrows so badly they ended up wonky, and I had to infill with a pencil, and moisturised my whole body. I had the one pair of decent knickers that I put on and then slipped the dress over my head.
As before, I loved it. I loved the way it clung to my body, how it shimmered when I moved. More so, I loved the way it made me feel. I felt way older than my nineteen years... I pulled myself up short. It was my birthday! I was twenty years old that day, no longer a teenager. I fought back a tear, no one would have sentme card anyway. Grandma wouldn’t have remembered, of course.
‘Shit,” I said, annoyed at myself. I didn’t do emotion. I rubbed my eyes and then started to apply some makeup.
I hadn’t worn makeup in years and what I had was cloggy and old. I used a little concealer and then rubbed it off. I didn’t have any blemishes or dark circles to conceal. I swiped some mascara over my lashes and some gloss over my lips. I guessed the one thing I could thank my mother for was good skin. I had a few freckles over my nose that were more pronounced in the summer when I tanned.
I slipped on the red shoes and stared at myself in the full-length mirror. The shoes extended my legs, defined my calf muscles. I was sure I’d turn an ankle and hoped that we didn’t have to walk far. I decided I needed a bag and opened a chest to grab one of Grandma’s. I’d pop some flip flops in for when the heels became too much. Then I was ready.
I grabbed keys and my phone. Sat with Grandma for a few minutes before I heard the roar of an engine outside. I knew it would be Sebastian without having to look.
“Have a good evening,” Milly said, and I kissed Grandma on her forehead.
“You look just like my Ruby,” she said, and I thanked her.
There was a knock on the front door, and I took a deep breath before opening it. Sebastian stood there in black trousers and a black shirt. No tie and no jacket.
“You look like a gangster,” I said, chuckling.
