Page 18 of Stroked
“Enter your password,” she instructed.
I put my thumb to the button, and it unlocked. She turned it back to her and typed a few things. I heard a beep from her clutch.
“I put my number in here for you and texted myself so I can save yours to mine. So, you let me know which night I can bring you dinner and what time to be here.” She handed my phone to me, then walked to grab her clutch, came to kiss my cheek, and left.
What the fuck just happened?
There was no way I could go back to bed after all that, plus the black coffee. So, I went to lock the door and decided to shower and head to work early. I wasn’t sure what I was doing or if I would let her come back, but for some reason, my mind said to go to work early so I could leave early.
This was bad.
I looked at the clock on the stove and it was now six. Too early to text or call Lucy. I’d shower, then try her on the way to work. I needed assistance because I didn’t know what I was doing.
Chapter 11
Amy
I texted Lucy to call me when she woke up. I hoped she would call on my commute. The traffic was much lighter at seven in the morning than my normal eight or nine a.m. drive. I would be busy most of the day and could take a call, but would be interrupted constantly. And this was important.
Once the third cup of coffee, with flavored creamer, kicked in, and the shower washed the alcohol leaking from my pores off, I felt a little more human. I hadn’t gotten groceries, so I stopped and got a bagel and another coffee before I hit the highway toward downtown.
My first big exhibit was this week. Valentina was a terrible mistake and a huge distraction. But I still wanted to see her, and soon.
As I was driving with one hand and shoveling my bagel in with the other, the phone rang.
“Oh my God, are you okay? What’s wrong?” Lucy screamed through the car’s Bluetooth.
I mumbled through chews, “I don’t know. It’s bad. I fucked up so bad. And I’m fucked up so bad.”
“Where are you, are you still home? It sounds like you’re driving,” she said.
“I left early for work, I’m in the car. But I’m so fucked up!” I yelled into the air vents. I wasn’t really sure where you’re supposed to talk toward with the Bluetooth on.
“Okay, what’s wrong? Were you in a car accident?” Lucy asked calmly, even though I knew she wasn’t. That’s the beauty of a best friend. Only one of us could be crazy at one time.
“Someone slept over last night.”
I heard a spewing sound through the speakers as some more cars started to join me on the road. Luckily, I had polished off the bagel.
“What was that?” I asked.
“Coffee just shot out of my nose. Did you say someone slept over? Like at our apartment?” she asked in a high-pitched voice.
“It’smyapartment now. And yes. That’s what I said.”
“Okayyy,yourapartment. Do you know her? Or did you take home some rando from The Lounge?” she asked with sarcasm dripping off her words.
I paused. She worked with this woman. But she’s my best friend. And she needs the story for context.
“It was Valentina.” There was a muffled sound, and I heard a muted ‘oh shit,’ then the sounds were not muffled anymore.
“I’m sorry, I dropped the phone. I thought you said Valentina,” she said with a sigh.
“I did.”
There was a long pause.
“I’m getting closer to my exit. Are you still there?” I asked.
