Page 11 of Sinners' Appetite
“That’s me.”
“Sign here please.” He passes me a clipboard and I sign off on the delivery.
Once they finally finish unloading the last piece of furniture, I send them off with a large tip and head into the living room to start arranging it all the way I had pictured.
I honestly don’t know why I didn’t sell half of this shit before I moved. This place looked small as it was, but now that thefurniture is in here, it looks even smaller. I hate living in a crowded space, so this is going to take some time to get used to.
I’m about to slide the couch to the opposite side of the living room when my phone rings in my pocket. I yank it out in anticipation of another call from Nikki, but it’s just Jeremy.
“Hello?” I answer.
“Hey. I have a huge favor to ask.”
“What’s that?”
“Well—Sammi bought a few bookshelves online, and she wants me to put them together, but—I’m no good at that shit.”
“I suppose I can,” I reply, knowing damn well if I don’t preoccupy myself, I’ll end up jerking off again.
“Thank you! I’ll help, if I can.”
“Not a problem. Send me your address and I’ll head there.”
A few seconds later, he sends me a pin and I jump into my car, heading in his direction.
Halfway through my drive there, I realize—Nikki lives in the same house, just opposite sides. I wonder if she would mind me stopping by to check in on her?
Ican’tgetmymind off everything that happened. Especially the fact that if it wasn’t for Malachi, I’d probably be dead right now.
It’s a strange feeling—knowing someone saved your life, but also knowing that the person that nearly claimed it is running free. I’m surprised they haven’t caught him by now.
One thing is for sure, I won’t be walking anywhere by myself until he’s behind bars.
The pain medication they have me on is giving me strange dreams, so I haven’t gone back to sleep since earlier today, after Sammi left. I saw myself buried alive, barely able to breathe beneath the earth’s surface. I could feel everything, even though it was just a dream. I woke up shaking and crying, in a total panic.
I hate to admit it, but Justin really fucked me up. Not only physically, but mentally. His demonic eyes are all I see whenI close mine. Visions of him finding me again somehow is haunting me.
It’s clear that I need to talk about it. In my experience, bottling everything up inside has greater consequences. I reach for my phone on the nightstand to text Sammi.
I’m so tired. I can’t go back to sleep and I think these meds are giving me really fucked up dreams. I don’t know what to do. Every time I close my eyes, I see him. It’s really freaking me out. Am I going to need therapy? I hate therapy.
I’m sorry, that was a lot.
Almost immediately, she texts back.
Babe… take a breather. I’ll be right over.
You really don’t have to. I’m sure I’ll be fine.
Nonsense. I love you. Be right there.
I make my way to the front door to unlock it, since Sammi reminded me to lock it earlier. As soon as I open the door slightly, she greets me by shoving a bag of gummy worms through the crack of the door.
“What would I do without you?” I say, grabbing the bag from her hand with a wide smile on my face. I have an unhealthy addiction to gummy worms and she knows it.
“When you’re all better, we’re drinking the bottle of tequila in my pantry,” she chuckles, bending to remove her shoes.
For some odd reason, instead of responding, I start thinking about the fact that Sammi has always kept it together through everything tough we’ve experienced together. She’s always been the strong one. She has no idea how much I look up to her. The tears start to well up in my eyes and Sammi notices right away.
