Page 3 of Coming Unraveled
“You too, Doc. And you better make your move on that new man before someone else sinks their nails into him.”
She cringes remembering the way Tiffany, the town trollop, had hung all over Brooks at the baby shower for her sister and sister-in-law. It was something she had grown to deal with, seeing women throw themselves at him, but the pain of the sting never lessened. But she hates him, most days. He reminds her of everything she despises in his controlling and sexy package. She won’t ever be controlled again. So, as far as she is concerned Tiffany or anyone else can have him. But why does it hurt so bad when she forces herself to ignore his advances?
Especially now after all the trouble she caused a month ago, the night she let tequila make her decisions. Everleigh could barely remember standing up for her sister Sydney and Dylan as they got married in a tiny chapel in Vegas. She can almost recollect dancing on a table at one of the casino bars. But the sex? The sex was out of this world. Eveleigh’s dreams have been plagued by the visions of Brooks merging their bodies into one, the way he slipped himself deep inside her, the way she cried out his name after her body shattered in his arms. Those images were clear as day to her.
As she collects the last tablet and twists the cap back onto the bottle Everleigh stares at her left hand, huffing as she glances at the blankness onthatfinger.
What would it feel like to ever wear a ring on that finger? His ring?She wonders to herself. Her actions last week are going to make sure that that never comes to fruition.
“Tamara?”
“Yes, boss lady?”
“Let’s close for lunch. Did you want to go with me to get your sandwich?”
“No, see I have plans with Trevor back at our apartment, if you know what I mean.”
Everleigh internally winces as she acknowledges that her twenty-year-old employee is getting laid more than she is.
She smiles gently and nods while replying, “I do know what you mean. Enjoy yourself, but be back by one.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the raven skinned woman exclaims as she removes her white pharmacy coat and hangs it on the rack by the door. “Oh, and don’t forget Missus C. that Pro RX Robotics is sending their Senior Account Manager for a meeting at two.”
“Thank you for reminding me,” she says as she glances down at her light wash jeans and loose shirt covered by her pharmacist jacket. “I guess I’ll need to run upstairs and change before I come back to work. Enjoy your lunch break.”
Everleigh watches as Tamara strolls confidently through the door. Besides the beautiful color of her obsidian colored skin, Tamara has a striking confidence that surrounds her, which makes her even more breathtaking. She keeps her dark hair relaxed and long, with a subtle wave, playing up her milk chocolate eyes shaped like large almonds. Even more so, Tamara stands at a staggering five foot eleven, towering over her own minuscule five feet three-inch stature. Tamara is a force to be reckoned with if she wants your attention or is mad, so Everleigh is forever grateful that the young woman seems to idolize her. Secretly, Everleigh idolizes her as well for her confidence and carefree personality.
Stepping to the front of the pharmacy, Everleigh turns the locks and flips the sign that they were currently closed. She then steps over to the newly installed walkway connecting her business to that of the new Pediatric Clinic next door, closing the gate. She then moves the sign holding stanchion from where it rests beside the wall and places it behind the cold steel, letting any patients know that the pharmacy is closed.
Everleigh steps back through the enclosed pharmacy area and hangs her jacket on the rack before moving through the fire-safe door leading into their storage area. She follows a narrow passage and opens the exit leading outside onto the loading dock for her deliveries and then listens as the secure automated lock sounds.
Satisfied that the pharmacy is secure she steps through the gravel parking lot at the back of her store and takes a turn down the narrow alleyway that will lead her to the main thoroughfare. As she steps onto the concrete sidewalk beside the main road she can’t help but tilt her head up towards the sky, letting the warm rays of sunshine wash over her skin. In the far-off distance, she can hear the children shouting and laughing with joy as they play outside the school on the jungle gym.
With a smile on her face, Everleigh strolls down the two blocks to Sydney’s bakery, Wake and Bake, which is attached to The Grill. Their mother had been the previous owner of the bakery, but when she decided to retire the entire family knew it would go to Sydney, she had an amazing eye for desserts and artistic concoctions.
Before stepping through the door, she takes in the periwinkle colored awning overhanging the large picturesque window showcasing her sister’s creations. A matching awning covers the window for The Grill where she can see the bar filled with customers as Dylan and his employees cook their masterpieces.
The door swings open and Myrtle, the librarian, holds it wide for Everleigh to step through.
“Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome, dear.”
“Hey, E. What brings you in?” her sister asks as she whisks something creamy and white in a large bowl.
“Tamara kicked me out of my shop and forced me to get lunch,” she responds sullenly.
“Well, heaven forbid you eat. How dare that girl force you to get nourishment,” Sydney chuckles as she steps back into her kitchen, most likely resting the bowl on her infamous butcherblock island.
Rumor has it her and her husband have been caught numerous times in compromising positions while on that counter. Everleigh only hopes that they sanitize the crap out of that thing.
“Do you want to eat lunch with me?”
“Sure,” she shouts from the back. “Let me close out the register while you grab us a table.”
Bobbing her head in agreement, Everleigh steps into the small eating area shared by the two eateries. Her chair scrapes against the tile of the floor and Dylan looks up to welcome a newcomer.
“Hey, Dylan,” she shouts above the sound of the conversations surrounding her.
