Page 14 of Decoded
Penny
There’s our girl! What did you end up getting into last night?
Anna
Way too much to text. Just tell me where to meet you.
Texting makes me wonder if Keaton input his number in my phone at some point. I scroll down to the K’s, but there’s no Keaton listed. Defeated, I’m about to toss my phone on the bed, but vibrates in my hand.
Daniel
Couldn’t stop thinking about your fat ass and huge tits last night, sweet girl. Look what you do to me. [Video]
I know I shouldn’t, but curiosity gets the better of me as I press play. I knew nothing Daniel sent could be good, but a video of him stroking himself while moaning and saying my name is not what I had expected. Why the fuck would he send me something so vulgar? I have done absolutely nothing to show any sort of interest in my father’s best friend.
Disgusted, I note that it’s now been an hour since I’ve been awake and Keaton hasn’t returned. He isn’t coming back. And he just left. With no word. He could have woken me up to say he had to leave, or hell, that I had to leave. Something. Anything. But nothing at all?
Tears begin to flow down my face again and my body shakes, but instead of being from sadness, these tears morphed into anger. Fucking men. Fucking ex-boyfriends who always acted like they were doing me a service by dating me. Fucking college frat boys and their fucking bets. Fucking Daniel thinking he has any right to talk to me the way he does and touch me without my permission. Fucking Keaton for playing with my heart and then leaving me without so much as a word.
I’m done with all of them.
Chapter eleven
Anna
“A
nna Banana!” Skyla shouts as I step into the fifties style diner they messaged me the details about. Her auburn curls bounce as she rushes up to envelop me in one of her signature hugs. I didn’t realize I needed it so badly, but I wrap my arms around my sweet friend and let the ribbons of red tickle my skin.
“I cannot wait to hear about all the fun I just know you had last night.” She pulls me through the place to meet up with our other best friends who are seated in a booth near the back of the restaurant.
The diner they chose to meet up at is super cute with teal and pink vinyl booths situated around large glass windows. Tables with chairs padded in the same colors are strewn throughout the middle. Black and white tiles adorn the floor in a diamond pattern, and the walls are covered in Elvis memorabilia, but also the cutest cat clock where the tail swings back and forth.
As I pass the jukebox, Jasmine and Penny stand up to greet us. Giggles and shrieks make us a spectacle as my friends engulf me in unconditional love I didn’t realize I needed so terribly in thismoment. These girls are seriously the best friends I could ever ask for and I hate that I don’t see them more often than a few times a year.
Skyla and I met in college where we were roommates. We immediately became besties. She is so full of life and can always put a positive spin on even the worst of situations. She’s from the same hometown as Jasmine and Penny, who were rooming together. When she introduced them to me, Penny was incredibly kind, but I had the strangest feeling that Jasmine absolutely hated me. Turns out, that’s just Jaz. Her exterior comes across pretty rough, but she’s truly one of the sweetest people I know. Penny is a good blend of Jaz and Sky. She struggles badly with anxiety, but she knows how to have a good time and let loose.
Our unexpected, but immediate friendship means the world to a girl who grew up without any true best friends. I mean, I hung out with people and was nice to everyone, but I never had someone I always knew would be in my corner. Thinking about the love my friends have for me brings the tears back and I begin shaking in their arms. Penny seems to be the first to notice.
“Anna, what’s wrong?”
“I’m okay,” I sob, “it’s just been a really shitty morning.”
They pull me into the booth and Skyla hands me some napkins from the dispenser so I can blot at my face.
“Who do I need to kill?” Jasmine demands. Her dark hair is tied up in a severe ponytail, showcasing her high cheekbones and looking entirely like the badass I know she is. Like the rest of our friend group, she’s bigger than the average woman, but Jasmine is solid muscle. There is not a single doubt in my mind she can take down anyone whether it’s in a courtroom or otherwise.
“Before anyone goes on a murder spree, do you mind me taking your order?” An older woman who looks to be in hersixties appears at our table. Her abundant bleach blonde curls are stacked on top of her head in a messy bun and she gazes at us with big brown eyes that tell me she’s lived a life full of stories.
After we place our orders, myself ordering a slice of chocolate pie for breakfast, because why the fuck not, Jasmine looks over at me. “Spill.”
“I hate men,” I start out.
“Naturally. But explain. Be specific,” Jasmine continues.
Not wanting to exploit my naivete just yet, I opt to keep my story about Keaton under wraps for now and begin with the issues I’m having with my boss, Daniel. I’ve shared other things he’s said and done with them before, so at least this is familiar territory. “That’s so fucking gross!” Penny shouts after I tell them about the messages yesterday and then the video I received this morning.
“Anna, I know you’ve told me no in the past, but we need to file a sexual harassment lawsuit. Hell, we could even pin him with sexual assault after that time in the workroom.” Jasmine has been relentless about me pressing charges, especially when I told them about the time in the workroom when I was pulling a granola bar out of the cabinet and he pressed his body up against mine, poking his small, hardened dick into my backside as he reached over me, seemingly for the same thing.
