Page 18 of Reindeer and Restraints
"She paid up front." Kendall shrugs and returns the sippy cup to the kitchen. With her purse over her shoulder, she says, "That's a great pick, by the way. Jane will love playing with those tabs."
"Thanks." It's a small win I wanted to share with Jolene.
Kendall stops at the front door. "Do you want my number in case anything comes up?"
"No, I've got this."
The front latch clicks shut behind her. I pull out my phone and click Jolene's name. It rings through to voicemail but I don't leave one.
I send a text.I let Kendall go home. Where are you?
Jolene:with friends
Her being out with friends doesn't bother me as much as the clipped answer or her evasiveness.
I preheat the oven and get the lasagna going since it takes a while. I still need to eat even if she doesn't.
The silence in my house sits heavily in contrast to the movie that should be underway.
The evening drags on and I abandon my half-eaten lasagna while staring absentmindedly at an old Sherlock episode that's playing out on the TV. Sherlock would know where Jolene went.
The front door swings open, and while I don't know where she’s been, I'm relieved that she's finally home.
She slips in quietly, and I hop up.
Her cheeks are flushed as if she's had quite a night. But contrary to an evening out with friends, she has a couple of her bags that she usually packs for an overnight.
"You're still up." She tries to skirt around me to get to her room.
I touch her arm in a gentle request that she give me a minute. "I am. I was worried."
The musky scent on her devastates me.
"Kendall has great referrals."
"But you didn't tell me."
She shrinks. "Sorry, I was trying to handle everything without burdening you. I'll let you know next time."
"Want some lasagna?"
"Sure, I need a quick shower first." She rushes to her room and I do my best not to think about where she went and what she did. She's home now.
When I hear her padding down the hall, I warm a plate of lasagna. She carries it to the living room, tosses a baby doll out of the chair, then regroups and puts it in the toy bin. She rolls her eyes when she sees Sherlock on the screen.
She may be showered but the scent of another man's cum is burned into my senses. Unable to sit with not knowing, I pry, "Why wasn't Kendall supposed to tell me where you were?"
Jolene stops the fork halfway to her mouth. "It's not like I'll do this every night." She slumps. "I just had to get out."
"I'm not judging."
"Then why won't you let it go?"
"There was a stranger in my house."
"I already apologized for that. And I promise, I'm getting a job and I'll move out so you don't have to worry about me and who I bring into your house anymore."
"That's not what I meant. You should go out. You have to take care of yourself. You'll be fresher for Jane if you do."
