Page 20 of Fluffer

“Izzy? Izzy!” Clara calls as she rushes my way.

Her thin arms wrap around me and we sink down to the floor. I can hear her trying to talk to me, to calm me down, but it just sounds like a whooshing sound in my ears.

“Breathe, dear. Just breathe,” she coaxes me and I nod, sucking in a deep breath.

“It’s okay, you’re okay.”

She pushes some of my strawberry blonde hair out of my eyes and I nod at her.

“I’m alright,” I tell her but she doesn’t look convinced.

“Maybe you should take the rest of the day off. Get some more rest,” she says gently and I nod.

“Yeah, I’d like that. I’m sorry for leaving you short handed again,” I tell her as we stand.

“It’s okay. I’ll manage. You just take care of yourself.”

I thank her, hanging up my apron and grabbing my purse.

“I’ll be in on Wednesday,” I promise her and she nods.

“Let me know if you need anything in the meantime,” she tells me and I smile.

“Thanks.”

I head out onto the sidewalk and take a deep breath.

Where do I go now? I can’t go back to Davis’s place, obviously, and he knows where my apartment is so I can’t go there.

I need to get myself under control before I face Davis. I need to build my walls back up so that I don’t fall for anymore of his lies.

I pull out my phone, hitting my best friend, Adeline’s, phone number. She offered me her couch and I should have taken her up on that offer. I could have avoided this whole mess.

“Hey, chica!” She answers and I smile slightly.

It’s good to hear her voice. We’ve been texting over the last few days but it’s not the same as getting to talk with her.

“Hey, can I crash at your place for a few days?” I ask.

“Of course! I’m here now, but I need to get down to the club in an hour. Think that you can be here before then so I can let you in?”

“Yeah, I’m only a few blocks away. I’ll be there in like half an hour,” I promise her.

“See you soon. We can talk then.”

I smile. She knows me better than anyone and I’m sure that she can hear how upset I am.

“Thanks, Adeline.”

“Anything for you, Izzy,” she says softly.

I hang up the phone, taking a deep breath and trying to shake off some of this heartache. I know that if I can just make it to Adeline’s apartment, I’ll be able to talk this out with her. I can lay low there and then go to work on Wednesday and tell Davis that I know about him and that I never want to see him again.

My heart seems to break a little more at that thought and I try to ignore it as I head toward Adeline’s building.

TEN

Davis

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