may be best friends, but the fucker really knows how to piss me off.
“Seriously, Dault, today is not the day. Give me the bad news first, that way the good news will sound that much better.”
He smiles and nods his head.
“Right on, man. Now don’t get all pissy with me, it’s not my fault the way things happen, but the tenant that was supposed to be moving in today bailed on us last night. She called and said she got a job in North Carolina and wouldn’t be staying in town that much longer.”
I slam my mug of coffee down on the counter, spilling it all over my hand.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“No, it kinda sucked ass when I found out. I was hoping to come up with a plan before I told you. “
“Well, it would’ve been nice to know right away, fucker.”
He swats his hand in the air gesturing for me to shut up.
“Don’t worry, Linc, the guys and I ran into this cute lil’ thing this morning at the diner. She’s a bit off, but said she was looking for a place to stay for a few months. I told her to come over around noon to check it out.”
I roll my eyes at him. Of course he’d find a tenant that he thought was cute. I just need him to keep his dick in his pants long enough for her to sign the lease.
“Whatever. Just make sure she signs and gives you her first and last month’s rent before she moves in. We’re not getting screwed again like last time.”
“Sorry, no can do. I have plans and won’t be here to meet with her. It’s up to you to charm her so that she loves the place enough to move in.”
Motherfucker!
“Dault, you fucking suck. How do you know that I don’t have shit to do?”
He shrugs his shoulders and starts to laugh.
“Dude, it’s Sunday. You never have plans on a Sunday. Now, pull up your big girl panties and deal with it,” he says as he chuckles.
I fucking hate him right now.
“Fine, I need to get my shit together before she gets here. What’s her name, or should I just call her ‘cute lil’ thing’?” I say in a mocking tone.
“Yeah, that might not sound right coming from you. Me maybe, but not you.”
“Whatever, just tell me her name,” I say with a smirk.
“It’s Gretchen, but she said to just call her Etty.”
“Got it, I’ll see you later.”
“Later.”
I grab a paper towel and clean up my mess of coffee. Tossing the wet towels into the trash, I grab my mug and head up the stairs for a shower.
If this chick is coming in the next hour or so, I need to make sure I’m somewhat dressed.
We need this tenant and I don’t want to freak her out the first day we meet.
Chapter 10
This has to be one of the craziest things I’ve ever done. It’s not like I knew where I’d plant myself once I left Oregon, but I sure as hell didn’t plan on it being in a small town in Birmingham, Alabama.
I have to laugh at myself and the craziness that is very much becoming my life.
Independence and making my own choices is something I’ve not done in a long time. I’m kinda enjoying being my own person again.
For the past few years I didn’t have a say in anything . Rick chose my clothes, makeup, and hair style. I was his minion and he had complete control over everything I did and said.
I wasn’t to look or speak to anyone unless he gave me the signal. I was more like his pet than his girlfriend. I was held captive with the inability to know or understand what the hell was going on in my own life.
Every morning I was injected with some type of drug that made me feel numb. By mid-day I was forced to swallow pills as he held my arms down with his legs.
I got to the point that I didn’t fight him—it was pointless. He was bigger and stronger than I was. Plus, the more I put up a struggle the harder his punch was to my stomach.
There were times that the beatings were so intense I didn’t know if I’d ever wake up. I can’t even count on my fingers the times he made me clean up the blood spatter on the walls and floor.
It
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