that jerk? The flow of adrenalin had ebbed and she could feel herself growing tired again. Having worked until close at the Sandbar Sports Grill meant she was running on scant sleep. She decided to put the flowers in water and determine their fate in a few hours.
Regan heard Emily snoring as she walked past her bedroom. She smiled and hoped she'd be slumbering just as contently in a few minutes. Her room was a hodgepodge of furniture purchased mainly via garage sales and thrift shops. She liked to think of it as eclectic: an antique Tiger Oak dresser and mirror, a white vintage French provincial nightstand, and a four post canopy bed with sheer white netting that added ambiance and protected her from the inevitable stray mosquito that found its way into her Cocoa Beach apartment.
The Florida sun hadn't yet made its full ascension into the sky. It was mid May, a variable time of year that could bring a cloudless and comfortable high in the seventies, or oppressive humidity and nineties. Having spent the first eighteen years of her life enduring brutal midwestern winters, Regan didn't mind either. She slipped into bed and pulled a cotton sheet up to her chin.
Her thoughts wandered between Eddie and trying to figure out what she was going to do with the rest of her life. She had graduated a semester early from Central Florida University with a degree in Early Education. Regan worked the first few months of the year substituting in several school districts adjacent to her home during the day, and waitressing at the Sandbar at night.
Breaking up with Eddie had uncomplicated at least that portion of her life. In the six weeks since their separation, she hadn't even thought of dating someone else. For now, it was extra shifts serving up burgers, fries and fish tacos to lily-white tourists, beach parties and friends.
At a quarter past seven, Regan finally gave up on getting anymore sleep. What she needed at the moment was coffee and a chat. Emily White was not only her roommate, but her chief counselor. Though just nineteen, the Atlanta native was wise beyond her years and so very calm. All the time. It was as if Emily was the straight man to Regan's comedic life.
When she knocked on Em's door with a cup of coffee, she was met with a knowing smile.
"How long have you been awake?" Regan asked.
"A few minutes. I smelled the coffee brewing." Emily sat up in her bed, crossed her legs Indian style and patted a spot next to her. "Sit."
Emily had a natural beauty that Regan tried not to be too jealous of. Her light ebony skin was as perfect as a newborn and her long hair fell in thin, straight cornrows that gave her an exotic, earthy look. Her cheekbones were high and her eyes were chocolate brown and shaped like almonds. Regan could easily envision a long career in broadcast journalism that Emily was planning.
"He still pushes my buttons," Regan admitted. "I am furious and I don't ever want to see him again. But I miss him, too. Is that messed up or what?"
Emily sipped the coffee. She moved her legs out in front of her in a stretch and considered her roommate's words. "You are upset?"
Regan smiled. "How could you tell?"
"You make the best cup of coffee anywhere, hun, but this isn't one of your best efforts. It lacks balance. Your relationship with Eddie lacked balanced, too. That's why it didn't last. Partying and great sex only get you so far."
"He did most of the partying," Emily said.
"Yet he gave you what you need at the time. Right?"
"Excitement. He was unpredictable and his way of life was totally different than anything I had ever known."
"You got caught up," Emily said. "You had fun, but you're also a smart girl and eventually realized it wasn't going to be a long-term deal. You're only mistake --"
"Was not ending it sooner. I kept hoping he might change a little, you know, grow up."
"That's the problem. Guys like Eddie don't grow up. Rich family and all. He's never had to earn anything and probably never will.
Regan heard Emily snoring as she walked past her bedroom. She smiled and hoped she'd be slumbering just as contently in a few minutes. Her room was a hodgepodge of furniture purchased mainly via garage sales and thrift shops. She liked to think of it as eclectic: an antique Tiger Oak dresser and mirror, a white vintage French provincial nightstand, and a four post canopy bed with sheer white netting that added ambiance and protected her from the inevitable stray mosquito that found its way into her Cocoa Beach apartment.
The Florida sun hadn't yet made its full ascension into the sky. It was mid May, a variable time of year that could bring a cloudless and comfortable high in the seventies, or oppressive humidity and nineties. Having spent the first eighteen years of her life enduring brutal midwestern winters, Regan didn't mind either. She slipped into bed and pulled a cotton sheet up to her chin.
Her thoughts wandered between Eddie and trying to figure out what she was going to do with the rest of her life. She had graduated a semester early from Central Florida University with a degree in Early Education. Regan worked the first few months of the year substituting in several school districts adjacent to her home during the day, and waitressing at the Sandbar at night.
Breaking up with Eddie had uncomplicated at least that portion of her life. In the six weeks since their separation, she hadn't even thought of dating someone else. For now, it was extra shifts serving up burgers, fries and fish tacos to lily-white tourists, beach parties and friends.
At a quarter past seven, Regan finally gave up on getting anymore sleep. What she needed at the moment was coffee and a chat. Emily White was not only her roommate, but her chief counselor. Though just nineteen, the Atlanta native was wise beyond her years and so very calm. All the time. It was as if Emily was the straight man to Regan's comedic life.
When she knocked on Em's door with a cup of coffee, she was met with a knowing smile.
"How long have you been awake?" Regan asked.
"A few minutes. I smelled the coffee brewing." Emily sat up in her bed, crossed her legs Indian style and patted a spot next to her. "Sit."
Emily had a natural beauty that Regan tried not to be too jealous of. Her light ebony skin was as perfect as a newborn and her long hair fell in thin, straight cornrows that gave her an exotic, earthy look. Her cheekbones were high and her eyes were chocolate brown and shaped like almonds. Regan could easily envision a long career in broadcast journalism that Emily was planning.
"He still pushes my buttons," Regan admitted. "I am furious and I don't ever want to see him again. But I miss him, too. Is that messed up or what?"
Emily sipped the coffee. She moved her legs out in front of her in a stretch and considered her roommate's words. "You are upset?"
Regan smiled. "How could you tell?"
"You make the best cup of coffee anywhere, hun, but this isn't one of your best efforts. It lacks balance. Your relationship with Eddie lacked balanced, too. That's why it didn't last. Partying and great sex only get you so far."
"He did most of the partying," Emily said.
"Yet he gave you what you need at the time. Right?"
"Excitement. He was unpredictable and his way of life was totally different than anything I had ever known."
"You got caught up," Emily said. "You had fun, but you're also a smart girl and eventually realized it wasn't going to be a long-term deal. You're only mistake --"
"Was not ending it sooner. I kept hoping he might change a little, you know, grow up."
"That's the problem. Guys like Eddie don't grow up. Rich family and all. He's never had to earn anything and probably never will.
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