We have a good
time laughing at the movie and drinking. It’s definitely a good way
to overcome the awkwardness from earlier.
By the time the movie ends, I can tell that
Will is tired. His eyelids look heavy, and he lets out a big
yawn.
“Will, I’m going to take off and let you get
to bed. Thanks so much for letting me hang out here today and for
helping me with my problem. You’re a really awesome guy,” I say as
I lean over and kiss him on the cheek.
“I’m happy to help,” Will says as he stands
up from the couch. He takes my hands and pulls me up from the
couch. “I’m going to walk you to your car, okay?”
“That would be great.”
Will takes Malcolm’s leash and attaches it to
his collar before leading us down the fire escape stairs and out to
the parking lot.
“Thanks again, Will. I really
appreciate--”
Will interrupts me. “Jo, don’t freak out, but
look at your tire.”
I look down at my front driver-side tire.
It’s completely flat, but not due to an accident. There’s a note
attached by a knife stabbed through it and the tire. Will pulls the
knife out, releasing the note. “What does it say?” I ask.
He doesn’t answer me. Instead he folds up the
note and puts in his pocket.
“Will, just tell me. I’ll have to know sooner
or later.”
“It just says ‘SOON.’ That’s it.”
I shudder. This is all starting to get to be
too much for me to handle. I open my eyes wide, knowing that if I
blink I’m going to cry. I lower my head so that Will can’t see my
face.
“Are you alright?” Will asks.
Unable to speak, I just shake my head. Will
takes me in his arms. “It’s okay. You’re okay right now,” he says
as he strokes my back. I finally blink and let the tears run down
my face.
“You’re going to be fine,” Will says. “I
promise. No one is going to hurt you. Please don’t cry, Jo.”
“Can I please just stay here tonight? There
is no way I can go home by myself after this.”
“Of course you can,” Will says as he wipes a
tear from my cheek using his thumb. “Let’s go back upstairs. We’ll
deal with your tire tomorrow.”
Chapter 9
Saturday morning I show up about 15 minutes
early to kickboxing class, hoping Harley has come early too and
that we can catch up. Becoming members at Bridgeport Boxing Club
was her idea. I knew when she suggested it that her main motivation
was the fact that the club is filled with men, and the few women
who work out here aren’t the most feminine. Last year she was all
about the self-defense class, but the guy girl ratio wasn’t in her
favor.
I spot Harley near the free weight area
chatting up some muscular guy. She’s wearing black booty shorts and
a tight pink workout tank, and her makeup looks impeccable as
usual. I can’t help but laugh to myself as she bats her long
eyelashes and tosses her shiny, black hair from one shoulder to the
other.
I manage to get her attention, and I motion
for her to come over to the boxing room. Harley smiles at the guy
and waves goodbye to him as she walks my way.
“Who is that?” I ask.
“His name’s Derrick. Isn’t he hot!”
“Yeah, I guess. Let’s go in before someone
takes our spot.”
We go in and set our water bottles and towels
down in the back, left corner of the room.
“So, what have you been up to?” Harley asks.
“I haven’t heard from you in a few days.”
I take a deep breath and quickly recite the
events of the last couple of days. “A lot has happened. I tried to
quit my job, and I was fired instead. I went to the Alcove on
Thursday night and my stalker stabbed a note through my tire. Will
and I ended up fooling around, and I spent the night at his
apartment. Aaaand Will installed a security camera on my front door
yesterday.”
“Wait. Back up a couple of steps. You and
Will fooled around and you slept with him?” Harley asked. “Give me
some details!”
“No. I slept at his apartment, in his bed
with him, but we did not sleep
time laughing at the movie and drinking. It’s definitely a good way
to overcome the awkwardness from earlier.
By the time the movie ends, I can tell that
Will is tired. His eyelids look heavy, and he lets out a big
yawn.
“Will, I’m going to take off and let you get
to bed. Thanks so much for letting me hang out here today and for
helping me with my problem. You’re a really awesome guy,” I say as
I lean over and kiss him on the cheek.
“I’m happy to help,” Will says as he stands
up from the couch. He takes my hands and pulls me up from the
couch. “I’m going to walk you to your car, okay?”
“That would be great.”
Will takes Malcolm’s leash and attaches it to
his collar before leading us down the fire escape stairs and out to
the parking lot.
“Thanks again, Will. I really
appreciate--”
Will interrupts me. “Jo, don’t freak out, but
look at your tire.”
I look down at my front driver-side tire.
It’s completely flat, but not due to an accident. There’s a note
attached by a knife stabbed through it and the tire. Will pulls the
knife out, releasing the note. “What does it say?” I ask.
He doesn’t answer me. Instead he folds up the
note and puts in his pocket.
“Will, just tell me. I’ll have to know sooner
or later.”
“It just says ‘SOON.’ That’s it.”
I shudder. This is all starting to get to be
too much for me to handle. I open my eyes wide, knowing that if I
blink I’m going to cry. I lower my head so that Will can’t see my
face.
“Are you alright?” Will asks.
Unable to speak, I just shake my head. Will
takes me in his arms. “It’s okay. You’re okay right now,” he says
as he strokes my back. I finally blink and let the tears run down
my face.
“You’re going to be fine,” Will says. “I
promise. No one is going to hurt you. Please don’t cry, Jo.”
“Can I please just stay here tonight? There
is no way I can go home by myself after this.”
“Of course you can,” Will says as he wipes a
tear from my cheek using his thumb. “Let’s go back upstairs. We’ll
deal with your tire tomorrow.”
Chapter 9
Saturday morning I show up about 15 minutes
early to kickboxing class, hoping Harley has come early too and
that we can catch up. Becoming members at Bridgeport Boxing Club
was her idea. I knew when she suggested it that her main motivation
was the fact that the club is filled with men, and the few women
who work out here aren’t the most feminine. Last year she was all
about the self-defense class, but the guy girl ratio wasn’t in her
favor.
I spot Harley near the free weight area
chatting up some muscular guy. She’s wearing black booty shorts and
a tight pink workout tank, and her makeup looks impeccable as
usual. I can’t help but laugh to myself as she bats her long
eyelashes and tosses her shiny, black hair from one shoulder to the
other.
I manage to get her attention, and I motion
for her to come over to the boxing room. Harley smiles at the guy
and waves goodbye to him as she walks my way.
“Who is that?” I ask.
“His name’s Derrick. Isn’t he hot!”
“Yeah, I guess. Let’s go in before someone
takes our spot.”
We go in and set our water bottles and towels
down in the back, left corner of the room.
“So, what have you been up to?” Harley asks.
“I haven’t heard from you in a few days.”
I take a deep breath and quickly recite the
events of the last couple of days. “A lot has happened. I tried to
quit my job, and I was fired instead. I went to the Alcove on
Thursday night and my stalker stabbed a note through my tire. Will
and I ended up fooling around, and I spent the night at his
apartment. Aaaand Will installed a security camera on my front door
yesterday.”
“Wait. Back up a couple of steps. You and
Will fooled around and you slept with him?” Harley asked. “Give me
some details!”
“No. I slept at his apartment, in his bed
with him, but we did not sleep
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