Page 14 of Tempt Me

“I’ll use it.”

“No, you won’t.” She sucks down on her straw again. “Even if you start your own business, you’ll hire someone to do your books because you hate it. You’re going to die from boredom if you stick with this career path. You need excitement. Stimulation. Creativity. Besides, you’ve been doing everyone’s hair and makeup since fifth grade. It’s time to apply for beauty school.”

“I’ll think about it.” I roll my eyes. I won’t think about it. My parents are paying for the majority of my school, and I don’t want to disappoint them. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make it any easier. “But you’re right, classes sucked today. I think I fell asleep during at least one of them. I’m so stupid. I hate ledgers and financial statements, but yet I’m still slogging along, going to classes and pasting a big fake smile on my face when my parents ask how everything’s going.”

“Then what’re you going to do?” She drops the glass on the scarred tabletop with a clunk, cocks her head sideways, and claps her hands together. “Are you going to stick it out until graduation?”

The waitress drops off our drinks as the question hangs in the air. I take a long sip of the cold liquid and let it soothe my irritation with myself. “Of course, what else would I do?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Get a life.”

“Mom and Dad always lectured me on getting a stable job that I could depend upon, and people will always have to pay taxes.”

She makes a gagging sound. “Yes, they’ll always have to pay taxes, but no one wants to. You’ll be like going to get a pap smear. No one wants to see you, and when they do, they’re in pain.”

“Thanks. It’s not that bad.” I take another much-needed sip of my drink. I close my eyes and let the alcohol burn my throat.

It’s not that bad. Really. I like money. Who doesn’t? What’s so bad about keeping track of people’s yearly expenses and income? Nothing. It’s something that must be done. I open my eyes and pin her with a stare. “I’m going to get my degree and go into business with my parents like we agreed to years ago.”

“When you were a senior in high school and had no idea what you wanted to do with your future. And you said it as a joke.” Her eyes narrow into slits as she grabs her drink. “But there’s no use trying to talk sense into you. You’re going to take some promise you made in jest and take it to the grave, having lived a long and miserable life.

I lean forward. It’s time to talk about something else. “I forgot to tell you that I saw Jake Thompson the other day. He said he’s back in town.”

“No shit?” Ruby’s eyes widen. “Do you think Emily knows?”

“Do you think Emily knows what?” Our other best friend, Emily, slides into the seat beside Ruby.

I glance away from her and cringe. “That Jake’s back in town.”

“What?” Emily’s face goes ashen as she clutches her chest. “Shit. I don’t want to see him again. Please tell me he’s only here for a visit.”

“Umm….”

“Fuck.”

Emily rakes a hand through her hair. “Give it to me straight.” She waves at the waitress, pointing at the drinks on our table and signaling with her finger for another round. “I don’t want to hear it, but at least this way, I’ll be prepared.”

“It’ll be fine, Emily.” Ruby rubs Emily’s shoulder. “We’ve got your back.”

“I know,” she sighs, “I thought I was over him, but as soon as Bella said his name, I knew I wasn’t.”

It’s best if I just rip the Band-Aid off in one pull. “He said he was hired to take Nolan Reed’s position.”

“Fuck.” Ruby yanks the straw out of her drink and lifts it to her lips. “You’ll run into him all the time.” Emily is a paramedicwith the ambulance crew, and they work hand in hand with the police – every day. This isn’t good at all.

The waitress brings us another round of drinks. “It’ll be fine.” She straightens her shoulders. “I’m a professional working with another professional.” Her eyes narrow into slits. “And if he doesn’t behave like a professional, I’ll take it up with Chief Carter.”

“Did Bella tell you that Brock contacted her again?”

“No.” Emily sets her glass down and grabs my hands. “Bella, this is serious. What is this, like the third time he’s found your number? You’ve got to do something about him before he does something dangerous.”

“Dominic messaged him and told him to leave me alone, or he’d beat him up.” I shudder. At least, I think that’s all he’d do to him. We fill her in on everything that happened the last few days as we sip our drinks.

“That was nice of Dominic.” Emily gives me a knowing look.

“It’s not a big deal. He responded to the situation the same way a big brother would.”

“No, he didn’t.” Emily shakes her head as the waitress brings two platters of appetizers to the table behind us. The scent of greasy fried mushrooms makes my mouth water. When was the last time I ate? “Did your brothers threaten him?”

---