Page 29 of Served
I leaned in closer to him. “Well, there’s something on my hip. And the scratches on my hands and face.” He typed some more things then smiled up at me.
“I’m going to grab Gail. We need to get some photos and policy is same sex photographer. Sit tight and I’ll see if she’s available.” He stood and put his hand on my shoulder briefly before walking out of sight.
“You’re doing great, Luce. You’re doing the right thing.” Amy was squeezing my hand and she had tears in her eyes.
“Oh no, don’t do that. I’ve held it together this long.” I turned my head away. “I can’t look at you.”
“You never told me all of this,” Amy whispered. “I’m so mad and it has to come out and it chose to come out of my eyeballs.” She was squeezing my hand and I squeezed back as I felt my phone vibrate.
Jason: Just dropping in to say I can’t wait to see you.
Me: Still out, I’ll text once I head that way. Can’t wait be in your arms.
I put the phone away when Jimmy and a well-dressed woman with a perfect brown bob-cut came around the corner of the cubicle.
“Hey sweetie, you can follow me.” She motioned for me to walk with her.
Amy stood and asked, “Can I come with her?”
Gail looked to me, and I nodded in approval, reaching for Amy’s hand.
I started to go with her then remembered. “Wait, Jimmy. He sent me a text. That night. He was apologizing.” I rolled my eyes as I pulled it up on my phone and showed him.
“Can you screenshot that to my email, dear? I’ll add it to the file.” I nodded then sent it to him before turning to go with Gail as Amy grabbed my hand again.
We went to a room with no windows or decent lighting. The walls were grey, but nearly white. There was a small table with a computer in the corner and a large camera sitting there. Amy sat in one of the chairs at the table. Gail instructed me to stand by the wall and handed me a card for each picture. The camera had an obnoxious flash. It only took a few minutes and she uploaded them immediately while I waited then explained what happened next. Finally, she stood from the small table where the computer was and led us back to Jimmy.
“Alright, I have a copy of the complaint for you here. Once he’s apprehended and has a court date you’ll be notified.”
“I won’t be notified when he’s caught?” I asked. Jimmy grabbed my shoulder and said some typical reassuring things as we walked. Amy had grabbed my bag and followed us. Except he didn’t stop at the door, he led me outside.
“Okay, in there I say what I’m supposed to say. But out here, I’m one of your dad’s oldest friends. I’ll tell you when we get him.” He rubbed his face and sighed, “Damnit Lucy, why didn’t you do this when you were here yesterday? No, why didn’t you call Sunday night? What were you thinking?”
Seeing Jimmy in old-family-friend mode is what finally did it. Tears quickly formed in my eyes, and I couldn’t look at him.
“Oh honey, come here,” he gently said as he wrapped his pudgy arms around me. I was crying even harder now than this morning. Shame and guilt flowed through me like a crested river, and the tears poured out just as hard. I was shaking both of us as he held me.
Amy was rubbing my back and after a strong couple of minutes, I finally started to calm down enough to breathe.
“I’ll call you. We’ll get him. Punks like that are never hard to find. Now get outta here before your dad finds you.” Jimmy went back inside, and Amy grabbed my hand and led me back toward our side of town.
We went back to our apartment so I could freshen up since they made me take my makeup off for the photos and the crying made me puffy. Plus, I wanted to splash some cold water on my face. Once I gathered myself, I texted Jason.
Me: Hey, headed that way soon.
Jason: Not soon enough
My eyes were still a little puffy but overall, I was put together. The club was dimly lit anyway so maybe he wouldn’t notice. Amy popped her head in my door.
“Ready to go claim your big dick energy?” I normally didn’t get surprised or tickled by Amy’s crass remarks but I laughed hysterically when she said that. More tears were in the edge of my eyes but from laughter. She shrugged her shoulders. “What, after today you need it is all I’m sayin. Let’s go.” I needed that laugh, too. Her timing was perfect.
We walked into the club, and tables were already filling. Before we could make it to the bar, Jason ducked under and took long strides to me and picked me up off my feet to kiss me. I was surprised by the overture in the middle of the club.
“Everyone is looking,” I said as I grinned, holding onto his tight shoulders.
“So let them,” he said before pulling me in again for a deeper kiss.
Amy leaned to my shoulder and said, “B. D. E.”
