Page 137 of Double Daddies
“Oh, little bit. What have you gotten yourself into?”
I choke back a sob. I don’t know the full extent of what I have gotten myself into. Is it just a simple scolding from my friend and boyfriend, or will it to turn into more?
“Everything is going to be okay. Have you read the contract and understood everything in it?” Elijah asks.
“Y-yes,” I reply.
“Can you come tonight?”
I pull my phone away from my face to check the time. Will I be able to get there on my own?
“Umm, I don’t know. Maybe. I need to see if the cab can drop me off there at night since I’m an hour away,” I whisper toward the end.
“Cab?” he asks. “You’re taking a cab?”
“Yes, I am.”
“What about your car?”
“Don’t have one.”
I’ve been saving up for one, but I’ve never really needed it. Not when the building I work in is only a couple blocks awayfrom my house. And whenever I’ve needed to go somewhere farther away, I’ve taken a cab or Lainey or Mateo drive me there.
“No, you aren’t taking a cab,” he declares.
“Then I won’t be able to come. Not unless you want me to walk. That will take days to get there,” I point out.
“I’ll come pick you up.”
My whole body freezes as his words hit my ears.
“Nora?”
“You don’t need to do that. Just let me call to the cab company, and I’ll let you know if I can make it tonight or tomorrow.”
“No. Unacceptable. I’m picking you up. Send me your address, and I’ll be there in an hour. Does that give you enough time?”
My mouth drops open.
“Does it give you enough time, little bit? It might be closer to an hour and a half, but I’ll be there soon. Send me your address. Understand?”
“Yes,” I whisper before I can stop myself.
“Good girl. Now, go have the drink with the person you’re with and then go home and pack for the week. We have laundry stuff here,” he explains. “I’ll be in contact with you.”
Before I can say anything, he hangs up, and I’m left staring at my phone.
“Come on, Nora! The drinks just got here,” Lainey yells.
Shaking off the feeling of want for Elijah, I walk over to the table and sit down. “Sorry about that. I need to get back to my apartment and pack. I’m leaving in about an hour.”
Lainey groans. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. You need to find a new job. One where you aren’t traveling as much so you can spend more time with me and Mateo.”
“I love this job. I’m not changing it.” I stand my ground.
When I started at the company, it was a small online blog, which was getting more popular as the days went by. Now, we travel around the world and meet up with different people, documenting their stories. My most recent trip was to North Carolina to interview a family who went from nothing to owning their own farm and providing for their family and others.
“Mateo will want you to quit once you guys get married,” Lainey announces, taking a sip of her drink.
