Page 31 of Jilted Jock
Reply Subject: Thief
Give me my cat, I can hear her meowing.
I glanced over at a sleeping Richard and then stood and walked to Kitty. I picked her up and then opened the door revealing a bare-chested Finn wearing those gray sweatpants and a smirk.
“There’s my beautiful girl,” he cooed at the cat, but I blushed like he’d meant me.
I stepped out and closed the door behind me so we wouldn’t wake Richard.
The cat practically leaped into his arms and that had Finn’s smile growing larger as he cradled her to him and petted her head.
“She was lonely. I didn’t know if you’d be coming home tonight.” I hated the jealous tone in my voice. “And how did you get my email address?”
He cocked a brow but didn’t say anything until I stepped back and reached for the door handle.
“You’ve got your whole life in that gratitude notebook – email, passwords, menstrual cycle.”
“You don’t have to read it.”
He chuckled. “Thanks for giving my pussy some love, maybe you ought to see about yourself now. Seem a little tightly wound.” He glanced down my body, his inclination clear.
My face warmed and I opened my mouth to speak, but he turned on his heel and walked away, taking the kitty and his fabulous display of male perfection to his room.
On Monday morning I said goodbye to Richard from bed. It was dark out and my eyes were heavy. He had an early meeting and wanted to prepare so he kissed me goodbye, told me he’d call when he got to New York tonight, and I continued to lay in bed until my alarm went off.
I typically didn’t check my email until I got to the office in the mornings, but I opened it up anyway as I selected what to wear. I settled on a dress that hadn’t seen nearly enough wear for as beautiful as it was. It was one of those items you buy for a special event and then only wear it the once. That was silly. A dress like this deserved to be worn more often.
There were no new emails from Finn, but there was one from Richard. I tried hard to force the same excitement at seeing my boyfriend’s name. Look, I knew relationships weren’t about the exciting things that happen early on – those get-to-know you moments were the best, but it was the intimacy that came after that was gone that made a relationship. I knew that and I had to repeat it to myself as I opened Richard’s email. It was an invitation for a job interview he’d forwarded from what I could only assume was the headhunter he’d spoke of.
The phone rang while I was re-reading it for the tenth time.
“Hi,” I answered, not bothering to shield my confused tone.
“Did you see the email I sent?”
“Yeah, this interview is for Friday. As in this Friday.”
“Isn’t it great? Madelyn’s good. She emailed over the job post this morning and I looked it over – it’s the perfect job for you. You have the experience and they’re even willing to pay for school. And the best part is they’re looking for someone to start immediately. You could be in New York with me in as little as a week or two. It’s all coming together.”
“I… but…” Words failed me. Frustration, anger, sadness… it was all happening so fast. Too fast.
“Richard, I have a job here. I’m not even sure I can get off for the interview Friday. I like my job here and it’s important to me. I wish you’d let me talk to them before doing this. What am I supposed to tell Harry? I don’t know anything about the other job. What if it’s not whatIwant?”
He was quiet for a moment before he spoke calmly, “Are you having second thoughts about New York? Is that what this is about?”
“No.” I sat on the bed. “Maybe. It’s just happening faster than I expected.”
He sighed and I felt like an ungrateful child. “Look over the job, talk to Harry, and we’ll go from there. I guess I got a little ahead of myself. I’m just so excited to finally get you there with me. I’m tired of living across the country from my girlfriend.”
“You’re right.” I closed my eyes and nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“I’ll be right there,” he spoke away from the phone and then to me said, “I’ve gotta go. We can talk more tonight.”
I skipped coffee and filling out my gratitude journal, deciding to swing by Starbucks on the way to work. On the drive, I recited the things I was grateful for.
I am grateful for a boyfriend who wants me with him.
