Page 51 of Rich Girl
I’m not sure what Jeanine says to me while I cry my heart out, upset with everything in my life.
Suddenly, I am alerted by Jeanine’s very quiet voice.
“Are you able to leave on your own?”
I look around, confused on why she would ask that.
“Can you tell me where you are?” she whispers. “I will call the police. We’ll get you out.”
“What?”
I jump off the couch and the phone drops to the floor. In a flurry of movements, I recover it, and stand back up.
“Oh my God, are you being attacked?” Jeanine yells over the line. “Please tell me you’re alive! Hayden!”
“I’m fine,” I assure her. “You don’t need to scream like this, Jeanine,” I chastise her. “People are going to think I’m getting murdered up here.”
“Up where?”
I frown again. “In the apartment where I’m staying with Ray.”
Jeanine’s gasp of shock can only be described as something between a screech and a cry, not clear which one would be more dominant.
“Who’s Ray?”
“He’s a guy I met when I came to New York.”
Jeanine becomes quiet. I’m not sure if that’s worse or better than her yelling in my ear.
“Hayden Benedict,” she finally says after a very long pause. “Please don’t tell me you went to New York to meet with the guy we found on theHolidatesapp.”
I’m fairly certain that her connecting the dots and figuring out what I’ve been up to is not a good thing. My silence confirms her suspicions, though.
“How did that even happen, Hayden?” Jeanine yells at me. “And you did what, run off to New York to meet a hot stranger?”
I remain silent. Nothing that I can tell her would work in my favor. I really messed up. At the same time, spending time with Ray has been amazing. The way he holds me every night as wefall asleep in the too small of a bed pulls at my heartstrings. I can’t get enough of it. Not to mention, the things he does to my body are everything I want to feel for the rest of my life.
It's only been two weeks, but I think I caught feelings for Ray Parker.
The realization scares me to my core. This can’t be happening, not at all. A real relationship between us would never work. We are too different, we lead different lives, not to mention, I don’t even live in this state. I do have to go back home at some point. I miss my big and comfy house.
“And now look at you,” Jeanine continues her tirade. “He’s kidnapped you, holding you hostage, forcing you to make flower arrangements!”
The way she says it makes me laugh. A giggle escapes the back of my throat before I can stop it.
“Jesus, is he drugging you, too?” Jeanine yells. “What the hell is going on? And why flower arrangements out of all the freakin’ things? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
I sit on the floor, leaning my back against the couch, with my head resting on it. Now that I cried and told Jeanine everything, I feel so much better. It’s like a huge load has been lifted off my shoulders.
A hole in my shirt brings to my attention the fact that I should be going shopping for more clothes. Definitely more underwear. If I am to stay here for longer, I will be out of it soon.
I check the time and realize it’s only one in the afternoon. Since I have access to Ray’s Jeep and I am done with work for the day, I can just run back to the mall. I can be back here before Ray is done with his work day.
“Jeanie, I have to go.”
My tone sounds rushed, and like I am trying to get rid of her. Which I am.
“Why do you have to go? Are you okay? Are they there, listening?” she whispers. “I will rescue you, Hayden, I swear on my life.”
