Page 14 of Trucker
But all that pretending to be strong had me exhausted and lying shirtless on my living room floor so the coldness would help with my sadness.
Maybe it could help me hold off the panic attack I could feel coiling in my chest, threatening to drown me.
Whatever I was feeling, I had to get rid of it before the firefighter showed up the next day.
I wasn’t sure why I agreed to this.
This man could be a serial killer. I mean, Dexter looked like a normal guy until everyone found out he was sending souls to the other side in his spare time.
Dramatic?
Maybe, but I didn’t know this man.
And I didn’t know how to fight.
Knowing I had a few projects to work on for my Graphics business, I reluctantly hauled myself off the floor, pulled my shirt back on and poured myself a drink. I sighed like a teenager who had to wake up for school and wandered into my office to boot up my laptop.
The first project didn’t have much else to work on. The logo turned out a lot better than I thought it would, and I was obsessed with the colours.
I was knee deep in work when my cell rang and I saw that it was Valentina Forsythe. Her voice was cheerful and full of life when she told me to call her Zoom.
I’d laughed at that and agreed.
“Zoom.” I answered. “What’s up? Is anything wrong?”
“Nothing.” Zoom replied. “Everything is fine—better than fine, come to think of it.”
“Awesome.” I yawned.
“I was just doing some last-minute checks to make sure we’re still on. My boss is on my ass about this whole thing. Apparently, his boss is riding him too.”
“The work of the captain is never done.” I picked up my cup and realized it was empty and sighed. “Wait, aren’t you supposed to be on your honeymoon? I’m sure that beautiful man of yours didn’t release you from being tied to his bed. What gives? I thought you were coming back—next week?”
Zoom laughed. “I tried.”
“Tried?”
“Couldn’t have done that. My husband wanted to spend some time with his niece before she has to go back to school.” Zoom explained. “Between her job and the boyfriend?—”
“Ahh.” I giggled. “The boyfriend.”
Zoom laughed again.
“He’s a good kid. Their jobs and preparing for school and trying to figure out what this new look is going to be for their relationship. It’s a lot for them. There’s never enough time in a day.”
I thought about how late I’d stopped working the night before and sighed.
“Fair.”
“Anyway, we planned our honeymoon around that.” Zoom told me. “He promised to make it up to me later.”
“Sexual favours?”
Zoom giggled.
“I hope so.” She replied.
I’d never had female friends before—I’d never really had friends. This was new.
